Huge 1,500-year-old WINE FACTORY discovered in Israel is the largest known winery in the world from the Byzantine period, and produced two million litres of plonk every year
- Researchers have been excavating the site near Yavne for the past two years ahead of an expansion of the city
- Experts found five massive wine presses, a large warehouse and even a kiln for producing pots for the wine
- It produced wine that would have been sold locally and shipped throughout the Mediterranean region
- The Israel Antiquities Authority spent two years excavating the 75,000 square foot wine making factory
A massive wine factory, dating 1,500 years, has been discovered in Israel, and is the largest known winery ever discovered from the Byzantine period.
The sophisticated facility, unearthed in Yavne, could produce up to two million litres of wine per year, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
For comparison, the UK as a whole now produces just short of eight million litres per year.
Archaeologists spent two years excavating the 75,000 sq ft site as part of a move from the Israel Land Authority to expand the city of Yavne into the surrounding area.
They found five massive wine presses, warehouses for ageing and marketing the wine, and even kilns for firing the clay vessels used to store the wine.
The well organised and structured factory produced the regional wine known as Gaza, or Ashkelon, which was then exported throughout the Mediterranean.
Wine drinking was common for adults and children during the Byzantine period, around 520 CE, due to the poor quality of the water.
Israeli employees of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) work at the site of the 1,500-year-old industrial estate wine factory, uncovered in archeological excavations in the Israeli city of Yavne
The ancient wine production complex covered a 75,000 square foot area, with individual winepresses each 2,400 sq ft
The archeaologists found jars, both complete such as this one, and in fragments. They were used to store, age and transport the wine, and likely made within the facility
KEY FINDINGS
Yavne was once home to the world’s largest wine making factory.
The 75,000 square foot facility was a one stop shop for wine production.
The plant includes five magnificent wine presses, warehouses for aging and marketing the wine, and kilns.
These were used for firing the clay amphorae in which wine was stored.
Tens of thousands of fragments and intact amphorae (jars), well planned access between the facilities, and more were discovered.
Each of the exposed winepresses covered an area of about 2,400sq ft.
Around the treading floor, where the grapes were crushed barefoot to extract the liquid, compartments were built for fermenting the wine.
Next to them – two huge octagonal shaped vats for collecting the wine.
The produce was known as Gaza wine, after the port of Gaza where it was sold and marketed from.
The site was located in the central area of Israel and at the time would have been important enough of a region to be on a map alongside Jerusalem.
It was a Christian town with three large churches, but there were also populations of Jewish people and Samaritans in the town at the same time period, around 520 CE.
‘We have been exposing an industrial area of ancient Yavne,’ said IAA archaeologist Dr Jon Seligman, who led the work with Dr Ellie Haddad and Liat Nadav-Ziv.
‘We found remains of other industries, for example producing glass and metal. We also found remains from other periods, such as a house from the 9th century and some other buildings from the interim period between the Byzantine and Islamic.’
The plant includes tens of thousands of fragments and intact earthen amphorae (jars), well planned access between the facilities, and more.
Each of the exposed winepresses covered an area of about 2,421 st ft (225 sq metres), and when the five were combined with two massive warehouses, it made for an imposing industrial region of an important ancient city.
Around the treading floor, where the grapes were crushed barefoot to extract the liquid, compartments were built for fermenting the wine, and next to them two huge octagonal shaped vats for collecting the wine.
‘We were surprised to discover a sophisticated factory here, which was used to produce wine in commercial quantities,’ study authors explained.
Furthermore, decorative niches in the shape of a conch, which adorned the winepresses, indicate the great wealth of the factory owners.
‘A calculation of the production capacity of these winepresses shows that approximately two million litres of wine were marketed every year, while we should remember that the whole process was conducted manually,’ the team said.
Between the winepresses, four large warehouses were discovered, which formed the winery of the factory, storing up the juice as it aged ahead of being sold.
The wine is aged in elongated amphorae, known as ‘Gaza jars’. The jars themselves, some of which were discovered complete, together with hundreds of thousands of their fragments, were made at the site in large kilns.
In its modern incarnation, Yavneh is a relatively unassuming city, sitting about 15 miles from Tel Aviv and a few miles east of the Mediterranean Sea.
It was this proximity to the sea that turned it into one of the most important wine production facilities in the ancient world.
These dolls from the Abbasid period were among the items discovered at the site of a massive wine factory
Between the winepresses, four large warehouses were discovered, which formed the winery of the factory, storing up the juice as it aged ahead of being sold
The wine is aged in elongated amphorae, known as ‘Gaza jars’. The jars themselves, some of which were discovered complete, together with hundreds of thousands of their fragments, were made at the site in large kilns
‘Gaza and Ashkelon Wine’ was considered a quality wine brand of the ancient world, the team said. Stamped to show its origin
In its modern incarnation, Yavneh is a relatively unassuming city, sitting about 15 miles from Tel Aviv and a few miles east of the Mediterranean Sea
YAVNE: ONCE HOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST WINERY
Yavne is a city in the Central District of Israel, and in English translations of the Bible is known as Jabneh.
