In Homer’s epics, great heroes, kings, and queens ruled from citadels and palaces, where one commodity proved essential for daily life: wine. Although the epics are semi-mythical, excavations confirm a Greek Bronze Age where wine played a key role. Join archaeologist Catherine Pratt as she leads us on a journey to Mycenaean Greece and the palace of Pylos. She explores the remains of wine drinking, production, and trade between faraway lands and reveals how wine was essential in gift-giving, hospitality, religion, and much more. Wine educator Diego Meraviglia then introduces the evening’s tasting selection featuring wines from the Peloponnese and the islands of the eastern Mediterranean. Following the presentations, guests will enjoy an evening of wine, food, and conversation in the Villa’s Inner Peristyle gardens as well as after-hours access to the exhibition The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Mycenaean Greece.
Bacchus Uncorked: King Nestor’s Cellar and Wine in the Age of Heroes
Two wine cups, found in the pantries of the Palace of Nestor, Mycenaean, 1240–1180 BCE. Terracotta. Hellenic Ministry of Culture – HOCRED / Archaeological Museum of Chora, CM 1006, CM 875 / Image © J. Paul Getty Trust
Photo: Jeff Vanderpool
About
Catherine Pratt
Archaeologist
Dr. Catherine Pratt is an assistant professor of Greek archaeology at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her PhD in archaeology from UCLA. Dr. Pratt specializes in the Aegean Bronze and Iron Ages with a focus on the agrarian economy of pre-Classical Greece. She has published two books on the topic: Oil, Wine, and the Cultural Economy of Ancient Greece: From the Bronze Age to the Archaic Era (Cambridge University Press, 2021) and Economy and Commodity Production in the Aegean Bronze Age (Cambridge University Press, 2025). Her scholarly articles include topics ranging from early amphora types to the importance of figs in Bronze Age Aegean Economies. She is also co-director of the Bays of East Attica Regional Survey (BEARS) archaeological project in Porto Rafti, Greece.
Diego Meraviglia
Wine Educator
Diego Meraviglia is a wine educator and sommelier based in Los Angeles. He earned the Gold-Pin certification from both the Italian Sommelier Association and the Worldwide Sommelier Association (WSA) in 2008. He is also a Certified Master Taster and holds the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) credential from the Society of Wine Educators in the United States. Originally from Italy, Diego’s interests extend beyond viticulture into ancient European history, with a particular focus on the Celtic (Gaulish) heritage of his homeland. He travels across North America as a consultant, speaker, and educator.
Know Before You Go
Planning your arrival
Please bring your tickets with you and have them open on your mobile device or printed. Your event ticket is also your entry to the Villa and will be checked upon arrival.
Your ticket will also be checked at the event entrance.
We recommend planning your visit to allow for at least 20 minutes to park, go through security, and make your way to the event.
Museum galleries are open from 10am until 5pm. The lecture and wine presentation takes place in the Auditorium starting at 5:15pm followed by wine enjoyment in the Inner Peristyle Garden from 6:30–8:30pm. During this event, our special exhibition The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece will be open for viewing starting at 7:30pm.
Event Check-In
Check-in begins 75 minutes before program start time at the Auditorium.
Doors open 30 minutes before program start time.
Seating
Unless otherwise noted, all seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend arriving early to guarantee your preferred seat.
Accessibility
Wheelchairs are available for free rental on a first-come, first-served basis in the Entry Pavilion.
For the talk portion of this event, seating for wheelchair users and their party is available at the back of the auditorium, as well as at the front of the space. If you'd like to sit in the front, please let a Visitor Services associate know when you check in and they can escort you to these seats.
Assisted listening devices are available for this event. Please request one from our Visitor Services associates when you check in.
For more information on how we can support your visit to the Getty Villa, learn about accessibility at Getty.
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