INTRODUCTION

Wine has been the preferred beverage of mankind for thousands of years. Our natural fondness of this drink stems from the nice taste, its nutritious properties and not least its psychotropic (intoxicating) effects. Out of all the alcoholic beverages, none has had such an impact on society. The trade of wine between cultures opened up channels for religious and philosophical ideas to spread across Europe.  Wine is also frequently mentioned in the bible from Noah and his grape vines to Jesus perhaps the finest winemaker to date. Wine is still employed in the Catholic Church as a substitute for the blood of Christ which is an indication of the key role the beverage has played in past years. In earlier years, a wine industry was the mark of a provident country as only developed societies could support a prosperous and competitive wine industry. It is often said that western society built its foundations on wine.

Oldest Winery Discovered

The oldest-known winery was discovered in the "Areni-1" cave in Vayots Dzor, Armenia. Dated to c. 4100 BC, the site contained a wine press, fermentation vats, jars, and cups. Archaeologists also found V. vinifera seeds and vines. Commenting on the importance of the find, McGovern said, "The fact that wine making was already so well developed in 4000 BC suggests that the technology probably goes back much earlier.

Wine found in Armenia is found to be at least 6000 years old.

Domesticated grapes were abundant in the Near East from the beginning of the early Bronze Age, starting in 3200 BC. There is also increasingly abundant evidence for winemaking in Sumer and Egypt in the 3rd millennium BC