Food - Drink
How A Cave Discovery Changed What We Know About Sicily's Winemaking History
By SYLVIA TOMCZAK
For years, winemaking has been a central aspect of Italy's rich enogastronomic identity, but its exact origins were relatively unknown — that is, until a cave discovery in the south of Sicily changed our understanding of Italy's winemaking history.
Historians previously believed winemaking started in Sardinia during the 12th century B.C. — that is, until The Guardian reported the presence of trace wine residues in terracotta pottery in Agrigento on Sicily's southwest coast, pushing the date back by three millennia!
These wine residues can provide insights into wine’s consumption, its use in Mediterranean trade, and even its purpose within religious offerings. We’ll also learn more about how the earliest Sicilians sparked an interest in a wine culture that spread rapidly through the country in the following centuries.