POMPEII VINEYARDS RESTORED

 

The lost city of Pompeii, engulfed in the infamous eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, continues to be the object of research in many fields  including that of oenology. Analyses of plant remains in many of the old Roman gardens and green spaces revealed that vineyards and vegetable gardens existed within the city walls and now, after several years of experimentation, Pompeii is once again producing wine.

The ruby red, 13% proof Villa dei Misteri wine from Pompeiis vineyards (named after one of the citys most famous villas) may not yet be on your supermarket shelves, but it will have a world-wide launch through Italian embassies abroad, along with a series of events and promotions tailored to suit each destination. First harvested in 2001, the production of Villa dei Misteri wine now averages 1,700 bottles per year.

The wine is the product of long years of study and experimentation to find the most probable vine cultivated by the ancient inhabitants of Pompeii. Research carried out by Mario Fregoni of the University of Piacenza, world expert in ancient vine culture, pinpointed eight different varieties of native vines that could have been used in Pompeii. After three years, three autochthon varieties, l'aglianica, sciacinoso and piedirosso, were chosen as being the most suited to the climate and environment of Pompeii and wine-grower, Mastrobernardino, a historic Campania vintner, founded in the 18 th century, was given the task of producing the wine. It is known that the Romans preferred their wine sweet and resinous, which could have made Pompeiian wine a mere gimmick. Villa dei Misteri, however, has been produced to suit 21 st century tastes.

In addition, the exhibition Vinum Nostrum, scheduled to be inaugurated in Florence in June 2010, will illustrate the story of the vine in ancient Greece and Rome, thanks also to the evidence uncovered in Pompeii.

For information:  www.pompeiisites.org

Posted on 26 Oct 2009 by Editor
Powered by CuteNews