"Researchers analyzed the DNA of nearly 50 wild and domestic grape seeds collected at archaeological sites mostly across France. The pips dated from the Bronze Age, or around 2300 BCE, through to 1500 CE, nearly 4,000 years."
"Some of the ancient grapes had been cloned. Starting in the mid-Iron Age (around 500 B.C.E.), some of the grape seeds had the same or highly similar DNA."
"That means that French winemakers across the country must have switched from domesticating wild grapes to propagating them directly—that is, cloning them, by taking cuttings of a plant to start new groves."
Wine has a rich history, evidenced by its presence in ancient artifacts and texts. Recent research analyzed grape seeds from archaeological sites in France, dating from 2300 BCE to 1500 CE. The study found that some ancient grape varieties had been cloned, indicating that winemakers transitioned from domesticating wild grapes to propagating them through cuttings. This discovery enhances the understanding of wine's historical development in France and its significance in global wine culture.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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