Trade & culture
History of Moroccan Wine and Viticulture
Wine sits at an unusual angle to Moroccan culture: the country grows vines and makes respected wine, yet Islam forbids alcohol and most Moroccans do not drink. The history behind this reaches from antiquity through the long Islamic centuries to a French-era revival, and it remains a subject handled with nuance.
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- 8 min
- Topic
- Trade & culture
- Updated
- 19 July 2026
At a glance
- Viticulture in Morocco is ancient, with wine made in Roman times.
- Islamic prohibition of alcohol reshaped the vine's role for centuries.
- The French protectorate revived commercial wine, centred on the Meknès area.
Ancient vines
Grape-growing in the region is very old. The vine was cultivated around the Mediterranean since antiquity, and under Roman rule wine was produced in what is now Morocco, as at sites like Volubilis. Grapes as fruit, and as raisins, also had a settled place in the diet quite apart from wine.
This ancient viticulture predates Islam and belongs to the wider classical Mediterranean world of which North Africa was part.
Under Islam
With the coming of Islam, alcohol was prohibited, and wine lost its place in mainstream life over the long centuries that followed. Vines continued to be grown for table grapes and raisins, and the culture of wine persisted only at the margins, but as a beverage it was no longer part of the ordinary Muslim table.
- Prohibition: Islamic teaching forbids the consumption of alcohol.
- Table grapes and raisins: viticulture continued for fruit rather than wine.
- A marginal beverage: wine-making did not disappear entirely but became peripheral.
- Raisins in cooking: dried grapes remained common in sweet-savoury dishes.
Revival and today
The French protectorate transformed the picture, planting vineyards on a commercial scale, especially around Meknès and in areas like Guerrouane and Boulaouane, and building a modern wine industry aimed largely at European tastes. This is the foundation of the Moroccan wine sector that continues today.
Now Morocco produces wine mainly for export and tourism while most of its people, as observant Muslims, abstain — a balance the country manages with discretion. For the colonial background, read the French colonial influence on Moroccan food; for the religious frame, see how Islam shaped Moroccan cuisine.
Frequently asked questions
Does Morocco produce wine?
Yes. Morocco grows vines and produces respected wine, mainly around the Meknès region, largely for export and tourism. At the same time, most Moroccans, as observant Muslims, do not drink alcohol, so wine occupies an unusual cultural position.
How old is winemaking in Morocco?
Viticulture in the region is ancient. Vines were cultivated around the Mediterranean since antiquity, and wine was produced under Roman rule at sites such as Volubilis, long before Islam reshaped the vine's role.
How did Islam affect wine in Morocco?
Islamic teaching forbids alcohol, so after the coming of Islam wine lost its place in mainstream life. Vines continued to be grown for table grapes and raisins, but wine as a beverage became peripheral over the following centuries.
Why is there a modern Moroccan wine industry?
The French protectorate planted vineyards on a commercial scale, especially around Meknès and areas like Guerrouane and Boulaouane, creating a modern wine industry aimed at European tastes. This is the basis of the wine sector that continues today.