The story of grapes and humans is one of intertwined connection since the dawn of recorded time.
The progression of human cultures across this planet over millennia occurred in tandem with the proliferation of different grape varietals over the same space and time. It is more than coincidence; Groups of people would travel with grapevine cuttings, planting them as they moved across the land. Through intentional farming of different varietals, early civilizations established a global wine industry that continues to this day.
So, where did it all begin? What was the first grape wine made by humans? When did it happen? Where was the first, domesticated grape vine planted, its fruit harvested and fermented, and then consumed?
There are theories pointing to evolutionary steps of grape varietals, confirmed through DNA analylsis.
There are detailed writings accepted as historical accounts of grape varietals, like those by the Roman statesman, Pliny the Elder.
And then, there are tales of unknown origin about certain varietals that became legend. While some of these have been disproven by DNA, but without a clear answer to explain how a varietal came to be.
The following is an account of how some of the earliest-known wine grape varietals came to be — some still in production to this day — that along with historical events, archaeological research, and recent grape DNA analysis, provides but one perspective on the full story of wine grapes, and why they play such an important role in present-day human life.
In this session, we examine nine ancient wine grape varietals, the role they played in their rightful time, and how they may have shaped the path that resulted in the world of wines we know today.
Extended cirriculum (4593 words). This is a self-guided online class. Wines are not included.
