prehistory by amber howells

PREHISTORY

“Wine is older than history. Humans didn't

invent wine. We discovered it.” (Seldon, P.)

CONTENTS

In the Beginning

Neolithic Civilisation

Melting Pot of Wine Discovery

Predynastic Period

The Glory that was Greece

Early Viticulture

Early Winemaking

Primitive Societies

Styles of Wine

IN THE BEGINNING

It was noted in Genesis 9:20-21, “and Noah began

to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard; and

he drank of the wine and was drunken”. (Amerine &

Singleton, 1977)

This biblical story was one of the first references to

the existence of wine, and its consumption.

NEOLITHIC CIVILISATION

Grape growing was first seen in this time

period (6000 to 4000BC), below the Caucasus

Mountains, in the region of Georgia.

Archaeology has traced the roots of Georgian

viticulture back to at least 6000 BC, and there

is also “proof in this claim that is seen in many

of the unearthed silver, gold and bronze

Georgian artefacts that have imprints of the

vine, grape clusters and leaves.” (Theroux,

2012)

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20121012-discovering-wine-in-georgia

MELTING POT OF WINE DISCOVERY

There are so many claims on the true founders of

the vine and its ability to produce wine. Apparently

the vine is native to Persia, but then there is also

reference to wine in many different languages

including the Hittites (the dominant linguistic

group in the Middle East), Armenian, Georgian,

Hebrew, Latin, Sabaean, Arabic, and Ethiopian.

However…

PREDYNASTIC PERIOD

…The best records of the early wine industry came

from Egypt. They documented the process of wine

making, descriptions of harvesting grapes and

drinking wine on clay tablets, which have been

discovered within the burial chambers of Egyptian

royalty. Image: (http://sacredmistsblog.com/archaeomagick-wine-%E2%80%93-the-

history-and-mythology-of-the-classic-ritual-drink)

(http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/ewga/exhibition/introduction/)

THE GLORY THAT WAS GREECE

“The wine industry reached a much higher degree of

perfection, with the detailed wine descriptions written by

the famous Greek bard, Homer.” (Amerine & Singleton,

1977)

The wine industry also reached a much higher degree of

sensuality with the rise of Dionysus’ cult, in the 17th

century, where wine-induced celebrations of an orgiastic

character were in full swing.

EARLY VITICULTURE

The cultivation of the grape is a very ancient

industry. Remnants of grape seeds have been found

in Georgian villages dating back several thousand

years B.C. where the grapes grew wild. (Amerine &

Singleton, 1977). Grapes were casually harvested. It

was quite unlike the viticulture that is seen today,

where vines are now manipulated and trained.

EARLY WINEMAKING

Winemaking dates from at least 4000BC. Since

yeasts are everywhere, fermentation would have

been no problem. So the elixir of joyful times, wine,

probably came about by accident one day.

Archaeological evidence suggests that grape

cultivation and wine making began in Mesopotamia

and areas surrounding the Caspian Sea sometime

between 6000 and 4000 BC. (Owen, 2008)

PRIMITIVE SOCIETIES

In the Egyptian times wine was expensive and was

only really enjoyed “by priests and royalty, while

commoners drank beer, mead, and ale”. (Owen,

2008). Where wine was common, it was taxed.

STYLES OF WINE. . OR LACK OF

The first wines would have been of very poor

quality, but it was apparent very early on that people

knew of the effects that air had on wine. The practise

of adding herbs or other materials suggests the

intention of covering up undesirable odours

associated with wine spoilage. Greeks liked to have

their wine with a meal, and more often than not they

diluted it with water.

AND THEN THERE WAS HISTORY…

(http://www.wpwines.com/blog/news/38/)

REFERENCESAmerine, M.A., & Singleton, V.L. (1977). Wine (2nd ed.). USA: University of

California Press.

Johnson, H. (1974). Wine (1st ed.). London: Thomas Nelson Limited.

Owen, D. (2008). Song of the Vine. Cornell University. Retrieved from

http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/ewga/exhibition/introduction/

Owen, J. (2011). Earliest Known Winery Found in Armenian Cave. National

Geographic Society.

Retrieved from

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110111-oldest-wine- press-

making-winery-armenia-science-ucla/

Seldon, P. (n.d). Notable Quotes. Wine Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.notable-

quotes.com/w/wine_quotes.html

The Georgian Wine Society. (2013). About Georgian Wines. The Georgian Wine

Society. Retrieved

from http://georgianwinesociety.co.uk/about-georgian-wines/

Theroux, M. (2012). Discovering Wine in Georgia. Lonely Planet Traveller. Retrieved

from http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20121012-discovering-wine-in-georgia