So much so that there is evidence that the Hittites laid down some of the earliest recorded wine and viticulture regulations. Wine was important to both their culture and economy. Archaeological digs across the region have turned up hieroglyphs and relief work featuring vines, grapes, and drinking cups.

The Hittites, who ruled Anatolia from around 1700 – 1200 BC had a deep connection with wine.

Certainly it’s what inspired me to choose wines from this part of Turkey! History & wine production Being both Catholic and an enthusiast of the fermented grape, I think of wine.Īnd maybe its just a coincidence that this month’s Ancient Wines #WinePW chat is happening Easter weekend…but I prefer to think it was fate. Modern Turks (and the rest of us who live here!) think of Antioch, or Hatay as it is now called, and drool over some of the best food this country has to offer. Historians may muse on the lives of early civilizations like the Hittites and those that came before. When Christians hear the name, Antioch, it evokes images if Saints Peter and Paul preaching the Good News to early Christians. In fact though, it has one of the most ancient of wine cultures. People often forget to include Turkey, which in fact is the home of the vitis vinifera grape, when talking about ancient and old world wine cultures. ApBy Andrea Lemieux 2 American Wines, Red Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviewsįor this month’s Wine Pairing Weekend, Nicole at Somm’s Table invited us to write about wines from the ancient world.

Anceint antioch osketch