prehistory by amber howells
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
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