Dating the beginning of the Roman viticultural model in the Western Mediterranean: The case study of Chianti (Central Italy)

Although domestication of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) has been extensively documented, the history of genotype selection and evolution of vineyard management remain relatively neglected fields of study. The find of 454 waterlogged grapevine pips from a well-dated Etrusco-Roman site in the Chia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2017-11, Vol.12 (11), p.e0186298-e0186298
Main Authors: Aversano, Riccardo, Basile, Boris, Buonincontri, Mauro Paolo, Carucci, Francesca, Carputo, Domenico, Frusciante, Luigi, Di Pasquale, Gaetano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeology
Biology and Life Sciences
Case reports
Case studies
Crops, Agricultural - economics
Crops, Agricultural - growth & development
Cultivation
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Domestication
Earth Sciences
Fruit cultivation
Genetic aspects
Grapes
History, Ancient
Innovations
Italy
Medicine and Health Sciences
Mediterranean Region
Models, Theoretical
Morphology
Petroleum production
Pruning
Seeds
Settlers
Social Sciences
Vineyards
Vitaceae
Viticulture
Vitis - growth & development
Vitis vinifera
Wine
Wine and wine making
Wines
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Summary:Although domestication of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) has been extensively documented, the history of genotype selection and evolution of vineyard management remain relatively neglected fields of study. The find of 454 waterlogged grapevine pips from a well-dated Etrusco-Roman site in the Chianti district (Tuscany, Central Italy) is an extraordinary chance to gain insights into the progress of viticulture occurring in a key historical period in one of the world's most famous wine regions. The molecular and geometrical analyses of grape seeds showed (a) the presence in the site of different grapevine individuals and (b) a sudden increase in pip size, occurring at around 200 BC, whic explainable by the selection and introduction of new varieties. In this period, the Etruscans settlers in Chianti were stimulated by northward-expanding Roman culture to use novel vineyard management practices. We hypothesize that one of the most important innovations may have been the introduction of pruning, inducing vine physiological conditions more favorable to pip growth. Such changes were the consequence of specific entrepreneurial choices made by the Romans in a period of economic investment in grape cultivation and wine making to satisfy the increased trade demand after the conquest of the Central-Western Mediterranean basin.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0186298