Wine Invented
Although there are many countries that claim the origin of wine, the first wine-making process was undoubtedly invented in China, approximately 7,000 years ago. This fact is interesting because it indicates that wine-making has been around for thousands of years. The invention of wine-making has allowed it to flourish into a global phenomenon.
The ancient Romans made wine from grapes like Aglianico, which had a high alcohol content. This wine, known as Falernian wine, was highly regarded in the Roman Empire. Moreover, according to Pliny the Elder, this wine would take on a glow when lit with a flame. It is believed that the wine that Jesus drank during his life was similar to the wine of the day, with a ten to twenty percent alcohol content.
Although the Romans didn’t invent wine, they advanced the practice of viticulture and expanded the wine-drinking population as their empire grew. Despite the lack of archaeological evidence, many people still believe that they invented wine in ancient times. The ancient Greeks also made wine. However, their method was different.
Nevertheless, the question remains, “when was wine invented?” – and where was it developed?” – remains unanswered. The discovery of the first wine-making press in France confirms the existence of viticulture, although the origins of winemaking are uncertain. But, McGovern is not alone in his quest to answer this question. His research team includes American and French scientists.
When Was Wine Invented?
The first known recipe for wine dates to approximately three hundred B.C. The Greeks attributed winemaking to Dionysus, the god of wine. In ancient Greece, wine was a symbol of health and prosperity, earning it the nickname “the drink of the gods.” In the second millennium B.C., wine was made available to the people of central Anatolia. Eventually, grape farming in this area became an important royal industry.
Wine was widely traded during the early Bronze Age in Canaan. Wine making was also prevalent in ancient Egypt, despite its association with superstitions. In early Egypt, wine was called Shedeh, and was the most valuable drink. Many scholars believed the drink was made of pomegranate juice, but it was actually a red wine. The pharaohs didn’t drink wine before the arrival of Psammetichus, as they believed the blood of fallen soldiers was necessary to support vine growth.
In the Middle Ages, wine was mainly consumed by the upper class. In France and Germany, wine was made by monks. There were three types of wine made then: Caucinian Falernian (from the higher slopes of the mountain), Faustian Falernian (from the lower slopes of the mountain) and generic Falernian (from the lowest slopes.) These wines were mixed with herbs and minerals to treat diseases. The Roman Catholic Church preserved the art of making wine for the mass. However, wine production was not widespread and only the upper class could afford it.