DNA from 2,000-year-old grape seeds points to origins of modern winemaking

The research also suggests long-distance agricultural networks across the Roman empire that may have been the forerunners of standardised production. Photograph: Christian Delbert/Alamy

DNA extracted from 2,000-year-old grape seeds found in ancient wells in Tuscany has enabled scientists to map the most extensive genetic history of grapevines recovered from a single site.

The findings revealed that vineyards of the Roman era formed part of the empire’s sophisticated agricultural network that might have influenced the development of modern winemaking.