I came across an article in The Economist, talking about how wine was long a cultural staple in Persian culture, even after the conversion to Islam.
Now, while the use of intoxicants isn't forbidden in the Koran like murder or adultery is, it is considered forbidden because of the effects of what it can do (like committing greater offenses)
Were there any particular reasons why this came to be?
Uh, the Quran does mention alcohol (khamr) several times. It was actually prohibited in stages.
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit."
2:219
This was revealed around the time of the hijrah, and is generally taken as a disapproval but not a prohibition of khamr. So at this time, some of the companions did drink khamr.
Later, an incident occurred where a man led the prayer while drunk and messed up the recitation. These verses were then revealed:
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying... 4:43
So again it wasn't prohibited yet, only during prayer.
It was finally prohibited in the following verses:
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist? 5:90-91
So the prohibition of khamr is definitely mentioned in the Quran.