The BSR  is excited to share that the Assistant Director Emlyn Dodd has published the co-authored article ‘The Spectacle of Production: a Roman imperial winery at the Villa of the Quintilii, Rome’ in the journal Antiquity on a recently discovered facility where the Roman emperor may have watched fountains of wine as he dined.

The research article has received notable support from major media outlets, including The Guardian, BBC Radio, Science Magazine, NBC News, and the Daily Telegraph, along with features in some of the world’s largest modern wine magazines, Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirits and Decanter.

The discovery of this opulent winery, almost 2,000 years old, gives unique insight into the cultural importance of agriculture in ancient Rome and its role as a form of entertainment for the highest echelons of society. The lavishly decorated complex, which dates to the mid-third century AD, is only the second known example from the ancient world of a winery designed for spectacle, where the day-to-day production of wine was presented as entertainment for wealthy, powerful Romans, perhaps including the emperor himself.

Lead author Emlyn Dodd said “The excavations at the Villa of the Quintilii reveal to us how ancient Roman elites reimagined the annual vintage as a “theatrical” performance, prioritising the experience of those observing over the practical needs of the workers. It would have been a real spectacle for those watching, the combination of fountains of wine and water, luxurious materials – especially the thin white marble channels through which the wine could be seen flowing – and the sounds of the workers and music would have resulted in a theatrical show.”

See the full list of media below:

• ‘Dinner and show: Roman ruins reveal luxury winery doubled as entertainment venue.’ The Lighthouse, Macquarie University, 18 April 2023.

• ‘Lavish ancient Roman winery found at ruins of Villa of the Quintilii near Rome.’ The Guardian,17 April 2023.

• Interview on international radio: ‘Villa of the Quintilii winery’, BBC World Service Radio, 17 April 2023.

• ‘Lavish site unearthed near Rome turned winemaking into theatre for ancient elite.’ NBC News, 17 April 2023.

• ‘A newly uncovered ancient Roman winery featured marble tiling, fountains of grape juice and an extreme sense of luxury.’ The Conversation, 17 April 2023.

• ‘Unearthing a showpiece winery of ancient Rome’s elite.’ Wine Spectator, 17 April 2023.

• ‘Super bowl vino.’ Wine & Spirits, 17 April 2023.

• ‘Roman emperors played winemaker for a day at swank facility.’ Science, 16 April 2023.