Expansion of viticulture Ancient Rome and wine

1 expansion of viticulture

1.1 hispania
1.2 gaul
1.3 germania
1.4 britannia

expansion of viticulture

among lasting legacies of ancient roman empire viticultural foundations laid romans in lands become world-renowned wine regions. through trade, military campaigns , settlements, romans brought them taste wine , impetus plant vines. trade first , farthest-reaching arm of influence, , roman wine merchants eager trade enemy , ally alike—from carthaginians , peoples of southern spain celtic tribes in gaul , germanic tribes of rhine , danube.

during gallic wars, when julius caesar brought troops cabyllona in 59 bc, found 2 roman wine merchants established in business trading local tribes. in places bordeaux, trier , colchester roman garrisons established, vineyards planted supply local need , limit cost of long-distance trading. roman settlements founded , populated retired soldiers knowledge of roman viticulture families , life before military; vineyards planted in new homelands. while possible romans imported grapevines italy , greece, there sufficient evidence suggest cultivated native vines may ancestors of grapes grown in provinces today.

the italian peninsula known high-quality wines, outstanding examples of included of pompeii. republic grew empire beyond peninsula, wine s trade , market economy echoed growth. wine trade in italy consisted of rome s sale of wine abroad settlements , provinces around mediterranean sea, yet end of 1st century ad, exports had competition provinces, exporters rome. roman market economy encouraged provinces’ exports, enhancing supply , demand. elevated supply of wine meant lower prices consumers. because of supply-and-demand economy, citizens possessed ample supply of coinage, suggesting existence of complex market economy surrounding wine trade of roman empire. adequate monetary supply meant citizenry put great deal of thought market economy of wine.

hispania

roman amphorae recovered catalonia.

rome s defeat of carthage in punic wars brought southern , coastal territories of spain under control, complete conquest of iberian peninsula remained unaccomplished until reign of caesar augustus. roman colonization led development of tarraconensis in northern regions of spain (including modern winemaking regions of catalonia, rioja, ribera del duero, , galicia) , hispania baetica (which includes modern andalusia) montilla-moriles winemaking region of cordoba , sherry winemaking region of cádiz.

while carthaginians , phoenicians first introduce viticulture spain, rome s influential wine technology , development of road networks brought new economic opportunities region, elevating grapes private agricultural crop important component of viable commercial enterprise. spanish wine in bordeaux before region produced own. french historian roger dion has suggested balisca vine (common in spain s northern provinces, particularly rioja) brought rioja plant first roman vineyards of bordeaux.

spanish wines traded in rome. poet martial described highly regarded wine known ceretanum ceret (modern-day jerez de la frontera). wine historian hugh johnson believes wine ancestor of sherry. spanish wines penetrated more extensively italian wines roman empire, amphoras spain discovered in aquitaine, brittany, loire valley, normandy, britain , german frontier. historian strabo noted in work geographica vineyards of baetica famous beauty. roman agricultural writer columella native of cádiz , duly influenced region s viticulture.

gaul

there archaeological evidence suggest celts first cultivated grapevine in gaul. grape pips have been found throughout france, pre-dating greeks , romans, examples found near lake geneva dated 10,000 bc. extent celts , gallic tribes produced wine not known, arrival of greeks near massalia in 600 bc introduced new types , styles of winemaking , viticulture. limit of greek viticultural influence planting in regions mediterranean climates olives , fig trees flourish.

the romans looked hillside terrain in regions near river , important town. knowledge of sciences included tendency cold air flow down hillside , pool in frost pockets in valley. these poor conditions under grow grapes, avoided in favor of sunny hillsides provide sufficient warmth ripen grapes, in northerly areas. when romans seized massalia in 125 bc, pushed farther inland , westward. founded city of narbonne in 118 bc (in modern-day languedoc region) along via domitia, first roman road in gaul. romans established lucrative trading relations local tribes of gaul, despite potential produce wine of own. gallic tribes paid high prices roman wine, single amphora worth value of slave.

roman ruins in vienne. first french wine receive international acclaim produced in area near modern côte-rôtie wine region.

from mediterranean coast, romans pushed further rhone valley, areas olives , figs unable grow oak trees still found. result of experience in northeastern italy, romans knew regions quercus ilex found had climates sufficiently warm enough allow full ripening of grapes. in 1st century ad, pliny notes settlement of vienne (near côte-rôtie aoc) produced resinated wine fetched high prices in rome. wine historian hanneke wilson notes rhone wine first french wine receive international acclaim.

