Wine is probably the oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage in the world. And if we often wonder about the date of the first vintages, we less often wonder who was at the origin of the invention of wine . Let's discover the origins of wine.
The first traces of wine in history
If we can say that wine was created several thousand years ago, it is because several traces have been found, testifying to the creation of a fermented drink very close to the wine we drink today. Since then, several theories on the invention of wine have confronted each other.
The history of wine goes back thousands of years, dating back to the beginnings of civilization. Wine production, with its elaborate winemaking processes, has evolved over the centuries to offer a multitude of types of wine.
In the 20th century, production methods were modernized, but the winemaking process remains essentially the same: grapes, whether red or white, are harvested, pressed and fermented in a fermentation tank before being put into storage. bottles.
Origins of wine: the different theories
It is not easy to say with certainty which was the first region in the world to produce wine . It would be wiser to assume that several regions of the world initiated wine production almost simultaneously. The techniques and results varied, but all were close to our current wine.
- Caucasian origins : several archaeological excavations have revealed traces of the first vines and the beginnings of winemaking in Georgia or Armenia. These remains date back more than 8,000 years;
- Egyptian origins : among the Egyptians, the consumption of drinks made from fermented wine began more than 5,000 years ago. Wine was then considered a sacred drink;
- Mesopotamian origins : some historians and wine enthusiasts assume that wine production began 6,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, in present-day Iraq;
- Chinese origins : in China, traces of vines date back more than 9,000 years.
Although we find traces of the first wines in these wine-growing regions of the world, it is difficult to define precisely who were the first wine producers. We know, on the other hand, that the first large-scale producers are undoubtedly the Armenians and Georgians.
The exact origin of the invention of wine remains shrouded in mystery, lost in the mists of history. However, the first traces of winemaking date back millennia. White, red and rosé wines, the result of a long winemaking process, have been produced and appreciated since time immemorial.
Some findings that support these theories
You may be wondering how wine drinking was discovered after so long? In fact, traces of grapes clearly prove that these small fruits were used to produce fermented drinks. We have thus found traces of seeds, grapes, and even wine in pottery dating back several thousand years.
Of course, winemaking techniques were probably not as sophisticated then, and the resulting drink must have been quite far from the wines we love today, but these traces demonstrate a very early use of grapes to produce drinks.
The remains of wine production tools
In the same way, remains of tools and utensils used in making wine and working in the vineyard have been found in different regions of the world. Thus, wine presses dating back 6,000 years and clay amphorae used for storing wine have been found in Georgia.
In ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs and frescoes bear witness to the use of very rudimentary wine presses . Clay seals have even been found bearing information about the wine, such as the grape variety or the vintage.
In Mesopotamia, wine containers were marked with cylindrical stone seals.
These discoveries are strong testimony to the evolution of wine production, but also of wine storage over the centuries.
History of wine: important dates
Although we are not really able to say precisely who invented wine, certain key dates have nevertheless marked the history and evolution of wine .
800 BC: cultivation of vines by the Greeks
If the first wines seem to date back several thousand years, the first wines resembling our good bottles today come from Greek agriculture. For these people, wine is sacred and an integral part of mythology. This passion for wine will allow it to spread throughout the Mediterranean basin, and beyond!
200 BC: the influence of the Romans in improving winemaking techniques
Through hard work, the Romans managed to deepen their knowledge of engineering and agriculture, allowing them to perfect their winemaking methods. The cultivation of vines and the manufacture of tools (press, wooden barrels, etc.) improved considerably and made it possible to transport wine throughout the Roman Empire.
11th century: wine production in France
The Cistercian monks were the first to cultivate vines and produce wine in France . Their knowledge and expertise make it possible to further improve manufacturing techniques.
18th and 19th centuries: the industrial revolution
The industrial revolution turned the world of wine upside down, notably thanks to the invention of the railway and steam engines, which ensured greater production and faster distribution of wine. Furthermore, preservation techniques are also improved, leading to standardization of wine .
So while the exact identity of wine's inventor remains unknown, his legacy lives on in every bottle of wine tasted today, remembering the ingenuity and creativity of our ancestors in discovering this intoxicating beverage.
The origins of Provence wine
Provence is the cradle of French wine . It is here that the first vine plants were planted, on the occasion of the founding of Marseille by the Phocaeans, 2,600 years ago. We can therefore say that Provence is the leading vineyard in France.
Four centuries later, the Roman conquest attacked France, and the Provincia Romana was born: Provence! The Romans took their vines everywhere with them, which made it possible to extend viticulture to other vineyards, such as the Rhône Valley, Burgundy, Beaujolais, and even Bordeaux.
From the Middle Ages, the wine world experienced a new upheaval, with the commercialization of wines . Until then, production was intended for personal consumption and was the responsibility of religious people. From then on, wine was sold and made by independent winegrowers, and therefore attracted the attention of nobles and notables, who bought many Provençal vineyards.
At the end of the 19th century, the attack of phylloxera could have put an end to the success of Provence wines. But winegrowers are not giving up and are finding alternatives to continue producing vigorous vines.
Since the 20th century, the objective of winegrowers has been to favor and highlight quality wines. Vine professionals then pool their know-how to claim their terroir and set production rules: the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée was born.
From the variety of vine to the type of wine, each step is carefully controlled to preserve the authenticity of the final product.
The invention of wine was not the work of a single people, and many regions of the world contributed to the production of the fine bottles of wine we know today. Finally, if France establishes itself as one of the largest wine producers in the world, this ancestral drink is above all the result of thousands of years of refinement and improvement from the four corners of the world .
