Unveiling the Secrets of Pompeii’s Villa dei Misteri 🤫

+ Where & What to Eat!

History, Rediscovery, and Modern Restoration

There’s something almost magical about the connection between wine and history in Italy, a theme I had the pleasure of exploring in yesterday’s podcast episode with Marc Millon, author of Italy and a Wine Glass: The Taste of History.

During our conversation, Marc shared the incredible story of Piero Mastroberardino, a visionary winemaker from Campania who, in collaboration with the archaeological authorities in Pompeii, brought ancient vineyards back to life.

In the early 1990s, Piero undertook a remarkable project: replanting vines directly within Pompeii, using the exact ancient training methods and vineyard layout that had been buried under volcanic ash since the catastrophic eruption of 79 CE. Archaeologists were able to map these ancient vineyards, thanks to the very voids left in the soil — much like the haunting plaster casts made of Pompeii’s citizens who perished in the eruption. These voids preserved the locations of vineyard stakes and even gave clues about the ancient vine training techniques used by Roman farmers.