Ep 156: Wine of Ancient Rome

First we hit on the Background on Roman Empire

• The Roman Empire lasted from around 753 BC until 476 AD and encompassed most of Europe
• The impact was far, wide, long lasting – Romans started the industry all over Europe AND they discovered winemaking practices that are still around today

Expansion of Wine

• We discuss the Greeks and how they got the ball rolling with viticulture in Italy
• Then we go over the conquest of Europe by the Romans vis a vis wine – from the Punic Wars and Carthage on. Spain, Gaul (France), Germany, and Britain

Golden Age of Wine

• We talk about the Golden Age of wine in Rome in the 2nd century BC
• We discuss the medicinal, social, and religious roles of wine -- including how it was used by wealthy people to show their friends how rich they were
• The transformation of wine into a daily necessity where everyone from the rich to slaves drank it

Viticulture in the Roman era

• The concept of terroir is not new – writers from Pliny to Columella discussed the relationship between the land and the vineyard – soil type, slope, proximity to water were all important to viticulture
• Winemaking wasn’t so different from how it is today – the importance of how you press grapes, sur lie aging, the process of making sweet wine, and storage and aging were cited by writers
• Romans differentiated between vineyards and had famed wines: we talk Falernian, Alban, Caecuban and more
• We discuss the importance of place name v grape type and how the tradition continues

All in all, a dork-fest of an episode, but a very fun one indeed!

In Vino Veritas!