the first mention of roman interest in bordeaux region in strabo s report augustus there no vines down river tarn towards garonne region known burdigala. wine seaport being supplied high country region of gaillac in midi-pyrénées region. midi had abundant indigenous vines romans cultivated, many of still being used produce wine today, including—duras, fer, ondenc , len de l el. location of bordeaux on gironde estuary made ideal seaport transport wine along atlantic coast , british isles. wasn t long before bordeaux became self-sufficient enough own vineyards export own wine roman soldiers stationed in britain. in 1st century ad, pliny elder mentions plantings in bordeaux, including balisca grape (previously known in spain) under synonym of biturica after local bituriges tribe. ampelographers note corruption of name biturica vidure, french synonym of cabernet sauvignon, perhaps pointing ancestry of vine cabernet family includes cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot , petit verdot.

further rhone, along saône tributary, romans encountered areas become modern-day wine regions of beaujolais, mâconnais, côte chalonnaise , côte d or. rome s first allies among tribes of gaul aedui, whom supported founding city of augustodunum in burgundy wine region. while possible vineyards planted in 1st century ad, shortly after founding of augustodunum, first definitive evidence of wine production comes account of visit emperor constantine city in 312 ad.

the founding of france s other great wine regions not clear. romans propensity planting on hillsides has left archaeological evidence of gallo-roman vineyards in chalk hillsides of sancerre. in 4th century, emperor julian had vineyard near paris on hill of montmartre, , 5th-century villa in Épernay shows roman influence in champagne region.

germania

the roman bridge of trier crosses mosel river. romans found planting vines on steep banks along river provided enough warmth ripen wine grapes.

while wild v. vinifera vines have existed along rhine since prehistory, earliest evidence of viticulture dates roman conquest , settlement of western territories of germania. agricultural tools, such pruning knives, have been found near roman garrison posts in trier , cologne, first definitive record of wine production dates 370 ad work ausonius titled mosella, wherein described vibrant vineyards along mosel. native of bordeaux, ausonius compared vineyards favorably of homeland , seems indicate viticulture had long been present in area. reasons planting rhineland cater growing demand of roman soldiers along limes germanicus (german frontier) , high costs associated importing wine rome, spain or bordeaux. romans briefly considered building canal link saône , mosel rivers in order facilitate waterway trading. alternative drink tacitus described inferior beer-like beverage. beer apparently enjoyed roman legionaries. instance, among vindolanda tablets (from vindolanda in roman britain, dated c. 97-103 ad), cavalry decurion masculus wrote letter prefect flavius cerialis inquiring exact instructions men following day. included polite request beer sent garrison (which had entirely consumed previous stock of beer).

the steep hillsides along mosel , rhine rivers provided opportunity extend cultivation of grapes northerly location. south-southwest-facing slope maximizes amount of sunshine vines receive, degree of angle allowing vines receive sun s rays perpendicularly rather @ low or diffuse angle vineyards on flatter terrain receive. hillsides offered added benefit of shielding vines cold northern winds, , rivers reflection offered additional warmth aid in ripening grapes. right type of grape (perhaps ancestor of german wine grape riesling), romans found wine produced in germania. rhine, german wine make way downriver north sea , merchants in britain, began develop reputation.

despite military hostilities, neighboring germanic tribes alamanni , franks eager customers german wine until 5th-century edict forbade sale of wine outside of roman settlements. wine historian hugh johnson believes might have been added incentive barbarian invasions , sacking of roman settlements such trier— invitation break down door.

britannia

the silver serving tray depicting bacchus found in mildenhall.

rome s influence on britain respect wine not viticultural cultural. throughout modern history, british have played key role in shaping world of wine , defining global wine markets. though evidence of v. vinifera vines in british isles dates hoxnian stage when climate warmer today, british interest in wine production increased following roman conquest of britain in 1st century ad.

amphoras italy indicate wine regularly transported britain @ great expense sea, around iberian peninsula. development of wine-producing regions in bordeaux , germany made supplying needs of roman colonists easier @ less cost. presence of amphora production houses found in brockley , middlesex indicates british had vineyards of own well.

there clear evidence roman cult of bacchus, wine god, practiced in britain: more 400 artifacts depicting likeness have been found throughout britain. included in mildenhall treasure collection silver dish engraved bacchus having drinking contest hercules. in colchester, excavations have uncovered containers identifying on 60 different types of wines italy, spain, rhine , bordeaux.