A 6000-year-old stone vat in which to press the grapes, jars for fermentation and drinking bowls were found by archaeologists from the University of California, Los Angeles.
The winery, at least 1000 years older than any similar find, was discovered in the same cave where researchers in June announced the discovery of the world's oldest leather shoe.
6,000-Year-Old Winery Found in Armenian Cave
The primitive winery, near the village of Areni in the Caucasus, is surrounded by ancient graves, leading experts to speculate that red wine was produced for ritualistic funeral ceremonies and as an offering to the dead.
Archaeologists believe that the Copper Age inhabitants of the area crushed wine grapes with their feet in a metre-wide clay basin. The grape juice was channelled into a 60-centimetre-deep stone vat, where it fermented, before being drained into jars.
The team found the remains of pressed grape skins as well as grape seeds, which were from a type of grape - Vitis vinifera - still used to make wine today.
6,000-Year-Old Winery Found in Armenian Cave
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