When did winemaking begin in ancient Rome?
The first clear evidence of winemaking dates to 800 BC. Neolithic people groups exploited wild grapes in Italy but likely did not ferment them into wine before this period.
Questions about Ancient Rome and wine
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Which Roman consul is associated with the Opimian vintage of 121 BC?
Consul Lucius Opimius gave his name to the vintage of 121 BC after its remarkably abundant harvest produced unusually high quality wine enjoyed over a century later.
What happened to Pompeii's vineyards during the eruption of 79 AD?
The 79 AD eruption destroyed ports, vineyards, and warehouses storing the 78 AD vintage while causing prices to rise sharply making wine unaffordable except for the most affluent.
Who wrote De agri cultura and what viticulture methods did it recommend?
Marcus Porcius Cato wrote De agri culture as the oldest surviving Latin prose work detailing viticulture and recommended training vines as high as possible on trees with all leaves removed once grapes ripened.
How was wine consumed differently by gender and class in ancient Rome?
Undiluted temetum served to elite men and gods while posca mixed water and sour wine rationed soldiers daily at roughly one liter per person. Women generally drank less than men though all classes partook in various qualities and elite women expected chastity while drunkenness could lead to adultery punishable by fines or exile.