Taxation

Wine has attracted the attention of the taxman since ancient times. Its production, sale, and distribution have been so closely regulated by the authorities for one simple reason: revenue, whatever their attitude to alcohol. The civilizations of the ancient Middle East (see Ancient egypt and mesopotamia) were the first to recognize this useful attribute. It was carefully regulated in parts of Ancient greece, but it was the Romans who, in this as in many other aspects of wine history, helped realize its potential.