The Diversity, Adaptation and Breeding of Grapevine (DAAV) team of the UMR AGAP Institute participated in an international study published in the journal Science. The sequencing of a very large sample of grapevines and its wild ancestor made it possible to trace the domestication of the vine and the evolution of grapevines. Contrary to the hypotheses based on a single centre of domestication, the vine was domesticated from two centres, one located in the Caucasus and the other in the Near East. These two centres are thought to have separated 11,000 years ago

The centre of domestication in the Caucasus, which gave rise to a group of so-called wine grape varieties (for wine production), was rather local and had little influence on the diversification of grape varieties. On the other hand, the centre of domestication in the Near East spread in four directions in Africa and Eurasia, strongly influencing the diversification of wine and table grape varieties (for grape consumption). In their gradual progression towards Western Europe, grape varieties hybridised with wild vines present in Western Europe, amplifying the differentiation and creating unique ancestors in the Balkans, Iberia and Western Europe.

Glacial cycles, the adaptation of wild vines, the sedentarisation of societies and the development of human trade routes have shaped the domestication of the vine and the rise of wine.