Posted on 10/27/2009 5:04:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The original makers of Côtes-du-Rhône are said to have descended from Greek explorers who settled in southern France about 2500 years ago... The study, by Prof Paul Cartledge, suggested the world's biggest wine industry might never have developed had it not been for a "band of pioneering Greek explorers" who settled in southern France around 600 BC. His study appears to dispel the theory that it was the Romans who were responsible for bringing viticulture to France. The study found that the Greeks founded Massalia, now known as Marseilles, which they then turned into a bustling trading site, where local tribes of Ligurian Celts undertook friendly bartering. Prof Cartledge said within a matter of generations the nearby Rhône became a major thoroughfare for vessels carrying terracotta amphorae that contained what was seen as a new, exotic Greek drink made from fermented grape juice. He argued the new drink rapidly became a hit among the tribes of Western Europe, which then contributed to the French's modern love of wine... Archaeologists have discovered a five-foot high, 31.5 stone bronze vessel, the Vix Krater, which was found in the grave of a Celtic princess in northern Burgundy, France... The research forms part of Professor Cartledge's study into where the boundaries of Ancient Greece began and ended. Rather than covering the geographical area occupied by the modern Greek state, he argued Ancient Greece stretched from Georgia in the east to Spain in the west.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Uh, I’m tellin’... ;’)
Perhaps they meant the Liquorin' Celts...
I prefer Ouzo.
I think Retsina was a brilliant invention myself. It’s the first chemical anti-theft device. The Greeks obviously put pine tar in their wine so that the Turks wouldn’t steal the wine. It’s just brilliant in it’s simplicity.
“The Greeks obviously put pine tar in their wine so that the Turks wouldn’t steal the wine. It’s just brilliant in it’s simplicity.”
My grandparents always maintained that was the story...and the fact that no Turk will drink Retsina lends it credibility.
Vix Krater was a friend of mine years ago.
You have to try Muscadine. It's made here in the South!
Colonies and culture of Magna Graecia! Recommend this obscure book to all, it's a real gem:
GODS WITH BRONZE SWORDS by Costa De Loverdo
Older book, cheap on Amazon, somewhat heavy on the speculation but always entertaining and thought-provoking. You start seeing the Greek influence in its earliest epoch, though the physical evidence was long ago broken down by the waves.
Another excellent work: MEDITERRANEAN, SAGA OF A SEA by Emil Ludwig. A Med-lover must-read!
Thanks 668!
“Ouzo the famed drink of Lesvos”
Isn’t that redundant?
Goudabservation.
A couple of Halloweens ago I took a bottle of retsina and a bottle of mead to a party, and got some friends (I don’t drink) to try the retsina-mead-beer combo that may have been a Mycenaean favorite. We came up with a 1-2-3 proportion on that for flavor. Anyway, one of those friends has since added retsina to his “often” list.
:’)
I wonder if any of their drinking songs have survived?
Hey, if you can’t keep it down, it’s probably *not* a good wine. Or, there was far too much of it. ;’)
Most larger wine shops carry at least a bottle or two of Nemea. Goes very well with rack of lamb.
The Turks actually produce some nice white wines, but none with pine resin.
“The Turks actually produce some nice white wines,...”
Indeed they do, mostly from the Ionian coast area; also some pretty good oil. Guess who taught them how to make it? :)
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