Ancient wine press uncovers bygone export market

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Byzantine-era wine press in Israel.

Israeli archaeologists said yesterday that they had found an unusually shaped 1,400-year-old wine press that was exceptionally large and advanced for its time.

‘The size of the wine press attests to the fact that the quantity of wine that was produced in it was exceptionally large and was not meant for local consumption,’ said excavation director Uzi Ad.

‘The wine was probably intended for export to Egypt, then a major export market or to Europe,’ he added.

The structure originally included a central treading floor with a mosaic pavement.

Israeli authorities have said that the site will be protected and opened to the public.

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Written by James Lawrence

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James Lawrence is a freelance lifestyle journalist, copywriter and blogger, based in London. Aside from Decanter, he has written for The Drinks Business, Harpers Wine & Spirit, City AM and The Telegraph. His special interests are wine fraud, appellation systems the Asian wine market and Napa Valley producers. He writes a wine blog called The Wine Remedy.