The Greek historian and geographer Strabo or Strábōn (63 B.C.-28 A.D.) undertook, after rhetorical and philosophical studies, long journeys through the then known world and then settled in Rome. His extensive historical work has only been preserved in fragments. However, his "Geographia", which is considered the most important source of ancient knowledge about Europe, Asia and Africa, is largely complete. It contains detailed information about religion, cults and customs of the peoples as well as historical anecdotes. These represent an image of the world at the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus (63 BC to 14 AD) and his successor Tiberius (42 BC-47 AD).
Strabo writes that in the Roman province of Burdigala(Bordeaux) there was no viticulture in the time of the Emperor Augustus, but Pliny the Elder (23-79) testified to this a few decades later. Vines must have been planted there shortly after Strabo's visit. He reported that the banks of the Rhône were covered with vines and possibly meant the Hermitage area. He found exceptionally large giant grapes with a circumference of two cubits near Antiochia, today's Antakya in Turkey (an ancient cubit was about 55 to 80 cm). Strabo praises almost effusively the wines from Liguria as well as the Roman province Aquileia in today's Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia. For more information on this topic, see also the keywords Ancient grape varieties, Ancient wines and Drinking culture.
Picture left: Author unknown - digital collections scientific, in the public domain, link
Picture right: From Strabo, public domain, link
