Which is Older: Wine or Beer?

The question of which is older, wine or beer, has long divided historians. Both alcoholic beverages have roots that stretch back to the mists of time, and their exact order of appearance is difficult to pin down. Archaeological evidence currently indicates that beer predates wine, although both developed very anciently. Beer is thought to be 13,700 years old, while wine is "only" 8,000 years old, but this could change based on future discoveries. Let's be safe, because things could change based on future discoveries: the oldest dating for wine found in Georgia dates back just a few years, setting the age of this beverage back two millennia. Beer went from 7,000 to 13,700 years in 2018 alone. We still don't know what's hidden beneath our feet.

Beer is Older Than Wine

Beer is considered one of the oldest alcoholic beverages produced by man. Its origins date back approximately 13,700 years to the region of Mesopotamia, which today corresponds to Iraq. Traces of beer have been found in ancient vessels discovered near Godin Tepe, in present-day Iran, and in the archaeological sites of the Sumerians, the first great Mesopotamian civilization. Sumerian texts mention as many as eight barley beers, eight spelt beers, and three mixed beers. The oldest traces of beer residues, including brewing tools, were found by archaeologists in the Raqefet Cave in northern Palestine and date back as much as 13,700 years.

The Sumerians also left written records on beer production: one of the best-known is the "Hymn to Ninkasi", dating back to 1800 BC, a religious text dedicated to the goddess of beer, which contains an actual recipe for its preparation: the basic method is to malt some wheat berries, then soak them in water, yeast, date syrup and a loaf of partially cooked and fermented barley dough. The entire process takes about a week and produces a delicate, clear drink that contains only 2% alcohol and doesn't exactly taste like the beer you're used to in modern beers, but rather resembles kvass. Scholars believe, however, that the first beers date back to the Neolithic, obviously produced by chance, because the Mesopotamian civilizations were already too good at making this product to have developed it "on their own" in a hurry.

The Egyptians later took over, and they had a deep and complex connection with beer: it went far beyond its simple consumption as a beverage. Beer was an integral part of their daily lives, their culture, and even their religion. According to Egyptian mythology, Osiris, god of the underworld and rebirth, was the first to teach mankind how to brew beer; this connection between a deity and a beverage gave beer an almost sacred significance. Beer was therefore considered a divine gift, an elixir of life and fertility. It was offered to the gods during rituals and celebrations. It is no coincidence that beer "factories" dating back to the period have even been found, capable of producing large quantities of this fermented beverage (which, however, had a very different flavor from today's beer). The civilization of ancient Egypt played a crucial role in the development and spread of both beer and wine. Beer was the Egyptian population‘s favorite drink, brewed primarily by women and consumed daily by all social classes. It was so important that it was offered to the gods as tribute and often included in the rations of workers building the pyramids. Wine was also appreciated, but was considered a luxury good reserved for the elite. Depictions in the tombs of high officials show scenes reminiscent of the production of wine, which was consumed in particular during religious ceremonies and aristocratic banquets. In addition to the classic wine made from the vine, there were also wines made from dates, pomegranates, and palms, the latter used especially during mummification. Since Egypt was a very hot country, the most used and produced wine was shedeh, a sweet wine.