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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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