Which country did grapes originate in?

Wine first originated in Georgia, where archaeological finds of 8,000-year-old grape seeds and the remains of vines sealed in ancient clay containers bear witness to its presence.

The tradition of making wine in Georgia began 8,000 years ago - 3,000 years before recorded history and 5,000 years before the start of the Iron Age. While ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece developed their own wine cultures, all of this is attributed to Georgia's grape culture. References to Georgia's ancient viticultural traditions and high quality winemaking can be found in the works of Homer and Apollonius of Rhodes. Even the unique Georgian alphabet is modeled after the shape of the curly branches of the vine. Many of the vines still grown in Europe and Asia originated in Georgia, and even the Western words for wine - vin, vino, wine - may come from the Georgian gvino.

For centuries winemaking has been been the engine of Georgia's economy - elevating the vine as a symbol of endurance, regeneration and prosperity. As winemakers explore new markets, revisit centuries-old terroirs and carve out a place for their wines on the global stage, the ****ing passion for the grape continues.

As the Georgian wine renaissance gains momentum, today's Georgian winemakers are capitalizing on 8,000 years of national heritage to produce some of the world's most unique wines. In the process, they are transforming themselves into an emerging wine region by connecting the wine's rich history with a vibrant and exciting future.