Iran, large country in the Near East once known as persia, under which heading details of Iran’s important vinous history are to be found. Alcoholic drinks of all sorts are officially prohibited in modern Iran (see islam) but home winemaking is not unknown. According to oiv statistics, total vineyard area was still 238,000 ha/588,000 acres in 2011. The country is an important producer of drying grapes.
© Jancis Robinson and Oxford University Press 1994, 1999, 2006, 2015
