Bacchus Uncorked: A Roman Dinner Party Lost at Sea

Food & Drink in Bacchus Uncorked series
An ancient vessel on an orange background to the right of a tan diagonal block overlaid with an illustrated logo of a head peeping out of an ancient bowl.

Terracotta wine amphora, about 100 BCE, Roman. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Jul 11 and 12, 2026

Saturday and Sunday
5:15–8:30pm

Getty Villa

Villa Auditorium

$135

Tickets include a thematic selection of wine, hearty appetizers, beautiful surroundings, and friendly conversation. Limited capacity. 21 and over.

Tickets must be purchased for event entrance and are non-refundable. Your event ticket will also serve as your Villa entrance reservation. Please note, there is an additional fee for parking.

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About

An ancient Roman dinner party was not a simple affair. Elite Romans sourced luxury objects from all around the Mediterranean to impress and delight their dinner guests. While enjoying wine from Greece and Italy, diners could recline on Greek couches covered in fabrics from India and the East. They toasted with glassware from Egypt and the Near East, and enjoyed dishes flavored with spices from the Arabian Peninsula. Underwater archaeologist Carrie Atkins presents the evidence of such extravagant items discovered in shipwrecks from the first century BCE, showcasing how transportation networks of ships crisscrossing the Mediterranean supported an opulent lifestyle.

Following Carrie’s presentation, wine educator Diego Meraviglia introduces a selection of Italian wines from Tuscany, Campania, and Sicily, each with connections to Roman shipping networks and estates like the ancient model for the Getty Villa. Then, head outdoors to the gardens and enjoy a summer evening mingling with new friends over wine, food, and conversation.

This program is generously supported by the Getty Museum Villa Council.

    Food & Drink Getty Villa

    Speakers

    1. Carrie Atkins

      Underwater Archaeologist

      Carrie Atkins is an associate professor at the University of Toronto. As an underwater archaeologist, she has worked on surveys and excavations in Turkey, Italy, and Cyprus. Her recent underwater project provides a holistic study of a Late Bronze Age anchorage on the south-central coastline of Cyprus, combining a close study of the coastline with a digital documentation of the anchors and artifacts on the seabed. She has published on digital recording technologies, anchorages, shipboard religion, Roman shipwrecks, and the transportation of Roman luxury objects. Her book, Shipping Roman Luxury: Shipwrecks, Networks, and Transportation (c. 200 BCE–200 CE) is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.

    2. 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 10:00am until 5:00pm Presentations take place in the auditorium starting at 5:15pm followed by wine enjoyment in the Outer Peristyle garden from 6:30 until 8:30pm.

    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 a 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.

    Series Information

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