Grape evidence for a dominant position of wine-making in human culture dates from 8,000 years ago in Georgia. The oldest known winery was found in Armenia, dating to around 4000 BC. By the 9th century AD the city of Shiraz was known to produce some of the finest wines in the Middle East. Thus it has been proposed that Syrah red wine is named after Shiraz, a city in Persia where the grape was used to make Shirazi wine. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics record the cultivation of purple grapes, and history attests to the ancient Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans growing purple grapes
Muscat (grape) "Vitis vinifera" grape variety are descended from the Muscat variety. Among the most notable members of the Muscat family are "Muscat blanc à Petits Grains", which is the primary grape variety used in the production of the Italian sparkling wine "Asti" (also known as "Moscato Asti") made in the Piedmont region. It is also used in the production of many of the French fortified wines known as "vin doux naturels". In Australia, this is also the main grape used in the production of "Liqueur Muscat", from the Victorian wine region of Rutherglen. Young, unaged and unfortified examples of "Muscat blanc"