French Wine Is Actually Rooted in ... Italy?

Ancient containers point to surprising origins
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 4, 2013 7:03 AM CDT
French Wine Is Actually Rooted in ... Italy?
French wine originated in Italy, a study says.   (Shutterstock)

Sorry, France: It seems your much-lauded winemaking techniques may have originated in Italy. Researchers investigated 13 different 2,500-year-old amphoras—containers found in Lattara, on the French coast. They also looked at a limestone object that appeared to be a wine press, Scientific American reports. Chemical assessment suggested the amphoras, which likely came from the ancient Etruscans in today's Italy, once contained wine. Meanwhile, the press wasn't used until decades after the amphoras turned up in France. In other words, it seems that the French had their wine imported before they started making it themselves. (More France stories.)

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