The Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) completed his career in office and became consul in 59 BC. In the following years, he travelled to the northern provinces of Illyria (west of the Balkan Peninsula) and Gaul, which had been colonised by the Celts and given its name by the Romans.

In the years 58 to 51 BC, he conquered this very large area as far as the Rhine. Gaul essentially corresponded to today's France and Belgium, as well as parts of western Germany (Trier was in Gaul), a north-western third of Switzerland, northern Italy and today's Croatian peninsula of Istria. During these campaigns, he came into contact with the culture and also (where available) the viticulture of these peoples. The cultivation of vines and the imparting of Roman knowledge about winemaking had a strong influence on viticulture.
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