The untold story of wine, from the Stone Age to the present

'Capaciously informative and endlessly entertaining' Tom Holland, co-host of The Rest Is History In the beginning, there was the vine. Wine: a drink, a medicine, a ritual and a commodity. Across millennia, it has been used to celebrate and commiserate, as a negotiating tool and a diplomatic gift. But where - and when - was it first discovered? And how did it become a worldwide phenomenon? From the planting of grape seeds in conquered territories across Ancient Rome, to the uprooting of vineyards during the Chinese Communist Revolution, this is the first truly global survey of wine from acclaimed historian Kathleen Burk. From a symbol of civilisation to the depths of debauchery, the formation of new trade routes to the consolidation of empires, Burk traces the story of our contemporary civilisation through one of the world's most ancient - and sought-after - pleasures.

"For the wine lover, it's the perfect companion to a brimming glassful" - Country Life

"Given the obvious effort, in terms of impressively wide research, that went into the writing of this book, [Burk] surely has wine in her blood" - World of Fine Wine

"Magnificent ... Burk provides a series of delightful guides to grapes, vintages and terroirs ... One of the very best things about Burk's book is the way it reminds us that, in wine and human nature, little changes" - Literary Review

"An epic tale ... If you want to learn about the history of wine, there's no better place to start" - Engelsberg Ideas

"Burk uncovers the remarkable stories behind the history of wine ... Fascinating" - Taste of France

"Packed with fascinating information" - Decanter

"Excellent ... It's fantastic" - THE REST IS HISTORY

"A detailed, compendious history that's rich in wine trivia" - Kirkus

"Praise for Old World, New World: Immensely thought-provoking [and] lucid" - Guardian

"An ambitious narrative... lucidly narrated and generous" - Times Literary Supplement

"An account of viticulture and fermentation as well as an exhaustive, breathtaking exploration of how deeply human culture is steeped in libation, proving that to understand wine is to understand the architecture of society, commerce, and art" - Shelf Awareness