An ancient grape variety mentioned by the Roman author Pliny the Elder (23-79) in his scientific treatise "Naturalis Historia", and also by his Roman contemporary Columella (1st half of the 1st century). The name probably derives from the Celtic tribe of the Allobroges, whose territory stretched from the Rhône and Isère in Savoy to Lake Geneva and who were subjugated by Julius Caesar (100-44 BC).
During Roman colonisation, vines were planted on the right bank of the Rhone (Saint-Joseph, Côte Rôtie) and on the left bank (Hermitage). Pliny described the red wine, known at the time as vinum picatum, as having a resinous flavour and attributed this to the pine forests surrounding the vineyards. Columella argued that this was caused by the resin in the wines or the amphorae sealed with resin.
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Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden