A multidisciplinary approach to the production of wine on Templar estates

Abstract

This chapter presents a case study for the production of wine in a Templar commandery, specifically the Templar house in Bologna. The acreage Templar estates encompassed, as the Bologna deeds record for the time indicated, is measured in tornature, a unit equivalent to 2,080 square metres. The chapter focuses on information gathered from archival sources as well as archaeological, palynological samples. The Templar Order was established throughout Europe in commanderies, focused mainly on agricultural production that supported, logistically and financially, the defence of the Holy Land. Research in local archives, particularly in the archiepiscopal archive of Ravenna, revealed documents related to the local trial and the properties of the Bolognese Templars, supplying with a lot of information concerning the commandery, including its layout, purpose and composition. Most of the Templar holdings in the city and environs produced cereal crops; the rest included vineyards, vegetables and pasturage.