THEME: Beer & wine in antiquity THEME THE NECTAR OF HUMANS AND GODS Archaeological evidence of ancient wine production has slowly grown in recent decades. The remains of grapes have been recovered, along with vines, vineyard arrangements, and irrigation and hydrological systems. This is matched by artefacts and tools, components of wine presses and other architectural structures, and metal, ceramic, and wooden evidence for the fermentation, storage, transport, and serving of wine. Along with Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, detailed ancient literary evidence from the Roman period survives, such as Varro’s De re rustica, Cato the Elder’s De agricultura, Columella’s De re rustica, and Palladius’ Opus agriculturae, showing how aspects of ancient viniculture are remarkably similar to traditional systems still used today.
Cultivation and the harvest
Archaeological material from Pompeii and other…
