Pressing Ancient Artifacts into a Modern Solution: The Reincorporation of Ancient Pestarola by a Contemporary Tuscan Winemaker

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Communities of Engagement: Incorporating Deep Time and Slow Science into Community Based Research Projects" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Wine as an anthropological object is a tool, allowing us to study winemaking communities across time. The regional culture and economy of Tuscany has been shaped by the historical agricultural and production methods of winemaking. With the growing popularity of global wine brands, a local wine maker has started to explore production methods that are unique to a landscape which has technical expertise spanning millennia. This presentation summarises the significance of ancient winemaking practices, such as the use of a pestarola, to the contemporary winemakers of the Amiata valley. By examining a case study of a winemaker producing pestarola wine in the Seggiano basin in the shadow of Monte Amiata, we can understand how the modern use of these volcanic winestones builds upon the critical historical connections that contributed to the prestige Tuscan wine holds, as well as influencing the taste of the wine. The consumption of pestarola wine invites a distinctive experience that this local winemaker is able to provide to global wine connoisseurs, tourists, and local residents alike. This discussion will highlight how local contemporary Tuscan winemakers are revisiting ancient winemaking methods to promote their renowned wine culture of tradition and quality.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Communities of Engagement: Incorporating Deep Time and Slow Science into Community Based Research Projects

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53249