logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
43m 1s

The Origins of Wine

History Hit
About this episode

Wine is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. But its popularity dates back thousands of years. Throughout ancient history, wine was without doubt the drink of choice for all manner of cultures throughout the Mediterranean. So what did winemaking look like over 2000 years ago? Where and when did it start? And how did ancient winemakers transform vine-picked grapes into the ancient world’s favourite drink?


In this episode of the Ancients - suggested by our listener Todd Abrams - Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Emlyn Dodd to discover how winemaking spread across the Mediterranean, and explore how old the practice of winemaking really is. 


This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Ella Blaxill. 


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
The Ninth Legion: Did They Disappear?
It's one of history’s most compelling cold cases. What happened to the Ninth Legion, a crack unit of 5,000 Roman soldiers who vanished from the historical record without a trace?Tristan Hughes is joined by Roman historian Dr Simon Elliott to investigate the fate of the legion tha ... Show More
1h 9m
Oct 15
Viking Origins: The Nordic Iron Age
Two thousand years ago, centuries before the Vikings, there was another Scandinavia. An Iron Age world.Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Marianne Hem Eriksen to uncover the deep roots of the seafaring North, journeying through a forgotten world of elite halls, Roman encounters, and ... Show More
1h 7m
Oct 11
Caratacus: King of the Britons
Before Boudicca, another British leader brought the Roman war machine to a grinding halt. Meet Caratacus; the cunning King of the Britons who spent seven years outmaneuvering the empire.Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Miles Russell to uncover the forgotten story of this charismat ... Show More
1h 6m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2018
Discovering the World’s Oldest Winery
<p>Sidedoor host Tony Cohn gets the opportunity of a lifetime: fly to Armenia and crawl into a deep, dark cave in search of long-lost wine. But we’re not talking just any ol’ cabernet or sauvignon blanc: these 6,000-year-old wine remnants are evidence of the world's oldest winery ... Show More
26m 6s
Aug 2025
A History of Alcohol
I’m at Ye Olde Mitre, one of the oldest pubs in London with a cold pint of Ale. And I can think of no better place to discuss the history of alcohol. Intoxicating beverages has been a part of human culture from the beginning. Alcohol flows through our social, ritual, religious, e ... Show More
33m 21s
May 2022
Food in the Ancient World
<p>When we think of the modern Mediterranean, delicious and vibrant food is one of the first things that come to mind. But how much has the regional food changed over the last two millennia? In this episode, Tristan is joined by the host of&nbsp;<em>'The Delicious Legacy'</em>&nb ... Show More
36m 24s
Dec 2023
Conversations: Wandering Through Wine Culture, Ancient Greek Drinking w/ Dr Nadhira Hill
Liv is joined by Dr Nadhira Hill to talk about boozing it up in ancient world, which basically just meant... Drinking a lot of wine, all the time, in many different ways. Praise Dionysus! Read more from Nadhira on Notes from the Apotheke and follow Nadhira on Instagram. Help keep ... Show More
1h 31m
Jun 2022
28. Mapping Out Wine's Origins with Dr. Patrick McGovern
Farrah speaks to Dr. Patrick E. McGovern, the Scientific Director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Project for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health at the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia. He's the author of many books including Ancient Wine: The Search for th ... Show More
56m 35s
May 2024
Beer
In ancient Mesopotamia, people invent straws to better enjoy their favourite tipple. The Romans turn their noses up at barbarian beverages. The introduction of hops to brewing sparks a beer-based battle of the sexes. And Prohibition in America leads to the production of potential ... Show More
37m 9s
Aug 2023
Medieval Booze with Eleanor Janega
<p>In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis welcomes his new co-host, historian Dr. Eleanor Janega. For her first episode, Eleanor and Matt kick off with a quick fire round about some of her favourite Medieval subjects, culminating in booze. How important was alcohol in the m ... Show More
41m 53s
Nov 2019
This Wine is Older than you
In this episode of our wine education podcast, wine expert, Tanisha Townsend of Girl Meets Glass teaches us all about vintages. Credits: This episode was produced by Studio Ochenta. Hosted by Tanisha Townsend of Girl Meets Glass. Our Executive Producer is Lory Martinez. Music by ... Show More
11m 9s
Dec 2021
12 Days: Port wine and Darwin sets sail
How the English's fondness for Portuguese fortified wine began, and the unlikely story of the voyage which inspired Charles Darwin's natural philosophy. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and ... Show More
29m 46s