Alban wine is a notable wine of
Ancient Rome
In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...
that was grown in the
Colli Albani (
Alban Hills) region, Southeast of
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
, at the foot of Mt. Albus. The area is now occupied by the modern day
papal residence of
Castelgandolfo. The land was praised by
Columella
Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (; Arabic: , 4 – ) was a prominent writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire.
His ' in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture, together with the wo ...
: "For there is no doubt that, of all the vines that the earth sustains, those of the Massic, Surrentine, Alban, and Caecuban lands hold first place in the excellence of their wine" (''De re rustica'', III.8.5).
Dionysius of Halicarnassus noted the quality of the area's wine as he wrote: "Lying below the city are plains marvelous to behold and rich in producing wines and fruits of all sorts in no degree inferior to the rest of Italy, and particularly what they call the Alban wine, which is sweet and excellent and, with the exception of the Falernian, certainly superior to all others." (Roman Antiquities Book 1).
Reputation and characteristics
In AD 77,
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic ' ...
rated Alban wine third in reputation after
Caecuban wine Caecuban wine (Latin: ''Caecubum'', Greek: ''Kaikoubos'') came from a small territory, ''ager Caecubus'', at Amyclae in coastal Latium (in the region known today as the Plain of Fondi). Around 70 BC, Varro already regarded this district as a place ...
and
Falernian wine
Falernian ( la, Falernum) was a strong white wine popular in the classical Roman period, produced from Aglianico grapes (and quite possibly Greco as well)J. Robinson ''Vines, Grapes & Wines'' pgs 213 & 242 Mitchell Beazley 1986 on the slopes o ...
. ''(Natural History Book XIV)'' Pliny described the wines as "extremely sweet and occasionally dry". It was known as one of the preferred wines of the Roman upper class and was commonly made as several varieties-very sweet, sweetish, rough, and sharp. The wine was considered best after aging.
Horace
Alban wine earned several mentions in the work of the Roman poet
Horace. It was listed as one of the fine wines served at ''
Nasidienus' dinner party'' in ''Satires 2.8''. In Satire 4, Horace makes the note that
:''Venuculan grapes are best when preserved:''
:''Alban are better smoked.''
In Ode 4:9, Horace presents as gift to his friend
Maecenas
Gaius Cilnius Maecenas ( – 8 BC) was a friend and political advisor to Octavian (who later reigned as emperor Augustus). He was also an important patron for the new generation of Augustan poets, including both Horace and Virgil. During the re ...
, on his birthday, a jar of Alban wine that was over 9 years old.
See also
*
Ancient Rome and wine
Ancient Rome played a pivotal role in the history of wine. The earliest influences on the viticulture of the Italian peninsula can be traced to ancient Greeks and the Etruscans. The rise of the Roman Empire saw both technological advances in ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Penelope Project U. Chicago
Ancient wine