The Romans were well educated in the different grape varieties and the different regions from which they came. They were also very inventive with their wine, often adding ingredients to alter the taste. Among the ingredients they experimented with were saltwater, honey, herbs and chalk.
Keeping with their creative abilities, the Romans contributed to the culture of wine through their invention of glassblowing. Having previously been stored in large clay vats, wine’s flavor was often altered. And so, enter the Romans. After discovering that glass could hold wine without affecting the wine’s flavor, Romans changed the way wine was stored, ultimately changing the way it tasted.
As the Roman Empire expanded, so did its vines, reaching as far north as Britain. France, previously planted with vineyards by the Greeks, was conquered by the Romans and soon many more vineyards sprung up. Beginning with the Rhone Valley vineyards, the Romans quickly planted their vineyards all across France, leaving France to eventually become known as producers of only the finest wines.
When the Romans got to Spain, they found that the Spaniards had beat them to the punch, and the wine. They possessed vineyards that dated back to 4,000 BC. But the Romans, not to be outdone, began demanding wines of better quality. The Romans then took over the viticulture in this area, fermenting it into greatness.
The Germans, like the Spaniards, had been engaged in grape growing for thousands of years. But, when in Rome (or rather when Rome comes in) things start to change. The Romans, having brought in higher quality and better techniques, began to alter the vineyards of Germany. Even some of the soldiers, taking time out of their busy schedule (10 a.m. - conquer, 11 a.m. - conquer, 12 p.m. – lunch), were involved in planting vines.
The Roman Empire was a monster player in history. It’s likely that even the most scholarly historian can’t completely grasp all the intricacies involved in this era; there are far too many. While the Romans influenced the societies they conquered, they also influenced those societies’ appreciation for wine. Without them, the fine wines of Europe might not exist: The Roman Empire made it possible to drink wine when in Rome, and everywhere else.
Article comments
1 - alessandro nicolo
As a student of history, loved this piece. The tradition continued in the Renaissance (though not necessarily with wine) when, for example, Italian cooks influenced the French courts. The Italians themselves borrowed from other societies and adapted things for their own tastes. That's the beauty of history: everyone learns from everyone.
2 - Victor Lana
JJ, this was a great piece. I'd be interested in knowing the history of wine in other countries. Japan? Africa? Did the concept originate in Europe? Well, that's for a future piece. Thanks.
3 - Aku
As an intersting side not, the Romans grew wine grapes in places in Britian that it is currently impossible, due to low temperatures, to do so.