The First Wines

Holly McQuoid

WSC5.05 Introduction to Wine Business Online

The MediterraneanThe Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean,

and is almost completely surrounded by land mass, including prominent Old World wine producing countries such as

Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain.

IntroductionIn 2007, archaeologists unearthed what is the oldest winery ever discovered, thought to have been constructed around 4100BC by the prehistoric people of what is now Armenia (VinePair, n.d.).

Image Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110111-oldest-wine-press-making-winery-armenia-science-ucla/

The find in Armenia revealed what archaeologists believe to be a wine press for stomping grapes, fermentation and storage vessels, drinking cups, and withered grape vines, skins, and seeds (Owen, 2011).

The Wine Trade

The trading of wine and vines throughout the Mediterranean made a significant impact on the modern-day wine industry.

Wine was considered to be a valuable commodity, and was often used to trade for anything from precious metals to animals.

In many ancient civilisations, wine was of great importance to royalty, ceremonies and health.

The Rise of the Pharaohs

From 3500BC, Egyptians were making wine using any sweet, fermentable sap or fruit. By 2700BC, viticulturists had succeeded in establishing the first grape vines in Egypt, grown in the Nile Delta (Till, n.d.).

As trade between Mediterranean countries grew, and wine and vines were recognised as valuable commodities, the Egyptians came into contact with the Phoenicians - one of the greatest traders of their time.

From 3500BC, Egyptians were making wine using any sweet, fermentable sap or fruit from native plants, such as figs, pomegranates and dates. Due to the inability to grow grape vines in the challenging climate and terrain of Egypt, grapes were imported from regions which we now know as Georgia, Iran, and Armenia (Vine Talk, 2012). By 2700BC, viticulturists had succeeded in establishing the first grape vines in Egypt, grown in the Nile Delta, where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea (Till, n.d.). Within the next few centuries, Egyptian viticulturists obtained a variety of vines from foreign sources, as demand for wine in Egypt by the royals and the wealthy increased. !

The Phoenicians

The earliest written work on wine was recorded in Punic, the Phoenician dialect of the Carthage empire (Encyclopaedia Romana, n.d.).

It is believed that the Phoenicians were the first people to trade wine in the Mediterranean between 1200BC - 539BC, introducing the beverage to Greece and Italy (VinePair Inc., n.d.).

After the fall of the Carthage in 146BC, the Romans demanded that all the written work on wine be translated to Latin, becoming the basis of any further written work on wine by the Romans.

Wine is one of the oldest commodities on earth - as old as civilisation - and was greatly impacting on the development of early civilisation. While it is unknown exactly who made the first wine ever, the earliest written work on wine was recorded in Punic, the Phoenician dialect of the Carthage empire (Encyclopaedia Romana, n.d.). The Phoenicians embraced the value and tradability of wine and grape vines, and would go on to become the civilisation which spreads vines and wine around the Mediterranean.

The Trade Route of Phoenicians

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicians_and_wine#mediaviewer/File:PhoenicianTrade_EN.svg

The Greeks

Around 800BC, the Greeks began to perfect the art of winemaking and wine became a symbol for trade, religion, and health.

As the Greeks began to colonise the Mediterranean, they brought grapevines with them, introducing viticulture and oenology to many other parts of the Mediterranean.

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece_wine#mediaviewer/File:Banquet_Louvre_Kylix_G133_by_Cage_Painter.jpg

Some of the earliest colonies established were Sicily and southern Italy, which then led to the movement of vines up the boot towards Rome.

The Roman Empire146BC - 380AD

Image Source: http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-colosseum-rome-italy-map-miniature-souvenir-image14227435

Colonisation by Rome

The Roman Empire and its troops were largely responsible for the spread of vines as it colonised many other Mediterranean countries.

Around 380AD, the Roman Empire adopts the Catholic Church and Christianity.

With the growth of the Catholic Church throughout Europe, the spread of the vine is inevitable, destined for a tremendous future.

The Roman Empire and its troops were largely responsible for the spread of vines as it colonised many other Mediterranean countries, bringing with them grapevines that they would cultivate in what we now know as modern day France, Italy, and Spain as well as a number of other European countries (VinePair Inc., n.d.). Around 380AD, the Roman Empire adopts the Catholic Church and Christianity, and the focus and importance of vine cultivation and wine production increases. With the growth of the Catholic Church throughout Europe, the spread of the vine is inevitable, destined for a tremendous future.

Modern Day Mediterranean

Of the top five wine grapes in the modern wine world, none of them are grown within 100 miles of the tropical Mediterranean coastline (Old & Giglio, 2012).

Still, the Mediterranean coastline is extensively cultivated with grape vines.

To this day, the coastline is more well-known for their cheap, pleasant vino’s rather than fine wines.

Many current-day Mediterranean countries and regions are renowned for growing a certain perfect varietal, each region unique and being of the right climate and terroir for a particular variety of Vitis vinefera. However, of the top five wine grapes in the modern wine world, none of them are grown within 100 miles of the tropical Mediterranean coastline (Old & Giglio, 2012). Still, the Mediterranean coastline - from Spain to Greece, including France and Italy - is extensively cultivated with grape vines. The contrast however, is found within the historical use of the coastline as opposed to regions further inland. Dating back many years, the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea has been known to produce simple, middle-of-the-road wines as opposed to wines worth collecting, for example those produced in inland regions such as Bordeaux in France. To this day, the coastline is more well-known for their cheap, pleasant vino’s rather than fine wines. !

Old World vs. New WorldOld World Wines

- those found in many parts of the Mediterranean, can be easily distinguished from New World wines.

