Tales of the Ancient Winery Trivia Quiz

Answer: Armenia

The oldest known winery was found in the Vayots Dzor province near the modern village of Areni, Armenia. In 2007, a team of archaeologists decided to try and do excavations at a site called Areni-1. Two test trenches were dug which revealed a variety of objects, such as rope, cloth, straw, and seeds.

Answer: Copper Age

The Chalcolithic Age, also called the Copper Age, is the time right before it was discovered that tin added to copper (to make bronze) would make it stronger. The oldest copper-smelting site found in Europe to date was found in Serbia in June 2010. Dating back to approximately 7,500 years ago, the discovery pushed back the earliest date of copper making.

At Areni-1, many Copper Age artifacts were found, including knives, picks, and beads; these discoveries have enabled archaeologists to push the date of known metallurgy back several hundred years.

Answer: Cemetery

The cemetery was the first site discovered when excavations in Areni-1 were started in 2007. Three burial pots were discovered, which each contained a human skull; it was determined that the skulls had belonged to a person between the ages of 9-16 years.

Interestingly, one of the skulls contained a well-preserved piece of brain tissue, making it the oldest known human brain from the Old World.

Answer: Cave

Archaeologists believe the cave was a perfect location for fermenting and storing the wine. The site was relatively well preserved because it was abandoned after the roof caved in. Moreover, thanks to dung of some sheep in the area who evidently inhabited the cave, fungi were prevented from entering the area and destroying the remains of organic material.

Answer: Ceremonial

Archaeologists also uncovered several drinking cups on site, and eventually twenty graves. Because of the proximity of the cups to the ancient graves, they believe the site was used for funeral ceremonies and ritualistic practices. It might be possible that wine for daily use was made elsewhere nearby. However, no evidence suggesting that has been found.

Answer: Grape

Chemical analysis of the shards of pottery found on site have revealed traces of malvidin, which is the plant pigment that gives red wine its color. The only other fruit that contains malvidin is pomegranates; some scientists say that it would be more convincing if the pottery shards had yielded evidence of tartaric acid, which is only found in grapes. No remnants of pomegranates, however, were found at the site, and there is no evidences that pomegranates were ever grown in the area.

Answer: True

Opinions differ concerning whether or not the ancient people had learned to domesticate grapes at Areni-1. While some argue that wild grapes grow in abundance in Armenia, others say that the discovery at Areni-1 indicates a large-scale wine production that would only be possible with grapes that had been domesticated. Patrick McGovern, an ancient wine expert, has traced the DNA of cultivated grape varieties to Armenia and nearby countries, which he believes makes them the birthplace of viticulture.

Answer: True

Both Herodotus and Strabo comment on wine coming from ancient Armenia, and the general Xenophon, who led an army in Nairi, the ancient name for Armenia, said his men were given both wine and beer there. In addition, at ancient Persepolis, one of the capitals of the Persian Empire, bas-relief carvings show Armenians bringing offerings of wine to the Persian king. (See picture)

Answer: They were more technologically advanced than thought possible for people in 4500 BC.

The people who lived in the region are unknown; it is believed that they could have been the ancestors of the Kura-Araxes people. Although the wine-making equipment was found in a cemetery, there is no evidence whatsoever of ritual sacrifice taking place at Areni-1.

In addition, even though evidence of wine in the Southern Caucasus exists, there is no evidence to suggest that others learned how to make it from the people at Areni-1. Large scale wine production, as already stated, probably used domesticated grapes, which would have required a sophisticated agricultural operation and technology.

Answer: Shoe

Although older shoes made of fibers have been found, the shoe at Areni-1 is special because of its material and the condition in which it was found. Stuffed full of grass, archaeologists are unsure if the grass was used to further insulate the feet or if it was used to help the shoe maintain its shape while not being worn. Of course, shoes would have been removed during the grape stomp! It is believed that the vintners at Areni-1 used their feet to press the wine in a basin; the juice would then be stored in a vat that has been estimated to have held 14-15 gallons.

After the liquid fermented, it would be stored in clay jars.