Re: France's earliest winery found


"Eric Stevens" <eric.stevens@xxxxxxxxx> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:c175931bl7v4nciflt8kr9sdp14pootgt4@xxxxxxxxxx
On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:34:14 -0700, Jack Linthicum
<jacklinthicum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Probably started as a means of raising wine grapes on the cheap, away
from the expensive Italian real estate.




France's earliest winery found
July 2, 2007
Chris Mercer

Roman ruins found in southern France have been declared remnants of
the country's earliest known winery.

The large site, built around 10AD, is still surrounded by vines today
on the outskirts of Clermont l'Herault, in the heart of Languedoc wine
country.

'It's really exceptional, and very elaborate,' Stephane Mauné, head of
the site and archaeologist with France's CNRS research institute, told
decanter.com.

Mini craters that once formed the bases of huge pottery wine vessels
sit in neat rows where the old winery building stood. Each one held up
to 1,800l, while irrigation channels show how winemakers used water to
maintain a constant temperature.

A villa, complete with 200m² swimming pool, was attached to the
building.

Mauné said inscriptions named the founder as Quintus Iulius Primus,
who probably came from southern Italy to invest in the region's
burgeoning wine industry.

Romans arrived in Languedoc Roussillon via Narbonne around 118BC.
Historians know that after subduing local tribes the Romans cultivated
vines to send wine back to Italy.

'There was lots of economic development in this area. You have good
access into ancient Gaul and there were ports close by,' Mauné said.

But, in a story reminiscent of France's wine market problems today, it
is thought greater competition eventually sent the winery near
Clermont l'Herault out of business.

Local winemakers now hope to profit from the tourism and prestige the
ancient site could bring. A tourism centre is set to be built, and a
special public viewing will take place on 11 July.
http://www.decanter.com/news/127087.html

The technical complexity of the site suggests a well developed history
of winemaking before it was built. Of course the technology does not
have to have been developed in France. The question is, where did the
the technology come from?

Massilia, a greek colony named Marseille today, was founded around 600 BCE,
afair. Massiliotic amphorae, which probably contained wine, were traded as
far away as southern Germany in the early 5th c. BCE. So there was probably
a professional wine production by that time.

Drinking sets, made up of a largish container and matching cups, often
including a ladle and/or strainer, are common in the European Bronce age.
But we don't know if they already drunk wine. These drinking sets keep
appearing in graves till the 3rd c. CE.

have fun

Uwe Mueller


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Frances earliest winery found
    ... Roman ruins found in southern France have been declared remnants of ... the country's earliest known winery. ... Mini craters that once formed the bases of huge pottery wine vessels ... Romans arrived in Languedoc Roussillon via Narbonne around 118BC. ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Frances earliest winery found
    ... Roman ruins found in southern France have been declared remnants of ... the country's earliest known winery. ... Mini craters that once formed the bases of huge pottery wine vessels ... Romans arrived in Languedoc Roussillon via Narbonne around 118BC. ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Frances earliest winery found
    ... Probably started as a means of raising wine grapes on the cheap, ... the country's earliest known winery. ... Romans arrived in Languedoc Roussillon via Narbonne around 118BC. ... Local winemakers now hope to profit from the tourism and prestige the ...
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  • Re: Frances earliest winery found
    ... the country's earliest known winery. ... Mini craters that once formed the bases of huge pottery wine vessels ... Drinking sets, made up of a largish container and matching cups, often ... Roman wine ...
    (sci.archaeology)