Politics can often play a part in the culture of wine enthusiasts; we’ve spent quite a bit of time discussing, for example, the ongoing debate over HR 5034. Debate over commerce statutes is one thing, but what about when the very bedrock of a nation involves the regulation or prohibition of wine?
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, alcohol is forbidden by law, consistent with the strict interpretations of religion practiced by the nation’s leaders. Each year the state initiates crackdowns on bootleggers and smugglers, making rough examples of them and publicly dumping their goods into the gutter. What many people may not realize, however, is that this same region has a very long and glorious history with wine—even if the inhabitants are no longer allowed to enjoy it.
Modern-day Iran developed from the ancient empires of Persia, and in Persia, wine—known as mey or badeh—was an important and pervasive aspect of the culture. One Persian legend claims that wine was first discovered by a young woman who was rejected from a king’s harem; despondent, she attempted to poison herself by eating from a bowl of rotten grapes. As you could guess, the grape juice intoxicated her instead, and when she awoke the next morning she found herself believing that life was worth living. She brought her discovery to the king, and as a reward was allowed into the harem.
In fact, archaeologists believe that the existence of wine in Persia predates even the first wines of France! Pottery from approximately 5000 B.C. was discovered and analyzed, and found to contain trace elements of acids associated with wine. The cultivation of wine was a source of pride in Persia for centuries, and today the varietal red wine Shiraz (also known as Syrah) takes its name—if not its origins—from the Persian city that was the most celebrated for its fine wines.
The influence of wine on Persian culture is most easily seen in the works of Persia’s most famous poets and artists. Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat extols in passionate, romantic verse the virtues of wine, and many of the works of Hafez speak positively of wine’s intoxicating qualities. For Persia’s artists, wine was a way to release and experience the most vivid of human emotions.
Although Iran today is not the safest or most inviting place for a wine collector, the history can prove to be very inspiring beyond the borders of the nation. Does your own passion for wine match that of the ancient Persians?
