In the modern world, wine is the drink of choice for not only chic and sophisticated, but for the masses as well: it has come to be associated with seeking pleasure, and refined taste. For ancient Egyptians, during the Predynastic period in 3000 BC, wine making and preservation was attested in the south of Egypt. Large quantities of wine jars were discovered in the tombs of Early Dynastic nobles, which signified an early appreciation for wine drinking. Wine was mainly available in festivals and special occasions, but it was consumed in daily life as well. According to scholarly research, the wine in ancient Egypt was essentially produced from grapes, pomegranates, and date. Its use, beyond that of drinking, was also as offering to the gods and the deceased in rituals, but also in medical treatments. Moreover, wine was often used as a ceremonial drink, and was symbolic of the power to ‘revitalize and rebirth’ in ancient Egypt. According to an account by Greek Philosopher Plutarch, Egyptians thought wine was the “blood of those who had once battled against the gods, and from whom, when they had fallen and had become … Continue reading Oaks and Corks: The Brief History of Wine in Egypt