DNA from ancient Tuscan vines rewrites the story of Roman wine

DNA extracted from 2,000-year-old grape seeds found in ancient wells across Tuscany has enabled scientists to trace the genetic lineage of vineyards that supplied the Roman empire's sophisticated agricultural network, according to the Guardian. The discovery challenges long-held assumptions about classical viticulture: the vines that grew in the hills now synonymous with Chianti's red wines produced white fruit in antiquity. The findings represent the most extensive genetic history of grapevines recovered from a single archaeological site.

The research illuminates how Roman viticulturists managed their vineyards and which varieties they cultivated across the region. Ancient wells in Tuscany, preserved by anaerobic conditions, yielded seeds whose DNA could be sequenced and compared with modern cultivars, allowing researchers to trace both continuity and change in the region's winemaking traditions. The Guardian's reporting indicates the study reveals how these ancient vineyards formed part of Rome's larger agricultural infrastructure, suggesting deliberate cultivation strategies across the empire's territories.