

The Wine of Roman Italy is an essential work for understanding the wine economy of ancient Italy. André Tchernia traces the evolution of production, consumption, and the wine trade from the 3rd century BCE to the early 4th century. By combining written sources and archaeological discoveries, this pioneering book reveals the importance of amphorae in the export of wine to Gaul. This enriched edition brings forth new ideas on the end of the Roman Republic.
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The Wine of Roman Italy by André Tchernia is an essential work of economic history that delves deeply into the central role of wine in the economy and culture of ancient Italy. First published in 1986, this pioneering book remains a reference in historical studies, despite numerous archaeological advancements and publications since then.
The study covers a period of six centuries, from the 3rd century B.C. to the beginning of the 4th century A.D. André Tchernia, a renowned expert, combines written sources (with a detailed catalog of ancient wines in the appendix) and archaeological material to renew the interpretation of the history of Roman wine trade.
The amphorae, emblematic containers of wine in antiquity, are at the heart of this study. They allow the tracing of Italian wine exports to regions such as Gaul, particularly at the end of the Roman Republic. This book sheds light on the economic and social mechanisms that enabled the prominence of Italian wine production.
This reissue benefits from a preface highlighting major archaeological advances of the past thirty years and their impact on some of the book's conclusions. Despite the passage of time, several key hypotheses of André Tchernia remain valid, testifying to the rigor and relevance of his work. A recent text, added at the end of the volume, offers new reflections on wine exports at the end of the Republic.
Between ancient economy, archaeology, and oenology, this work targets both historians, archaeologists, and wine enthusiasts eager to understand the historical roots of Italian wine culture.
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