Grapevines were first cultivated and wine (or wine-like drinks) produced 6,000 if not 8,000 years ago, as evidenced by grape seeds found in Asia Minor (Anatolia in present-day Turkey), the remains of wine presses and numerous ancient wine vessels and wine motifs on artefacts from many areas.

Cradle of viticulture

Where and by whom the first wine was actually consciously produced and drunk is unknown. Chance probably also played a role. Transcaucasia (parts of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), where the oldest archaeological finds were made, as well as the advanced civilisations in Mesopotamia (mostly modern-day Iraq, as well as parts of Syria and Turkey), in the Upper Nile river basin (Egypt) and in the Jordan Valley (Israel and Jordan) are considered to be the cradle of wine culture. According to the Bible book of Genesis, chapter 8, verse 4, Noah landed with his ark at Ararat after the end of the Flood and became a winegrower. According to the latest research, one of the origins of the cultivated grapevine or wine-growing culture could also have been in south-east Anatolia (Turkey) (arrow).

Advanced civilisations

The ancient civilisations of the Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylonians and Persians were already involved in viticulture, in some cases quite professionally. Many passages in the Bible and numerous writings and wall paintings by many ancient civilised peoples from these areas of domination report on this. Much of their knowledge, techniques and grape varieties are likely to have been adopted by the Greeks and later the Etruscans, Israelites, Celts (Gauls), Phoenicians and Romans in the course of ancient history throughout the Mediterranean region.

Tomb of Chaemwese

During excavations in Thebes (Upper Egypt), a burial chapel dating from around 1450 BC was found. It is believed to be the tomb of Chaemwese, the fourth son of Ramses II, who held a priestly position in the Apis cult. Three walls contain paintings showing, among other things, various wine-growing activities.

This is depicted in three panels: A grape harvest in a vineyard in pergola-vine training (top), the bottling of wine in amphorae (centre left), a (presumably) pounding of the grape mash with the feet (centre right), and a ship (presumably) transporting these amphorae (bottom left).

Viticulture in ancient Greece

The origins of European viticulture lie primarily in Greece. In his Iliad, the poet Homer (8th century BC) reports on wine as the house drink of his epic heroes. Wine was already being grown in the Mycenaean culture in the 16th century BC (Mycenae = north-eastern Peloponnese, province of Argolis), as archaeological finds in ancient palaces prove in a cellar with wine remains in jugs and grape seeds. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus (370-287 BC), who was born on the island of Lesbos, described the necessary harmonisation of grape variety, soil and climate. The usual forms of training were tree training, bush training and flat soil training. It was known that appropriate pruning had a favourable effect on yield and wine quality.

Medical aspects

In addition to pure enjoyment, wine also had an important religious and social role in ancient Greece. At the symposia (drinking parties), the shared enjoyment of wine among men acquired a truly cult-like character and was an indispensable part of the drinking culture of the time. Medicinal applications for the purpose of antisepsis, pain relief, digestive support or "to bring the body's juices into balance" are also frequently mentioned. Wine played an important role in many of the remedies of the famous physician Hippocrates (460-377 BC).

Aegean islands

The best qualities came from the Aegean islands. These were mainly Chios (Khios) - considered the Bordeaux of ancient Greece - as well as Rhodes, Samos and Lesbos. Wines from the...