Pompeii, the Roman city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., is once again growing vineyards. Nearly two millennia after volcanic ash buried its streets and homes, workers are planting vines inside the archaeological park, reconnecting the historic site with a key part of its past.
The effort marks a return to farming traditions that once shaped daily life in the ancient city. Before disaster struck, vineyards covered large areas of Pompeii. Wine was not only a popular drink but also a major source of income. Traders shipped it across the Mediterranean, helping the city build economic ties with distant regions.
Today, that tradition is being revived through a project called Wine Archaeology. The Pompeii Archaeological Park has partnered with the Tenute Capaldo Group, with support from the wineries Feudi di San Gregorio and Basilisco. The goal is to replant vineyards using evidence gathered from years of research and to grow grapes in a natural, environmentally friendly way.
Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said the project serves several purposes. Beyond producing wine, it supports research, reduces maintenance costs across the vast site, and creates a sustainable source of income. It also helps visitors better understand how farming once shaped the city’s economy, landscape, and social life.
Ancient vine rows take shape inside the ruins
Researchers have begun planting about six hectares, or nearly 15 acres, of vineyards within and around the ancient city. The team selected Greco and Aglianico grapes, two varieties closely linked to southern Italy. These vines will be grown without synthetic chemicals, following natural farming practices.
The project builds on studies that began in the 1990s, when experts started examining plant remains, soil patterns, and ancient farming layouts discovered during excavations. Those early findings revealed how vineyards were arranged and how residents cultivated crops. Over time, the research expanded to include olive trees and other traditional plants once common in Pompeii.
Paintings and carvings found in homes across the city show how important wine was to everyday life. Scenes of grape harvests and images of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, appear in many buildings. These artworks suggest that wine was more than a commercial product. It played a central role in meals, celebrations, and religious rituals.
Historical records show that Pompeian wine traveled far beyond Italy. Merchants exported it to parts of Spain, North Africa, and areas that are now France and Turkey. Although ancient writers sometimes debated its quality compared with wine from nearby towns, Pompeii remained an active player in regional trade.
From volcanic ash to a living agricultural legacy
After the eruption of Vesuvius, farming in the area vanished. Over centuries, many original grape varieties disappeared or changed. Later generations grouped wines by broad regions rather than specific towns, and the link to Pompeii faded.
Campania, the modern region that includes Pompeii, still holds one of Italy’s richest collections of native grape varieties. Recent genetic studies have helped researchers better understand how these grapes developed and moved across the region. The findings have reshaped older ideas about their origins.
Antonio Capaldo, president of Feudi di San Gregorio, described the vineyard project as a long-term promise. In ancient times, the Romans planted vines and olive trees as a sign of stability. They understood that these crops required patience, often taking years before producing fruit.
The renewed vineyards at Pompeii reflect that same spirit. By restoring grapevines to the land once covered in ash, the project connects past and present. It offers visitors a living example of how agriculture shaped the ancient city — and how history can take root again.