Oldest wine grape in production

[Thomas]

Oh Guru, one more thing:
Since so far Mesopotamia, Armenia, Iran and Georgia have been identified as having produced wine about 8,000 years ago, that is where I would begin to look for the oldest grape variety that might still be in production.

Greece came to wine through contact with Phoenicians, who got their wine knowledge from Syria, who got theirs from Mesopotamia--so the story goes.

Incidentally, I lived in Tehran in the 70s--great Rieslings produced near the mountains identified as among the oldest wine-producing regions. Maybe Riesling is the oldest one!!!

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 08-10-2004).]