22nd edition of the autumn grape harvest at the Pompeii excavations

The twenty-second edition of the autumn harvest, in the archaeological area of ​​Pompeii.

For the occasion, visitors to the excavations will be able to witness the traditional cutting of the grapes, grown in the vineyards of the ancient domus, from which the Villa of Mysteries wine.

By accessing the entrance of Piazza Anfiteatro it will be possible to visit the vineyard of the Foro Boario (9,00-13,00) with its wine cellar, the vineyard and the house of the Nave Europa and that of the house of the open-air Triclinium. In this last domus the exhibition is set up until November 30th Latin metropolis  by architect Andrea Branzi. The exhibition that explores the intimate life of the domus, capturing the close relationship between the ancient and the contemporary, reproduces in particular in the vineyards, through the sounds of farmyard animals, the daily atmosphere of peasant life, further enhancing the suggestion of moments lived, and of the productive activities that took place there in ancient times.

Grape cultivation and wine production are part of a scientific project studying the ancient viticulture systems and techniques of Pompeii. The project began in the 90s as part of the applied botany and archaeology studies conducted by the Applied Research Laboratory of the Pompeii Archaeological Park. This was followed by an agreement with the Mastroberardino Winery, which over the years has handled preliminary research, the planting and cultivation of the vineyards of ancient Pompeii, and the final wine production.

At 12,00 the Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, and the prof. Piero Mastroberardino will welcome the press for a greeting and to celebrate the grape harvest day which renews this consolidated collaboration, aimed at enhancing the archaeological territory and its peculiarities.

The project idea, born in 1994, initially concerned a limited area of ​​the excavations, to then expand and now involve 15 vineyard areas all located in Regiones I and II of ancient Pompeii (including Foro Boario, home of the Triclinium summer, Domus della Nave Europa, Caupona del Gladiatore, Caupona di Eusino, the Orto dei Fuggiaschi, etc.) for a total extension of about one and a half hectares and for a potential yield of about 40 quintals per hectare.

Today, Villa dei Misteri wine represents a unique way to tell and make known Pompeii with its culture and its ancient tradition and as a place of valorization and, at the same time, defense of the territory, the landscape and the environment.

The Villa dei Misteri is the result of the historical blend of pious e Sloppy to which, starting from the 2011 vintage, the important contribution of theAglianico, a grape variety that is a symbol of Campania, a millennia-old testament to Hellenic viticulture and one of the varieties best suited to producing great, long-aging red wines. The Vitis vinifera research project in Pompeii was expanded in 2007, identifying additional areas to be restored to vineyards, primarily intended for Aglianico.