New World Wines

- those that have been introduced to and cultivated in the Southern Hemisphere and America.

Image Source: http://onesoullife.com/getting-to-know-the-new-world/

Even in modern day winemaking and viticulture, Old World wines, such as those found in many parts of the Mediterranean, can be easily distinguished from New World wines - those that have been introduced to and cultivated in the Southern Hemisphere and America.

Old World vs. New World

The Southern Hemisphere and America (New World producers) have jumped on the science and technology bandwagon more readily than many Mediterranean countries have.

Mediterranean (Old World) winemakers are sticking with processes and techniques that they know and have worked for them for centuries.

This significant difference in winemaking processes has led to massive differences in the styles of wine produced by Old World and New World producers.

As with many industries, the Southern Hemisphere and America have jumped on the science and technology bandwagon more readily than many Mediterranean countries have. For example, the majority of New World countries have embraced new technology and machines to aid in winemaking processes whereas many Mediterranean (Old World) winemakers are sticking with processes and techniques that they know and have worked for them for centuries. This difference in processes makes for drastic differences in wine styles, meaning Old World and New World wines continue to be like chalk and cheese to this day.

Mediterranean Influences on the World of Wine

The majority of traditional winemaking and viticulture practises originate from the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea provided an incredibly easy passage for trade, meaning grapevines were easily traded and spread around Europe.

Image Source: http://blog.ancient.eu/2013/09/04/drink-of-the-gods-wine-in-the-ancient-near-east-and-mediterranean/

The Mediterranean is a bounty of historical importance to the wine industry, with the majority of traditional winemaking and viticulture practises originating from the area. Originally used to transport wine were ceramic jars, utilised by the Phoenicians during their rise between 1200BC - 539BC (VinePair Inc., n.d.). The Romans would then go on to develop winemaking and become the first civilisation to store wine in wooden barrels - a practise that is used worldwide in modern day society. The Romans were also the first people to use chalk to thin out acidity, improved the Greek process of extracting juice, classified which grapes grew in the best climate, discovered that tightly sealed containers improved the taste with age, used corks and could have been the first to use glass containers (Costill, 2010).

Ancient Winemaking

Phoenicians used ceramic jars, known as Amphoras, to transport wine during their rise between 1200BC - 539BC (VinePair Inc., n.d.).

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphora#mediaviewer/File:Amphorae_stacking.jpg

Originally used to transport wine were ceramic jars, utilised by the Phoenicians during their rise between 1200BC - 539BC (VinePair Inc., n.d.).

The Romans would then go on to develop winemaking and become the first civilisation to:

• Store wine in wooden barrels

• Use chalk to thin out acidity

• Improve the Greek process of extracting juice

• Classify which grapes grew in the best climate

• Discover that tightly sealed containers improved the taste with age

• Use corks and could have been the first to use glass containers

(Costill, 2010)

Threats & Challenges

One significant challenge for many Mediterranean wine regions is that of overproduction - from many recent vintages, local producers have experienced a surplus of wine grapes with a lack of local demand for their wine.

Another issue that the Mediterranean wine market faces is the decline in demand for wine in the current drinking-age generation. With so many beverage choices available to them, Generation Y are choosing almost anything but wine.

A major challenge for many Mediterranean wine regions is that of overproduction. In fact, Spain has been declared as the world’s largest wine producer after a massive overall output of 50 million hectolitres (6.7 billion bottles) of wine in 2013, a 41 percent surge from 2012 (The Local, 2014). Unlike France, known for its Bordeaux wines, or Italy for its Sangiovese, Spain has no claim to fame in the world of wine. This has proved to be somewhat of a struggle for the Spanish wine marketing when entering new markets, however once established in a market, Spanish wines have been successful in making an impression as good bang-for-your-buck wines in the marketplace. Due to another issue that the Mediterranean wine industry faces - the lack of onshore wine consumption - it has been particularly difficult for Spanish producers to offload the excess wine to the global market. It is becoming apparent that the new generation of drinking-age consumers in Europe are simply not interested in wine - there is such a huge selection of other options available to them that wine is just not as popular as it has been up until Generation Y.

References:

Encyclopaedia Romana. (n.d.). Wine and Rome. Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/wine.html

Owen, J. (2011, January 10). Earliest Known Winery Found in Armenian Cave. Retrieved August 12, 2014, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110111-oldest-wine-press-making-winery-armenia-science-ucla/

VinePair Inc. (n.d.). How Wine Colonized The World | The History Of Wine Timeline. Retrieved August 11, 2014, from http://vinepair.com/wine-colonized-world-wine-history/#5

Wine Village. (n.d.). Wine Facts. Retrieved August 10, 2014, from http://www.winevillage.co.za/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=134&Itemid=194

Till, A. (n.d.). Wine in the Mediterranean. Retrieved August 12, 2014, from http://www.world-food-and-wine.com/wine-in-the-mediterranean

Vine Talk. (2012, March 26). Wine in Ancient Egypt | Vine Talk. Retrieved August 12, 2014, from http://www.vinetalk.com/wine-in-ancient-egypt/

Old, M., & Giglio, A. (2012). Wine Simplified. Retrieved from https://www.inkling.com/store/book/wine-simplified-marnie-old-1st/?chapterId=297728df3e9149b5b41910092beed5aa

Costill, A. (2010, November 22). The Romans and Wine: A Look Back at The Early History of Wine. Retrieved August 13, 2014, from http://www.wineclub.org/2010/11/romans-history-of-wine/

The Local. (2014, March 19). Spain Becomes World's Biggest Wine Producer. The Local [Madrid]. Retrieved from http://www.thelocal.es/20140319/sober-spaniards-bank-on-booming-wine-exports