Iranian court sentences woman to 50 lashes for kissing a man in a cafe
The article discusses the history of wine production in Iran and the cultural significance of grapes, despite the Islamic Republic's long-standing ban on alcohol. It also touches on the etymological debate surrounding the Shiraz grape variety.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between historical cultural practices and modern religious-based legal restrictions in Iran.
Iran has approximately 128,000 hectares of vineyards, just 31,000 fewer than Australia, whose wine exports were worth around €1.3 billion ($1.45 billion) in 2025.
The disparity reflects the disappearance of an industry from Iran's economy following the revolution, when the newly established Islamic Republic banned the production and sale of alcoholic beverages.
Grapes continue to be cultivated across Iran, including in Fars, Qazvin, Hamedan and Urmia, while Iranian raisins remain present in international markets. But an industry that could have generated exports, employment and tourism has remained absent for nearly five decades.
100 % Freshly harvested grapes are displayed alongside traditional food preparation and drying trays in Ruyan, Semnan province, northern Iran, August 31, 2026. Historic wines of Shiraz
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