Uzbekistan: History

The grapes and wines of Uzbekistan have long been famous beyond its own frontiers. Between the 6th and 2nd centuries bc, people in the Fergana Valley grew wheat, barley, and grapes using artificial irrigation and Fergana grapes were prized in china to the east.

It is thought that some central Asian vine varieties originated as the wild subspecies vitis silvestris Gmel as a result of long-term selection. Some varieties were brought to Uzbekistan from iran between the 6th and 4th centuries bc and other varieties were brought by Greeks and Arabs in the 7th and 8th centuries ad.