Researchers uncovered a 2,000-year-old ancient potion in a burial vessel accompanied by cremated human remains.
Unearthed in Carmona, a location in the southern region of Andalusia, the wine is thought to be the most ancient ever discovered and remains in a state of liquid preservation.
Examination of the contents in the urn revealed that it was actually white wine despite its deep coloration, as it lacked the polyphenols typically present in grape skins used for red wine production.
Scientists noted in their report that the liquid is akin to the Fino wines currently produced in the region.
Dr. Juan Manuel Román, archaeologist and co-author of the report, commented: ‘It was a tremendous surprise when we discovered the urns during a dig. We initially assumed that the urns contained remains and other funerary objects, but we never envisioned the possibility that they might contain a liquid.’
It is thought that the cremated remains discovered in the wine belong to a 45-year-old male, as per the conclusions of specialist examination.
A golden ring was discovered in the dark reddish liquid that filled the urn to the top.
The Roman mausoleum in Carmona was unearthed in 2019 during a house renovation and included funeral urns alongside the remains of a man and a woman.
Wine was a common in ancient Roman funerals; experts think wine was probably involved in a ritual to aid the deceased in transitioning to the afterlife.
However, the practice of mixing must with wine had previously been unmatched, with no other wines having been so well preserved for 2,000 years.
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