Many of us have developed a close relationship with #wine during social isolation

So here’s a thread on ancient wine production and #viticulture

: Reconstruction of Palladius’ winery

The origins of the vine, wine and fermented grapes remain hotly debated. We have evidence of grapes as far back as 20,000 BP in the Near East, but most evidence of fermented juice is Neolithic, like the residue inside this jar from Georgia

Although famous for their beer, the Egyptians provide depictions of wine production using a variety of torsion-based methods

Predictably, it is the Classical cultures that provide an abundance of vinicultural information on various mediums

One of my favourites is this mosaic from Minturnae, with cherubs trampling and tipping grapes, clearly showing the relationship between treading floor and pithoi/dolia that we often find in the archaeology.

Archaeologically, we can see these processes through structural evidence like vats and flooring, as well as monolithic counterweights and press beds

Some are even beautifully decorated with #epigraphy or #iconography, like these counterweights from #Delos, showing the care and importance placed in equipment and facilities.

I could go on forever, but I’ll stop here for now with these images from #Pompeii, where ancient grape varieties were replanted exactly as they were in 79 AD, and the adjoining press reconstructed, providing a rare glimpse into an ancient vineyard and winery

Disclaimer: most of the pics in this thread taken while on fieldwork for @AAIASydney @AncientHistMQ @the_bsr