We basically drink the same wine as ancient Romans. Researchers found grape growers managed to keep modern grape DNA extremely consistent and similar to ancient varieties. While this kept flavors consistent, researchers worry grapes are genetically at-risk to environmental changes.

We Drink Basically The Same Wine Varietals As Ancient Romans, And That’s Not So Great

With wine, older can often mean better. “Vintage,” our word for “classily aged,” comes from the winemaking process. Wines from decades ago can fetch far higher prices than freshly made ones. Wine itself is woven throughout ancient history, from ancient Judeo-Christian rites (hello, Last Supper!) to Egyptian ceremonies to Roman orgies. And the grape varieties we like tend to have lengthy pasts: For instance, chardonnay grapes from France’s Champagne region have been made into white wine since the Middle Ages.

But until now, nobody knew just how ancient the wine varietals we’ve been drinking are. According to a new study in Nature Plants published Monday, many of the most popular wine varietals sold today are extremely genetically similar… Continue Reading (4 minute read)