ROMAN WINE FESTIVALSVinalia:
October 11 During this festival the season's new wines were tested to make sure they were aging properly. Libations were given to Bacchus to insure that the wine would continue to ferment properly for consumption the following year. Vinalia Priora: April 23 "First Festival of the Vine". On this day the first wines of the year were tasted, and libations were made in honour of Jupiter. It was also a special day for prostitutes, who payed homage to Venus. Vinalia Rustica: August 19 "Rural Festival of the Vine". This feast was held to ask Jupiter to not send storms, hail, heavy rains, or floods before the grapes could ripen and be harvested, and to ask him when the best time to harvest said grapes would be. Venus was also honored during the Vinalia Rustica as a goddess of vegetation and gardens. |
Optimal Wine Serving Temperatures :White Wines: 45-50 °F or 7-10 °C Red Wines: 50-65 °F or 10-18 °C Rosé Wines: 45-55 °F or 7-13 °C Sparkling Wines: 42-52 °F or 6-11 °C Fortified Wines: 55-68 °F or 13-20 °C |