HISTORY OF VINES IN THE OLD WORLD

It is impossible to determine the true origins of wild vines that were widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the Himalayas through what is now the territory of the United States. When glaciations occurred in the Quaternary era, and the Northern hemisphere was covered by ice, the plantations were largely destroyed.

However, some plants were saved in what is known as climate shelters. These shelters existed throughout what are now Europe, Asia Minor and the United States.
The most important shelter in Asia was called Caucasian Refuge, which was the one that retained the most plant species. Botanists from all over the world believe that there most fruit species, including the vine were originated and then distributed to the world.

Thus, the first people who began using the vines were called "the fertile crescent moon," which started at the Caucasus, and continues through Syria, Iran, Palestine and Iraq. Therefore, it was there where the major cities were created, such as Babylon.
The vines grew especially in the wild woods, with the particularity of climbing on trees. The first wines were made from these fruits. The history of the vineyards has always been linked from the most remote antiquity to the Eastern mythology, especially that of Bacchus, and from there to Asia to Egypt, Thrace and to the Mediterranean countries.
The worship of Bacchus went beyond the veneration due to the creator and protector of the vine. According to the Orphic concept, Bacchus appeared as a kind of divinity.

THE VINES IN FRANCE

The growing of grapes in France is the result of the Roman influence in Gaul. Julius Caesar, for the Gaullist tradition, not only a great military man was regarded as the father of the vineyards. Because in his memoirs, Julius Caesar said that as he ventured into the French territory, in his fights against the Gauls, he noted that those tribes where the livelihood was based on agriculture, the owners left the houses. However, those who had vineyards held on to the vines by their fingernails.
Therefore, he learnt that the cultivation of the vine should be promoted to entrench the people and have them defend the conquered places.
That tradition of wine from France was transferred to Spain and after that to the Americas. Especially in Spain, the wine was used and it was negotiated as a bargaining tool. It was even said that in due course Andalusia was a true sea of wine. Consequently, from the ports of Andalusia departed the caravels to the Americas, the most important plant species were taken with them, among which there were the olive and fig trees, as well as vines. These aspects should be added that sailors were accompanied by priests, who required wine for celebrating mass.

According to what is said, initially cuttings of vines were transported and they would dry out or sprout during the trip, and it was very difficult to take them to the New Continent. The first plantations were made on the island of Santo Domingo, but the habitat was very negative, so the crops did not flourish.
That is the reason it is believed that the origin of vines in the Southernmost regions arouse with the arrival of Spanish soldiers to the area, who used to carry raisins, which constituted a highly energetic food for them with a special value and, at the same time, were very light and occupied little space.

It is estimated that the first vines sprang from seeds, although naturally they never reproduce themselves from the parent plants, because when it happens a degenerative process begins. This might also explain why the American vines presented features unknown at that time and would be the origin of the Creole vines.

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