Ancient Wine News Today

Patrick McGovern, a molecular archaeologist who specializes in alcoholic drinks, studies wines and history. Read an interview with him here.

Through the centuries, the church has debated about whether to drink wine, how much is acceptable, and other related subjects.

“There’s one [recipe] that was put together by a king of Pontus in Turkey named Mithridates,” says McGovern. “There’s 73 ingredients that go into it.” To make this particular concoction, someone would need “flesh of vipers,” wine, opium, rhubarb, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, among other herbs and spices. Purportedly, this mixture would relieve symptoms like stomach weakness, difficulty breathing and perhaps even the plague itself. “So, it was very important in the...