For centuries, the origins of wine grapes have intrigued historians, archaeologists, and botanists alike. Wine has played an integral role in human civilization, dating back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. However, new scientific research is revolutionizing our understanding of the evolutionary history of grapes, revealing a much older and more complex story than previously thought.

A groundbreaking study co-authored by University of Michigan paleobotanist Mónica Carvalho has uncovered fossil evidence suggesting that the ancestors of modern wine grapes can be traced back an astonishing 60 million years to the rainforests of the New World. This research challenges the long-standing belief that grapes originated solely in the Old World and provides new insights into the evolution and dispersal of these plants over millions of years.

Tracing Grapes Back to Their Ancient Roots

The study, published in a peer-reviewed journal, focused on fossilized grape seeds from nine different species, which were unearthed in regions spanning modern-day Panama, Colombia, and Peru. These fossils date back between 20 million and 60 million years, placing them far earlier in history than previously known grape species.

One of the most significant findings of the study is that the oldest of these seeds are closely related to the subfamily Vitoideae, which includes the genus Vitis, the group to which all modern commercial wine grapes belong. The discovery of such ancient grape relatives in the New World suggests that grapes may have originated in tropical rainforests that flourished after the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.

The Link Between Grapes and Ancient Rainforests

Scientists have long debated the origins of the grapevine family. While historical records and archaeological evidence indicate that wine-making began in the Near East around 8,000 years ago, these new findings push the evolutionary history of grapevines much further back in time.

Carvalho and her team believe that the ancestors of modern grapes first evolved in the aftermath of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event, which occurred about 66 million years ago. This catastrophic event led to the extinction of nearly 75% of Earth’s species, including non-avian dinosaurs. However, it also set the stage for the rise of flowering plants, which rapidly diversified to fill the ecological niches left behind.

In the humid, warm conditions of the early Paleocene epoch, the first neotropical rainforests began to emerge. It was within these lush, biodiverse environments that the first grape ancestors likely evolved, gradually developing the climbing vine structures and fruit-bearing characteristics that would define the species over time.

How Did Grapes Spread Across the World?

The presence of ancient grape fossils in South America raises an important question: How did grapes spread from the New World to Eurasia and eventually become the foundation of the global wine industry?

The study suggests that climatic changes and shifting landmasses played a key role in the dispersal of grape species. Around 20 million years ago, the Earth’s climate underwent significant changes, leading to the expansion of temperate forests in Eurasia and the gradual retreat of tropical rainforests. During this period, grapevines likely migrated across land bridges and through seed dispersal mechanisms involving animals, wind, and water.

Over millions of years, different species of grapes adapted to their new environments, leading to the vast diversity of grape species we see today. While some species continued to thrive in tropical regions, others adapted to temperate climates, eventually giving rise to the grape varieties that are now cultivated for wine production across Europe, Asia, and North America.

The Evolution of Wine Grapes and Human Civilization

The domestication of grapevines and the production of wine mark one of the most significant agricultural achievements of human civilization. Archaeological evidence suggests that humans began cultivating grapes for winemaking at least 8,000 years ago, with the earliest known wine production sites discovered in modern-day Georgia and Iran.

As civilizations expanded, so did the cultivation of grapes, with winemaking playing a crucial role in religious rituals, social gatherings, and trade. The Greeks and Romans perfected viticulture techniques, spreading grape cultivation across their empires. During the medieval period, monks and winemakers in Europe continued to refine the craft, leading to the development of famous wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhine Valley.

However, despite the deep cultural history of winemaking, the biological and evolutionary history of grapes remained largely a mystery—until now. The new fossil evidence highlights the deep evolutionary roots of grapes, proving that their origins extend far beyond human civilization.

What This Discovery Means for the Future of Viticulture

Understanding the ancient history of grapes is not just a matter of scientific curiosity; it has significant implications for modern viticulture and agriculture. Climate change, habitat loss, and disease are major threats to grape cultivation, and genetic research on ancient grape species could provide valuable insights into improving grapevine resilience.

By tracing the evolutionary history of grapes, scientists can identify genetic traits that allowed ancient vines to survive in diverse environments. These traits could be harnessed to develop more resilient grape varieties that can withstand changing climate conditions, pests, and diseases—ensuring that the global wine industry continues to thrive for generations to come.

The discovery that modern wine grapes have a deep evolutionary history dating back 60 million years challenges traditional assumptions about their origins. Fossilized grape seeds found in South America suggest that grapes first emerged in the New World before spreading across the globe, ultimately becoming one of the most important crops in human history.

As scientists continue to study the evolutionary past of grapes, their findings will not only reshape our understanding of plant history but also offer new possibilities for the future of agriculture and viticulture. The next time you raise a glass of wine, you may be drinking from a lineage that traces its roots back to the ancient rainforests of the Paleocene epoch—a history as rich and complex as the flavors in the wine itself.

About The Author