Chinese were first?

A new study coming out this week (China the Motherland of Booze? -- WCCO) is out to show that wine did not originate in Middle East as was previously thought, but in China.

The ceramics were dated to about 7,000 B.C. -- 9,000 years ago -- and the scientists analyzed residue that had collected inside the pots.

The results showed chemicals that matched residues from modern rice and rice wine, grape wine, grape tannins and ancient and modern herbs. There were also indications of hawthorn fruit.

On a remotely related note, check out "Chinese offered wine-tasting classes" from statesmenjournal.com.