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The
origin of the vine
The
Greeks
The
Romans
The Byzantines
Modern
Times
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- The Byzantines
- Rossano and
Santa Severina situated north and south of Ciro' were two of Calabria's
most important Byzantine centres, established between 700 - 1060
AD. The Basilian monks obtained many of the vast 'latifundia'
estates once owned by the Roman Empire.
- Wine was and
is to be considered the most indispensable part of the Christian
rite: that of the Mensa Eucaristica. Vineculture was practised
by monks within the confines of convent walls, protected from
the bandits roaming the countryside.
Isolated from other men Basilian monks aimed to purify themselves,
disassociates themselves from their past, from interests, affection,
opinions, pleasure, and other habits of the social animal. The
wine obtained from the vines was used for worship, for visitors
consumption and for moderate consumption by the monks.
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- Around the
year 1000 there's evidence from many donation documents, sales,
and agricultural contracts passed down by Registrars to indicate
that winemaking again commenced beyond the realms of the church.
Such was the diffusion of wine it was necessary to take a severe
measure against drunkenness (proclaimed as a serious crime in
the year 1215 by Papa Innocenzo III). In the 1200's wine was exported
again to central Europe.
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