Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the world of wine, uncovering the origins of modern wine through DNA analysis of 2,000-year-old grape seeds. The seeds, found in ancient Italian wells, have revealed that white grapes were once the dominant crop in the Chianti region, now famous for its red wines.

Ancient Vineyards

The discovery was made at Cetamura del Chianti, a hilltop settlement in Italy’s renowned Chianti wine region. Between 300 B.C. and A.D. 300, local residents dropped grape pips into deep wells, where oxygen-free mud preserved them. Study co-author Dr. Oya Inanli said, ‘We sequenced the DNA of 80 seeds and found a remarkable story of continuity. A large majority of the tested seeds belonged to a single, identical variety passed directly from the Etruscans to the Romans and maintained for centuries.’

The research team found that the dominant, long-lived clone produced white berries, which was a surprise given the region’s current fame for rich, red Sangiovese wines. Co-author Dr. Nancy De Grummond said, ‘Our team’s research adds an important chapter on the history of wine in the viticulture region of Chianti. What a delightful surprise to learn that the world-famous red wine of today was actually preceded by a white vintage that was curated and maintained for centuries in Etruscan and Roman times.’

Wide-Reaching Agricultural Trading Network

The team also found evidence of a wide-reaching agricultural trading network developed by the Romans to standardize wine production. Genetic testing revealed that the dominant Cetamura clone was closely related to two ancient grape seeds previously tested from Southern France. This provides biological evidence of the network’s existence and its impact on the development of modern wine.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.