Wine Making With The Help Of The Ancient DNA Of Roman And Medieval Grape Seeds

With the help of an extensive genetic database of modern vines, the searchers tested and compared 28 archaeological seeds from French sites dating from the Iron Age, the Roman era and the medieval period.

Using ancient methods of DNA were used to track human ancestors, team from countries of the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Spain and Germany, we established genetic connections of seeds from different archaeological sites, as well as links to the grape varieties of today in day.

For a long time, it has been suspected that some varieties of grapes grown today, particularly those known as Pinot Noir, have an exact genetic compatibility with plants grown 2,000 years ago or more, but so far there is no way to genetically test an uninterrupted genetic lineage of that age.

Dr. Nathan Wales, of the University of York, said: "From our sample of grape seeds we find 18 different genetic signatures, which are part of genetically identical seeds of two Roman sites separated by more than 600 km, and which date from 2,000 years ago.

"These genetic links include a 'sister' relationship with the varieties grown in today's Alpine regions. The skills of winemakers have history in the management of their vineyards with modern techniques, such as asexual reproduction through the cut of plants."

An archaeological grape seed excavated from a medieval site in Orléans in central France was genetically identical to Savagnin Blanc. This means that the variety has grown for at least 900 years as cuttings from a single ancestral plant.

Although this is not as well known today, 900 years of a genetically identical plant better than this wine was special, special enough for grape growers to adhere to it through centuries of changing political regimes and agricultural advances.

Dr. Jazmín Ramos-Madrigal, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen, said: "We suspect that most of these archaeological seeds come from the domestic bays that are used for winemaking in the function of their strong genetic links with the reality came.

"The berries of the varieties used for wine are small, the thick-skinned ones are full of seeds and are full of sugar and other compounds, such as acids, phenols and aromas, excellent for making wine, but not so good to eat directly "These ancient seeds do not have a genetic link with modern table grapes.

Bases in the writings of the Roman author and naturalist, Pliny the Elder, and others, we know that the Romans have technical knowledge of winemaking and names of names for different grape varieties, but until now it has been impossible to link their Latin names with modern ones.

"Now we have the opportunity to use genetics to know exactly what the Romans grew in their vineyards."

Of the Roman seeds, those that do not find an identical genetic match with the seeds of today, but a very close relationship with the families of the grapes that are used to produce high quality wine.

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https:/www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190610111557.htm