El vino en la cuenca del Duero en época romana

Abstract

This work shows that, during the Roman conquest of northern Spain, and in particular the valley of the River Duero, wine is never mentioned except among the soldiers at the siege of Numancia. There are no allusions to its cultivation, only to its consumption. It is only from the time of the Roman settlements, after the conquest of Numancia (133 B.C.), and in particular after the Cantabrian wars, due to the establishment of forts; that the vine begins to be cultivated because wine was a part of the soldiers’ diet. We trace the history of wine through references found in written sources and epigraphy. We then consider the evidence from the mosaics and sculptures referring to the Greco-Roman gods connected with wine. We finally stress the influence of Christianity in its cultivation and development.