“ the peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive and

the vine” - Thucydides

Timeline of Mediterranean Wine Trade

8000BC – Earliest signs of wine production in Mesopotamia

6500BC – Wine production in Macedonia

6000BC – First signs of a winery in Mesopotamia

3000BC – Domestic grapes grown in Egypt , Mesopotamia and Greece

Timeline of Mediterranean Wine Trade

1500BC – Phoenicians begin trading along the Mediterranean Sea

1500-1000BC – Vineyards begin to be planted throughout Greece

900-800BC – Phoenicians plant vines and teach winemaking through Spain

400-300BC – Wine becomes a main commodity and modern winemaking techniques are used as experimentation with wine begins

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia was Greek for ‘the land between the two rivers’

These rivers were the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

This area is now known as Iraq

There are signs of the first wines being produced in this region from 8000BC

Evidence of the first winery during 6000BC

Mesopotamia

Phoenicia

Phoenicia created a maritime trading civilisation along the coastline of what is now Lebanon

The Phoenicians began the trade of wine along with wood, glass and Tyrian purple dye

The use of amphorae or ‘Canaanite jar’ to carry wine was spread to different regions via trading

Phoenicia

Phoenician Trading Routes

Egypt

Wine and vines were introduced to Egyptians from Mesopotamia and Phoenicia

The best wine growing region was in the Delta

Wine was predominantly produced for kings and tombs were decorated with scenes of winemaking

Winemaking techniques were

used more frequently in this era

Evidence of trellising systems

has also been found

Egypt

Greece

Have been producing wine for over 6000 years

Introduced vines to France, Italy, Spain

Created the first labels on amphorae which included the variety, winemaker and location

Greek Trading Routes

Resources Spiliotopoulos, K. (2013). Greek wine history. Retrieved on 12 August

2013 from http://www.nestorimports.com/greek-wine-history/ Wine in ancient Egypt. (n.d.). Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from

http://www.vinaspora.com/EN/about_wine/index.php?artId=102 Poe, M. (2011). Wine in acient Egypt. Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from

http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag11012000-magf2.htm

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Phoenicia. Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia#High_point:_1200.E2.80.93800.C2.A0BC

Gore, R. (n.d.). Who were the phoenicians? Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from tp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature2/map.html

Map of Mesopotamia Retrieved on 12 August 2013 from http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/map01mes.htm

History of Wine I: From Ancient Times to Enlightment. (2010). Retrieved on July 27, 2013 from http://www.tapchiruouvang.com/en/learn-wine-detail/83/history-of-wine-i-from-ancient-times-to-the-enlightment/