Frascati Wine Tour - A taste of Italy

2008 Edition - Dark Rome Tours ®

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THE WINES

The Pallavicini family, one of the oldest Italian noble families, today represents a rare example of historical, cultural and entrepreneurial synthesis.

The estate of the Pallavicini Princes is located between Colonna and Frascati, near the ancient Labicum. The nature of the soil, an ideal climate, and careful growing techniques that respect the biology of the vines, added to the passion of the people who work here have put Principe Pallavicini wines in a cutting-edge position.
An ongoing effort to recover and develop indigenous grapes, the introduction of varieties especially suited to high-quality production, as well as careful winemaking and attentive aging of the wines have, in recent years, characterised the work of Principe Pallavicini.

WINE & ANCIENT ROME

Rome did not always embrace its gift for winemaking. For centuries, little was made in the peninsula and that which was being produced was of poor quality and spoiled quickly. It was excessively sweet and syrupy and often had to be diluted with water.

Attempts at prolonging the conservation were made by adding a variety of ingredients, many unappetizing, such as chalk, perfume, and seawater. Thankfully, one popular addition was honey, which slowed the degradation process and created a beverage called Mulsum.

Women were forbidden from wine. It is said that husbands would kiss their wives on the mouth, and would consequently beat them if they tasted wine on their ladies’ lips. Wine was also prohibited to men under thirty, and the plebeians who could not afford the high cost.

The expansion of the Roman Empire around the 3rd century BC brought power, wealth and an increase in demand for quality, affordable wines. Soon Rome was producing enough vino to satiate a population of one million with a half-liter per day, per person. This included, finally, women, children and even slaves.

Wine became integrated into daily life, often beginning right at breakfast with bread dipped in wine. It was in this period that a considerable amount of literature was produced on viniculture and the Romans began a tradition of excellence in winemaking that would continue to this day.