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The vase was found in a tomb in Carmona in southern Spain in 2019, but the results of an archaeochemical study of the liquid inside have only now been published. The team confirmed that the mysterious liquid was wine by detecting polyphenols, which are biomarkers found in wines, in its composition.

In total, seven polyphenols found in modern wine regions of Spain were identified. But the missing polyphenol, called syringic acid, led the team to conclude that the wine was once white. It was given a red tint due to aging and the ashes left after a person was cremated.

The pH level of the liquid was 7.5, much higher than wines produced in the region today. This pH level is likely due to “severe degradation of the potential wine as it once was,” the authors say. Overall, the liquid’s mineral profile was similar to sherry wines from Jerez in Andalusia, as well as various types of fino wines.

Top of a glass jar containing old liquid wine / Photo: Daniel Cosano

The wine was also found to have a higher potassium content than modern wines. Researchers say it is may be due to the presence of cremated remains in the jar. This effectively makes this container a tomb, although it is unclear how much of the ashes were contained there.

According to the statement made by the University of Córdoba, the remains in the jar belonged to a man, but they could not detect this through chemical analysis. The fact is that in ancient Rome, women were forbidden to drink wine, and this gender distinction was also preserved in Roman Spain. An urn containing female remains was also found in the mausoleum, but it contained no wine. Instead of liquid, this vase contained a few amber stones, a bottle of perfume and remnants of silk fabric.

This is important It is the oldest liquid wine ever found.. That doesn’t mean it’s drinkable, but at least it’s still liquid. Scientists know of many ancient archaeological findings related to wine, where alcoholic liquids often dry up and only wine compounds remain. That’s exactly what happened in 2017, when another team of scientists found the oldest evidence of winemaking in 8,000-year-old pottery shards in Georgia. People have been making wine since long before Roman times, but the material has rarely remained moist for thousands of years.