Ancient Tuscan vines yield DNA secrets of modern winemaking

Researchers extracting DNA from 2,000-year-old grape seeds discovered in ancient wells across Tuscany have mapped the most extensive genetic history of grapevines recovered from a single archaeological site, according to the Guardian. The findings point to the origins of modern winemaking practices and reveal that the vines cultivated in what is now Chianti produced white grapes, not the red fruit associated with the region today.

The discovery traces the genetic lineage of viticulture across two millennia, showing how ancient viticultural practices shaped the varieties grown in central Italy. The research suggests that the domestication and selective breeding of grapes during the Roman period established the foundation for the winemaking traditions that persist in Tuscany and beyond.