Ancient Rome and wine Gaul. The Romans established lucrative trading relations with local tribes of Gaul, despite their potential to produce wine of their own. The Gallic tribes paid high prices for Roman wine, with a single amphora worth the value of a slave. From the Mediterranean coast, the Romans pushed further up the Rhone Valley, to areas where olives and figs were unable to grow but where oak trees were still found. As a result of their experience in what is now northeastern Italy, the Romans knew that regions where "Quercus ilex" were found had climates sufficiently warm enough to allow the full
Ancient Greek cuisine Ancient Greek cuisine Ancient Greek cuisine was characterized by its frugality, reflecting agricultural hardship. It was founded on the "Mediterranean triad": wheat, olive oil, and wine. Modern knowledge of ancient Greek cuisine and eating habits is derived from literary and artistic evidence. The literary evidence comes mostly from Aristophanes' comedies and quotes preserved by 2nd–3rd century AD grammarian Athenaeus, while artistic information is provided by black- and red-figure vase-painting and terracotta figurines. The Greeks had three to four meals a day. Breakfast ( "akratismós") consisted of barley bread dipped in wine ( "ákratos"), sometimes complemented by figs or olives. They