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Archaeologists have discovered traces of a vineyard dating back to the first century AD near the town of Laveyron in the Drôme department on the Rhône. The Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Preventives (INRAP), which reports to the French Ministry of Culture, plans to complete the excavations in January 2024.
There are indications that the Romans were not the first to make wine here. According to INRAP operations and research manager Pascale Réthoré, postholes on the excavation site could be traces of palisades erected in the La Tène culture around 40 BC. The researchers also found the remains of ceramic dolia (terracotta vessels often used to make wine) and amphora fragments in rubbish dumps near the ruins. During the reign of Emperor Augustus between 27 BC and 14 AD, Romans erected a three-roomed building on the site, which, according to Réthoré, "probably already had a small infrastructure for wine", as evidence of wooden barrels has also been found. The Romans later expanded the winery, which had presses, cellars and basins for collecting grape juice.
The ruins are located in the settlement area of the Gallic people of Allobroges, who produced one of the Romans' favourite wines, vinum picatum. According to Pascale Réthoré, it will only be clear whether this wine was also produced in this winery when juice residues from the containers are analysed. According to her, the grapes probably came from the northern part of the Rhône, which she comments: "It seems that the quality of the wine from this region, and therefore its terroir, has been recognised since ancient times."
(al / source: winespectator)