Gaul Ancient Rome and wine

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.