It is difficult to determine historically whether Greece or Italy first developed the cultivation of the vine. Greek civilization is older than the Italian and historically wine was known in Greece before it was in Italy. Although Italy stretches over a large extent both in longitude and lattitude, it has the unique distinction of being a wine-producing country in all of its sub-divisions including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Next to France it produces the greatest amount of wine of any other country, but unlike France, it has very few vineyards which are world renowned.