Grapes were presumed to be associated with royalty along with other fruits. Paintings of grapes and wine decorate many thrones and New Kingdom tombs. Offerings of wine have been found in royal burial chambers such as Tutankhamun. The process of winemaking began with the collection of ripe grapes into large rush baskets which were placed on the shoulders or heads of the pickers. Once collected, the grapes were poured into vats, some large enough to fit six men, and crushed. Sometimes a second pressing stage was included to separate the juice from the seeds and stems, the grapes were poured into large sacks and the juice was drained. The final product would be transferred into terracotta vessels and left to ferment.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.
