Roman writings on wine Ancient Rome and wine

1 roman writings on wine

1.1 marcus porcius cato elder
1.2 columella
1.3 pliny elder
1.4 other writers

roman writings on wine

works of classical roman writers—most notably cato, columella, horace, palladius, pliny, varro , virgil—shed light on role of wine in roman culture contemporary winemaking , viticultural practices. of these influential techniques can found in modern winemaking. these include consideration of climate , landscape in deciding grape varieties plant, benefits of different trellising , vine-training systems, effects of pruning , harvest yields on quality of wine, winemaking techniques such sur lie aging after fermentation , maintenance of sanitary practices throughout winemaking process avoid contamination, impurities , spoilage.

marcus porcius cato elder

marcus porcius cato roman statesman raised in agricultural family on farm in reate northeast of rome. wrote extensively on variety of subject matters in de agri cultura (concerning cultivation of land), oldest surviving work of latin prose. author commented in detail on viticulture , winemaking, e.g. management of vineyard , calculations concerning amount of labor slave perform before dropping dead. believed grapes produce best wine when receive maximum amount of sunshine. extent, recommended vines trained in trees high possible , severely pruned of leaves once grapes began ripen. advised winemakers wait until grapes ripe before harvest ensure high quality in wine , maintain reputation of wine estate.

cato advocate importance of hygiene in winemaking, recommending, example, wine jars wiped clean twice day new broom every time; thoroughly sealing jars after fermentation prevent wine spoiling , turning vinegar; , not filling amphoras top leave head space, leading small amount of oxidation. cato s manual fervently followed, becoming standard textbook of roman winemaking centuries.

columella

statue of columella in native land of cádiz.

columella 1st-century ad writer 12-volume de re rustica considered 1 of important works on roman agriculture. eleven volumes written in prose augmented volume 10, book on gardens in hexameter verse. volumes 3 , 4 delve technical aspects of roman viticulture, including advice on soil types yield best wine, while volume 12 concerns various aspects of winemaking.

columella describes boiling of grape must in lead vessel concentrate sugars , @ same time allow lead impart sweetness , desirable texture wine, practice may have contributed lead poisoning. presented precise details on how well-run vineyard should operate, optimum breakfast slaves yield of grapes each jugerum of land , pruning practices ensure yields. many modern elements of vine training , trellising evident in columella s description of best practices. in ideal vineyard, vines planted 2 paces apart , fastened willow withies chestnut stakes height of man. describes of wines of roman provinces, noting potential of wines spain , bordeaux region. additionally, columella lauds quality of wines made ancient grape varieties balisca , biturica, believed ampelographers ancestral cabernet family.

pliny elder

pliny elder.

pliny elder 1st-century ad naturalist , author of 37-volume roman encyclopedia naturalis historia (natural history), dedicated emperor titus. published after pliny s death near pompeii following eruption of mount vesuvius, work covers vast array of topics, including serious discourse on viticulture , wine.

book 14 deals exclusively subject of wine itself, including ranking of first growths of rome. book 17 includes discussion of various viticultural techniques , formalization of concept of terroir, in unique places produce unique wine. in rankings of best roman wines, pliny concludes vineyard has more influence on resulting quality of wine particular vine. sections of book 23 deal of purported medicinal properties of wine.

pliny strong advocate training vines trees in pergola, noting finest wines in campania derived practice. due dangers in working on , pruning vines trained way, however, advised not using valuable slaves rather vineyard workers hired stipulation in contract cover grave , funeral expenses. described contemporary varieties, recommending aminean , nomentan best. ampelographers believe 2 white wine varieties mentioned, arcelaca , argitis, may ancestors modern grape riesling.

pliny source 1 of famous latin quotations wine: in vino veritas, or there s truth in wine, referring confessional loquacity of intoxicated.

other writers

marcus terentius varro, whom rhetorician quintilian called learned man among romans, wrote extensively on such topics grammar, geography, religion, law , science, agricultural treatise de re rustica (or rerum rusticarum libri) has survived in entirety. while there evidence borrowed of material cato s work, varro credits lost multi-volume work of mago carthaginian, greek writers aristotle, theophrastus , xenophon. varro s treatise written dialogue , divided 3 parts, first of contains of discussion on wine , viticulture. defines old wine 1 removed vintage @ least year; nonetheless, notes while wines best consumed young, fine wines such falernian meant consumed older.

virgil.

the poetry of virgil recalls of greek poet hesiod in focus on morality , virtue of viticulture, particularly austerity, integrity , hard work of roman farmers. second book of didactic poem georgics deals viticultural matters. virgil advises leaving grapes on vine until late november when become stiff frost. version of ice wine have produced sweet wines without acidity of wine made grapes harvested earlier.

virgil s contemporary horace wrote of wine, though no single work devoted entirely subject. espoused epicurean view of taking life s pleasures, including wine, in moderation. among earliest recorded examples of deliberately choosing wine specific occasion, horace s odes included serving wine birth-year vintage @ celebration of honored guest. writes of serving simple wines everyday occasions , saving celebrated wines such caecuban special events. horace answered question posed alexandrian poet callimachus whether water or wine preferred drink of poetic inspiration enthusiastically siding cratinus , wine drinkers. affinity wine such while contemplating death, expressed more dread @ thought of departing beloved wine cellar wife.

palladius 4th-century writer of 15-volume agricultural treatise opus agriculturae or de re rustica, first volume of introduction basic farming principles. 12 volumes following dedicated each month of calendar , specific agricultural tasks performed in month. while palladius deals variety of agricultural crops, devotes more discussion practices of vineyard other. last 2 volumes treat veterinary medicine farm animals include detailed account of late-roman grafting practices. though borrowing heavily cato, varro, pliny , columella, work of palladius 1 of few roman agricultural accounts still used through middle ages , renaissance. writings on viticulture quoted vincent of beauvais, albertus magnus , pietro crescenzi.