Jordanian wine facts for kids

A Roman mosaic from Jerash, Jordan. It shows the Greek poet Alcman. This mosaic is from the late 2nd or early 3rd century AD.

Jordanian wine is a special drink made in the country of Jordan. Only two main companies make it today. They produce nearly one million bottles every year. Jordan has a very old history of making wine. This tradition goes back to the time of the Nabatean people.

Ancient discoveries near the city of Petra show this long history. Archaeologists found at least 82 large wine presses there. These presses were used by the Nabateans long ago. Some stories even say that the wine used by Jesus at the Last Supper came from Umm Qais in Northern Jordan.

The way wine is made in Jordan today started in 1975. A company called Haddad began this modern industry. Now, two main wineries operate in Jordan. They are called Zumot and Haddad. Zumot makes "Saint George" wines. Haddad produces "Jordan River" wines.

Both wineries have their grape farms in Mafraq, in northern Jordan. This area is perfect for growing grapes. It has high land, water from underground, and soil rich in basalt rock. These conditions help the grapes grow well. The two companies together make about one million liters of wine each year. Most of this wine is enjoyed by people living in Jordan. In 2018, "Jordan River" wines had won 96 awards. "Saint George" wines had also won 23 prizes.

Grapes Used for Jordanian Wine

One of the wineries is located in the city of Zarqa.

The old types of grapes that grew in Jordan seem to have been lost over time. So, today's Jordanian wines are made from grapes brought in from other countries. These grapes are all types of Vitis vinifera.

Red Wine Grapes

For red wines, winemakers use grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Pinot noir. These grapes are well-known around the world.

White Wine Grapes

For white wines, they use grapes such as Chardonnay, Muscat, Pinot gris, Gewürztraminer, and Chenin blanc.

New Grape Varieties

In 2013, some new types of grapes were planted. These included Carménère grapes from Chile. Also, Tocai grapes from Italy were grown. These new grapes were planted at Omar Zumot's vineyard in Northern Jordan. Zumot's award-winning wines are named "Saint George" and "Machaerus." The Haddad winery makes white wines called "Mount Nebo." They also make both red and white wines named "Jordan River."

See also

In Spanish: Vino de Jordania para niños