Wine In Ancient Greek Culture

Wine was a delicacy, more sophisticated than beer. It was reserved for the prestige in ancient Greece and Rome, reflecting their power and status. Those who drank wine often looked down upon beer drinkers.
Wine was often shared between guests at a symposium, where individuals would participate in intellectual discussions about a variety of subjects, ranging from political topics to philosophical questions and rhetoric. The formal atmosphere of the gatherings was a reminder of how civilized the Greeks were, and of how wine embodied Greek culture.
Originally, wine was scarce and expensive to acquire, so only people of higher social class could afford to purchase wine. However, by seventh century BCE, cultivation of the grape vine had spread