Although wine was quite popular in Ancient cultures, it was only available for the enjoyment of a select few. Since the first people to inhabit these regions found it easier to cultivate grain and produce beer, there was not much common interest in the production of wine.

When the Ancient Egyptians began to trade with their eastern neighbours, they discovered wine and found it to possess many good side effects. They believed that wine was a gift from their gods, because it had the power to temporarily banish their daily troubles. The social elite of Egypt greatly enjoyed their wines and this pleasure from drinking was passed on to the Ancient Greek civilisation.

Like the Egyptians before them, the Greeks valued the consumption of wine. They traded different varieties with the Middle East and between the many Greek Islands. Wine was quite popular in Greece and Greek citizens spent much of their time discussing wine and finding ways of making it even more enjoyable. Wine was becoming more and more a part of daily life in the known world.

The Roman Empire is credited with the massive spread of wine throughout Europe. The Romans, it seemed, loved wine even more than the Greeks and pushed for its development in countries such as Spain, France and even parts of Britain. The time of the Roman Empire also saw the general public's demand for wine soar to a new height. Many cities had wine bars on almost every street and festivals were held to ensure a good year's harvest of grapes. The Romans also recorded what they knew about the cultivation of wine, which was carried into the Dark Ages by the diligence of Christian monks.