Oldest Winery Found in Armenia

What is with Armenia? In 2010, archaeologists in Areni-1 announced the discovery of the oldest known leather shoe. Remarkably well preserved (it was leather, after all), the shoe took place alongside other oldest known artifacts in the pantheon of archaeology. And now, that same archaeological site is home to another oldest known, this one a bit more exciting to the alcohol-drinking segment of the world. The National Geographic Society has announced the discovery of the oldest known winery.

Granted, archaeologists didn't find an instruction manual or a full set of wine glasses or even a cave painting or two showing people stomping on grapes. But what they did find has convinced some of them that they have indeed found a winery.

First of all, they found fermentation jars. Now that is a big clue. They also found a cup and a drinking bowl — again, these things could have myriad purposes. No, what has convinced the dedicated diggers of the importance of their find is not only all of those jars, cup and bowl, but also a big underground vat, into which drained a shallow basin about three feet across.

It probably hasn't hurt that the dig has turned up huge signpost-size clues that it's a winery such as grape seeds, some pressed-grape remains, and a dried vine or two. OK, so that's the real irrefutable evidence. (Maybe the shoe belonged a grape-smasher?)

The key is how old all of this stuff is.

Remember that wooden shoe? It was abandoned about 5,500 years ago. The winery is even older, dating to about 6,000 years ago. (Yes, I was thinking the same: Those are some remarkably well preserved seeds and vines.) And those seeds? They're the same type used in winemaking today (Vitis vinifera vinifera, for those who really want to know).

The winery is in the middle of a group of graves, and archaeologists have theorized that the wine that came resulted from all of that grape-smashing was used in ceremonial contexts, such as at funeral feasts (not much help for the living, but those left behind would have really given the deceased a proper toast and sendoff).