Grape growing history is basically dated ever since Neolithic periods and we do have proof that people were refining grapes then to make wine. It spreads from 5 BC to modern times. Georgia is famous for having the oldest ever VItis vinifera domestication. While in 3200 BC there were different establishments that were focused on growing grapes.

During the earliest known cultivation the hermaphrodite gender of the Vitis vinifera species were given more importance than the infertile male and female vines that were dependant on nearby male vines for being pollinated. Hermaphrodite vines can easily pollinate themselves.

Phoenicians basically first started using various viticulture practices. Carthage eventually saw these practices used later on in time. You can also find a lot of details about viticulture thanks to Mago and his 28 volume manuscript. This is one manuscript that did manage to make it through the Roman Empire’s Carthage artifacts destruction attempts in the third Punic War and today gives us much info about the history of growing grapes.

Inspired by these scripts, Roman statesman Cato de Elder, wrote De Agra Cultura in 160 BC which described the viticulture and agriculture of the Romans. De Re Rustica, written by Columella, talked a lot about the Roman viticulture. We first heard about trellis use in Columella writings.

He is also referring to early trends that saw vines being trained to grow on different tree trunks and methods that revolutionize everything with the use of stakes instead of tree trunks. Columella basically liked stakes because it was really hard to prune vines when they were growing on trees. And pruning was essential too as the vines needed lots of sunlight which was not possible if the vegetation became too thick.

Different world known wine growing regions including German Mosel, French Bordeaux, SPanish Rioja, Rhone and Burgundy became popular when we saw the Roman Empire spreading their dominance towards Western Europe.

Roman viticulturists were the pioneers in identifying steep hillsides as ideal locations for growing grapevines. They understood that cold air always travelled down from the hill top to the valley. Grapevines were harmed by large exposures to cold air and this directly interfered with the photosynthesis process, thus affecting plant food.

Catholic monks were really good viticulturists in the middle Ages. Vintage wines that were similar were produced thanks to the introduction of cru vineyards. Around this time the system of Metayage arose in France wherein labors worked on the land of viticulturists on contractual basis. The landlords gave the labor the choice of choosing the type of grapes his wished to grow and how to cultivate it.

The middle age practices did last till around the 18th century. Studies were conducted to understand the compatibility of different grapevines with different localities. This period also saw conflicts of quality over quantity. Wealthy and powerful landlords wanted quality as this offered good wine. However, poor labor was interested in quantity due to the fact that it directly impacted money made.

Grape growing history started around the year 5 BC and appeared in Europe thanks to the Roman Empire, which brought it from Greece. It was Catholic Monks that introduced modern day vineyard culture. It does seem that even during ancient times we saw viticulture as highly popular.