Scientists cannot say for sure which drink appeared earlier - wine or beer. It is assumed that beer is still an older product, although many researchers are trying to prove the opposite. We can say for sure that both of these alcoholic drinks are very ancient, they appeared during the existence of ancient civilizations.
Beer history
Beer is called one of the oldest drinks in the world, according to many scientists, it is an older product than wine. Presumably, the history of this foamy drink began in the early Neolithic era, that is, at the time when people began to grow crops. Researchers suggest that cereals began to be cultivated not for baking bread, but for making beer - a nutritious, tasty and refreshing drink. Thus, it is believed that beer originated as early as 9500 BC, but there is no exact confirmation of this.
It is known for sure that in 3500-3100 BC beer already existed: archaeologists found its remains in an ancient Sumerian city. Around the same time, the foamy drink was brewed in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, judging by the surviving written sources. The ancient Greek historian Xenophon wrote in his writings that “barley wine” was kept in the villages of Ancient Armenia, a strong but very pleasant drink, which scientists consider to be nothing more than beer. Beer was also brewed in ancient China, using sprouted rice for this. The drink became popular all over the world; rye, oats, wheat, barley were used for its preparation.
Wine history
In the Neolithic era, along with the cultivation of cereals, people also studied the art of cultivating grapes, so wine can compete with beer for the title of the oldest drink. Many researchers argue that it was easier for ancient people to discover the secrets of winemaking, because wine from juice is obtained by itself, with the help of substances contained on the surface of berries, while beer must be specially brewed in a certain way.
Nevertheless, while the most ancient wine, as found out by archaeologists, was made in ancient China about 9 thousand years ago from rice. A millennium later, this drink was well known in Asia Minor, from where it came to the Mediterranean. In 2000 BC, wine was prepared in Egypt, Greece, Palestine and Israel. Legends and myths related to winemaking appeared, and in many cultures and religions, individual deities were responsible for the production of wine.
Both drinks are known for almost as long as the history of modern man. Perhaps, over time, scientists will receive more accurate information about which drink appeared earlier - beer or wine. But we hardly ever know who was the first person to come up with a beer recipe or make wine.
