Researchers have discovered the world's oldest wine in the province of Seville. More than 2,000 years old, this white wine comes from a Roman grave and provides a unique window into the history of wine in the ancient world.
In 2019, archaeologists discovered Municipality of Carmona and University of Cordoba A Roman grave in a house in the city. What they found there would turn the wine world upside down. In a glass jar are the remains of a man completely submerged in a liquid substance. At first it looked like white wine, but after 2000 years the wine acquired a red tint.
For confirmation That it was indeed wine, and extensive chemical analyzes were carried out. The researchers analyzed the pH, mineral salts, and the presence of certain chemical compounds. They also compared the material to contemporary wines from the regions of Montilla-Morelles, Jerez and Sanlucar.
The wine was identified based on polyphenols, which are biomarkers found in all wines. Seven specific types of polyphenols have been discovered and are also present in modern wines from the region. A lack of syringic acid indicates a white wine, historical sources suggest, but it could also be caused by time.
It is difficult to determine the origin of the wine since no samples from the same period are available for comparison. However, the mineral salts in the wine appear to be consistent with white wines produced today in the area that at the time included the Roman province of Baetica, especially those of Montella Moreles.
This unique wine was discovered in the city of Carmona, about 30 kilometers northeast of Seville. This region played an important role in the Roman Empire and was part of the Province of Baetica.
