Experiment Revives Ancient Roman Winemaking Techniques

Researchers at the University of Catania in Sicily are carrying out experiments to recreate Ancient Roman winemaking techniques. The project is a collaboration between the university’s archaeology department and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Council). Referring to classical texts in Latin by Virgil and ancient winemaker Columella, experts aim to verify and test Ancient Roman techniques of wine production. They are using the same kind of tools as the ancients to carry out planting, harvesting and fermentation. The grapes will be fermented in terracotta pots rather than wooden barrels. The researchers say that the first results of the experiment are expected in four years’ time and the wine will be created using grapes from vines planted in spring 2013. However, grape varieties have changed over the centuries, so the research team has planted eight local grape varieties, including Nerello Mascalese, Muscatedda, Visparola and Racinedda. Project coordinator Daniele Malfitana told Italian science journal ‘Galileo’ that he hoped the team would harvest 100 kilos of grapes to make 70 litres of wine from the 5,000 square-metre vineyard.