There is evidence of man cultivating wild grapes to make wine dating as far back as the Neolithic period, traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age. Wine has a rich history dating back thousands of years, with the earliest known production occurring around 8,000 years ago on the territory of modern-day Georgia. Other notable areas of wine production have been discovered in Greece and date back to 4500 BC.

In Ancient Egypt, six of 36 wine amphoras (vases) were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. One of the lasting legacies of the ancient Roman Empire was the viticulture foundation the Romans laid in the lands that today are world renowned wine regions.

Roman expansion across Western Europe also brought Roman viticulture to the areas that would be home to some of the world's most well known wine-growing regions.
Roman viticulturists were among the first to identify steep hillsides as one of the more ideal locations to plant vines because cool air runs downhill and gathers at the bottom of valleys.

Ancient Rome played a pivotal role in the history of wine. The earliest influences of viticulture on the Italian peninsula can be traced to Ancient Greeks and Etruscans. The rise of the Roman Empire saw an increase in technology and awareness of winemaking which spread to all parts of the empire. Ancient Rome and wine

The influence of the Romans has had a profound effect of the histories of today's major winemaking regions of France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. In the hands of the Romans, wine became "democratic" and available to all, from the lowly slave to the simple peasant to the aristocrat. The Romans' belief that wine was a daily necessity of life promoted its widespread availability among all classes. This led to the desire to spread viticulture and wine production to every part of the Roman empire, to ensure steady supplies for Roman soldiers and colonists.

Roman winemaking

Ancient Roman winemaking involved the treading of the grapes quickly after harvesting. The writings of Virgil, Pliny and Columella give the most details about the types of grape varieties used in the production of wine in the Roman empire. The grapes of the Roman empire were varied, with many varieties being lost to antiquity.

In the Middle Ages, Catholic monks (particularly the Cistercians) were the most prominent viticulturists of the time period.

Many of the vinicultural practices developed in this time period would become staples of European viticulture till the 18th century.

Varietals were studied more intently to see which vines were the most suitable for a particular area. Around this time, an early concept of terroir emerged as wines from particular places began to develop a reputation for uniqueness.