It has a long history. It was founded in 2000 BCE as a Cananite city.
It is about four miles east of the Mediterranean and new study reveal it was a major industrial complex.
Archaeologists discovered a massive winery with five large winepresses, warehouses and jars for transport.
It produced the wine known as Gaza 1,500 years ago, that was shipped throughout the Mediterranean.
However, its wine making goes back further than that, to 200 BCE, where there was a small vineyard and press.
After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, and loss of the Second Temple, it is said Yavne became the centre of religious identify for Jewish people.
Currently population is about 47,000.
‘Gaza and Ashkelon Wine’ was considered a quality wine brand of the ancient world, the team said.
Its reputation has spread far and wide, a bit like Jaffa oranges denote their origin and quality today from Israel’, the archaeologists explained.
Everyone knew that this was a product from the Holy Land product, and everyone wanted more and more of this wine, according to Dr Seligman and colleagues.
‘It was taken to many, many countries around the Mediterranean.
‘We’re talking Egypt, we’re talking Turkey, Greece, maybe to southern Italy as well,’ the team said.
Its name came from the ports it was marketed through, Gaza and Ashkelon, rather than from the location it was produced.
‘So far, other sites where wine was produced are known from the southern coastal plain.
‘But now, we seem to have found the main production center of this prestigious wine,’ according to the team behind the discovery.
‘From here, commercial quantities were transported to the ports, and then throughout the Mediterranean basin’.
It appears that wine making dates back further than the 1,500 year period of this winery, as they also found rare and older winepresses from the Persian period.
These ancient presses date back 2,300 years, to about 200 BCE, the team explained.
‘In the Mishna it is said that after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jewish leadership migrated to Yavne, and that the sages of Yavne lived in a vineyard and studied Torah,’ the archaeologists explained.
Its name came from the ports it was marketed through, Gaza and Ashkelon, rather than from the location it was produced
Everyone knew that this was a product from the Holy Land product, and everyone wanted more and more of this wine, according to Dr Seligman and colleagues
Multiple lamps, dating back 1,500 years or more, were found. The well organised and structured factory produced the regional wine known as Gaza, or Ashkelon, which was then exported throughout the Mediterranean
Fragments of the massive pots were also discovered. Each of the exposed winepresses covered an area of about 2,421 st ft (225 sq metres), and when the five were combined with two massive warehouses, it made for an imposing industrial region of an important ancient city
‘The excavation shows a continuum of existence of the wine industry at the site over many centuries of years.’
Eli Eskozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said: ‘The Yavne excavation is a mega-excavation of the Israel Antiquities Authority covering 1.7 acres, with the participation of hundreds of workers.
‘Our archaeologists are doing sacred work by exposing unknown chapters of the history of the country, while working hard in the heat and cold. I welcome the cooperation with the Israel Land Authority and the Yavne Municipality.’
The massive jars were stored in warehouses ready to be shipped once properly aged. According to Eli Eskozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, ‘The Yavne excavation is a mega-excavation of the Israel Antiquities Authority covering 1.7 acres, with the participation of hundreds of workers’
Around the treading floor, where the grapes were crushed barefoot to extract the liquid, compartments were built for fermenting the wine, and next to them – two huge octagonal shaped vats for collecting the wine
This is an ancient lamp discovered on the factory floor. ‘Our archaeologists are doing sacred work by exposing unknown chapters of the history of the country, while working hard in the heat and cold. I welcome the cooperation with the Israel Land Authority and the Yavne Municipality,’ said Eskozido
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO TASTE WINE PROPERLY?
When it comes to drinking wine, there a few things that can make all the difference.
Australian wine-connoisseur Caitlyn Rees offers how to taste wines like an expert
Step 1: See
Before you even down that first sip, you first need to take a look at the wine in your glass.
‘See refers to the appearance of the wine. This is where you can check the clarity, intensity and colour.
‘If the wine is hazy it could be faulty but more likely unfiltered.’
Step 2: Swirl
You’ve probably seen wine drinkers swirl the wine in their glass before taking a sip.
The reason is to allowed the wine to ‘open up’ and reveal the maximum amount of aroma, flavour and intensity.
‘Swirling releases the aroma particles that make the next step, smell, more helpful.’
Step 3: Smell
Smelling wine serves two purposes. It helps you detect scents and flavours as well as providing a way to check for faults.
Step 4: Sip and savour
Once you’ve taken in the full aroma of the wine, now it’s time to sip.
Step 5: Spit or swallow
Unless the wine you are tasting has gone bad, the final step in the process of wine tasting is to swallow.
The trick though isn’t to gulp it down.
It’s more to let it drift down over the back of your tongue to allow your taste buds to pick up the intensity of the flavour.
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