Vines were first cultivated and wine produced at least 6,000, if not 8,000 years ago. This is described in detail under the keywords Ancient Wines, Mesopotamia and Drinking Culture. This makes winegrowers (winemakers) one of the oldest professions, so to speak. According to the story in the Old Testament of the Bible in the book of Genesis 9.21, Noah landed with his ark on the summit of Mount Ararat in the Anatolian plateau in eastern Turkey at the end of the rain flood, planted vines and subsequently became a winegrower.
Over the course of time, numerous professions and functions as well as a rich tradition have developed around wine. Many wine-growing professions and customs have died out, but many new ones have also developed. In the individual wine-growing countries, there are corresponding training programmes offered by state and private institutions. All current professions/functions and institutions are included as keywords in the present Wine lexicon.
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