Vinum: The Story of Roman Wine [Hardcover]

Stuart Fleming (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2001

VINUM: The Story of Roman Wine, through a blend of classical literature, archaeology and vineyard science, describes how the Romans perceived wine's significance in their everyday life at all levels of society, senator to slave.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Fleming brings to life the conviviums (banquets of the weathy), neighborhood taverns and drunken debaucheries of ancient Rome. -- Philadelphia Inquirer, December 12, 2001

About the Author

Stuart Fleming is currently Scientific Director at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. He is the author of five previous books, including Authenticity in Art (1975), The Egyptian Mummy: Secrets and Science (1981), and Roman Glass: Reflections on Cultural Change (1999). It was the dynamic story underlying the last of these that inspired him to tackle the sometimes,confusing, but always fascinating topic of wine's cultural importance in the Roman World.

Personal intersts tend to be outside archaeology, however. He takes constant pleasure from classical music—particularly Dvorak and Larssen—and learning about technical aspects of European painting. And, despite the flavorsome topic of VINUM, his enduring hobby is the brewing of Belgian-style beers.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 134 pages
• Publisher: Art Flair (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971274207
• ISBN-13: 978-0971274204
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Taste of Ancient Rome, August 26, 2002

By 

Nicolle Hirschfeld, PhD (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vinum: The Story of Roman Wine (Hardcover)

A sumptuous introduction to wine production, distribution, and consumption in the world of ancient Rome. VINUM is beautifully illustrated and produced, and it's an easy read. Would make a really nice present for anyone who enjoys drinking wine.
But it's not only pretty and polished. Also a really good introduction for the academic reader -- student or teacher. Fleming carefully and fully documents ancient and modern sources, and he provides the reader with an excellent survey of the state of knowledge. The references point the way to further research.
Especially recommended for wine connoisseurs, teachers of high school and undergraduate survey courses, and students in those courses.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In Vino Veritas, July 2, 2003

By 

Alan S. Walker (Langnau am Albis Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vinum: The Story of Roman Wine (Hardcover)

Vinum is is an attractive and very informative little book that tells us virtually everything we might want to know about the role wine played in the Roman world. How were the vines that produced it grown? Who made it and where? How was it harvested and prepared? How was it stored and shipped? How was it kept? Who drank it and what different qualities were available? What were Roman taverns like? Were Roman parties sometimes as wild as we think they were? What did the Romans think about wine? All of these questions, and more, are answered in a very readable text embellished with numerous colorful drawings, charts, photographs and maps. In fact, many of the areas of Europe where great wines are produced today also produced wines under the Romans, and even now not only are some of the grape varieties the same, but some of the growing methods are as well. Anyone who really likes wine ought to very much enjoy having this book.