Roman Sarcophagus with a Wine-Making Scene (detail), 290-300 CE. Marble. Getty Museum
Bacchus Uncorked: Wine in Roman Life–and Death
GETTY VILLA
Saturday and Sunday, June 15 - June 16, from 5:15 pm - 8:30 pm
The Getty Villa
Advance ticket required
Emperors and other fancy Romans are justly renowned for their wine-ing and dining in grand luxury. But how did others on the social scale drink? Historian Jeremy Hartnett tells a tale of Roman wine and social values, exploring contexts of daily life, from lowbrow taverns to private dining rooms, and revealing the significance of wine drunk at funerals and portrayed on cemetery monuments. Wine educator Diego Meraviglia then introduces the evening’s tasting selection made from historic varietals known in Roman times. Following the presentations, head to the Outer Peristyle and enjoy an evening of wine, food, and conversation while taking in the sights and sounds of the gardens at sunset.
Tickets: $90
Includes a thematic selection of wine, hearty appetizers, beautiful surroundings, and friendly conversation.
Limited capacity. 21 and over.
Parking: $25; $15 after 3:00 p.m.
Museum galleries are open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Lecture and wine presentation takes place in the auditorium starting at 5:15 p.m. followed by wine enjoyment in the Outer Peristyle garden from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Generously supported by the Getty Villa Council.
Presenters
Jeremy Hartnett is professor and chair of Classics at Wabash College, where he holds the LaFollette Distinguished Professorship in the Humanities. An archaeologist and social historian, Hartnett authored The Roman Street: Urban Life and Society in Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Rome, which won the James Henry Breasted Prize from the American Historical Association. His next book, The Remarkable Life, Death, and Afterlife of an Ordinary Roman, is due out in October.
Diego Meraviglia is president and director of education for the North American Sommelier Association. In 2008, Meraviglia obtained the Gold-Pin certification with the Italian Sommelier Association and the Worldwide Sommelier Association (WSA). He is a certified Master Taster and a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) with the Society of Wine Educators in the United States. A native Italian, Meraviglia is passionate about archeology and ancient European history, with a focus on his native land's Celtic (Gaulish) heritage. Based in Los Angeles, he can be seen regularly around the US and Canada as a freelance consultant, speaker, and avid educator.