New discovery of the origin of the world's oldest wine

The oldest wine in the world may have originated from Italy. The researchers published the discovery after finding traces of 6,000-year-old fermented grapes at the island of Sicily, Western Italy. This discovery was published in Microchemical magazine.

An international team of researchers analyzed residues in terracotta jars found in a cave on Kronio Mountain, near Italy's Agrigento region.

Chemist Enrico Greco of Catania University said that the area could be a sacred place to offer items to the gods.

The oldest wine in the world may have originated from Italy.(Illustration).

The earthenware is placed in the cave so it is not buried and the residue in the bottle is preserved for centuries despite being frozen.

Analytical technologies, including nuclear magnetic resonance, show the composition of tartaric acid, a basic acid in grapes.

Researchers have ruled out that fat deposits are derived from meat or oil, and because there is no trace of grape seeds or skins, the team concludes that this is a trace of fermented grape. Later. Archaeologists determine the date of the specimen by comparing it with other pottery at nearby locations.

This finding is important because it shows that fermented grapes have been around since the 4th millennium BC, which is about 3000 years earlier than the first traces of viticulture recorded in Italy. .

However, researchers are still cautious yet to confirm whether this is the oldest wine in the world.

Previously, researchers also discovered traces in the same year in Armenia, but this seems to be a drink from fermented pomegranate rather than grapes. In addition, there are more ancient traces of fermented rice in China.