Iran: Difference between revisions
PathFinder (talk | contribs) m PathFinder: add internal links |
CodexWarrior (talk | contribs) m CodexWarrior: canonicalise ISBN refs |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Iran''' occupies a central position in the history of wine and viticulture as one of the core regions associated with the origins of grape domestication and early winemaking. Archaeological, botanical, and chemical evidence places the Iranian plateau—particularly the Zagros Mountains — among the earliest centres of viniculture in the Neolithic period. Despite this foundational role, [[Iran]] is not a contemporary wine-producing country due to religious, legal, and cultural prohibitions introduced in the modern era.<ref>Robinson | '''Iran''' occupies a central position in the history of wine and viticulture as one of the core regions associated with the origins of grape domestication and early winemaking. Archaeological, botanical, and chemical evidence places the Iranian plateau—particularly the Zagros Mountains — among the earliest centres of viniculture in the Neolithic period. Despite this foundational role, [[Iran]] is not a contemporary wine-producing country due to religious, legal, and cultural prohibitions introduced in the modern era.<ref>Jancis Robinson, ''Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 17 Sept. 2015. ISBN 9780198705383.</ref> | ||
== Origins of viticulture == | == Origins of viticulture == | ||
Iran forms part of the broader [[Near Eastern]] zone in which wild ''[[Vitis vinifera]] subsp. sylvestris'' was first domesticated into ''Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera''. Archaeological finds from the Zagros Mountains, particularly at sites such as Hajji Firuz Tepe in northwestern Iran, have provided some of the earliest chemical evidence for intentional wine production, dated to the late 6th millennium BCE. | Iran forms part of the broader [[Near Eastern]] zone in which wild ''[[Vitis vinifera]] subsp. sylvestris'' was first domesticated into ''Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera''. Archaeological finds from the Zagros Mountains, particularly at sites such as Hajji Firuz Tepe in northwestern Iran, have provided some of the earliest chemical evidence for intentional wine production, dated to the late 6th millennium BCE. | ||
Residue analysis of ceramic jars has revealed tartaric acid and calcium tartrate, widely accepted biomarkers of grape wine, alongside tree resin likely used as a preservative. These findings strongly suggest deliberate fermentation and storage of grape wine rather than accidental fermentation.<ref>McGovern, ''Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viniculture'', Princeton University Press, 2003 | Residue analysis of ceramic jars has revealed tartaric acid and calcium tartrate, widely accepted biomarkers of grape wine, alongside tree resin likely used as a preservative. These findings strongly suggest deliberate fermentation and storage of grape wine rather than accidental fermentation.<ref>Patrick E McGovern, ''Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viniculture'', Princeton University Press, 1 Oct. 2003. ISBN 9780691070803.</ref> | ||
== Ancient Persian wine culture == | == Ancient Persian wine culture == | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
Iran holds exceptional importance in academic wine studies, particularly in archaeology, history, and plant genetics. It is frequently cited as a foundational region in discussions of the origins of fermentation technology, early agriculture, and the cultural role of wine in ancient societies. | Iran holds exceptional importance in academic wine studies, particularly in archaeology, history, and plant genetics. It is frequently cited as a foundational region in discussions of the origins of fermentation technology, early agriculture, and the cultural role of wine in ancient societies. | ||
Modern wine literature consistently distinguishes between Iran’s historical significance and its contemporary absence from global wine production, treating it as a cradle of wine rather than a participant in the modern wine economy.<ref>Johnson | Modern wine literature consistently distinguishes between Iran’s historical significance and its contemporary absence from global wine production, treating it as a cradle of wine rather than a participant in the modern wine economy.<ref>Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson, ''World Atlas of Wine: 8th edition'', Mitchell Beazley, 1 Oct. 2019. ISBN 9781784724030.</ref> | ||
== Cultural legacy == | == Cultural legacy == | ||