The Romans came from the part of Europe we now know as Italy, where the warm climate was suitable for growing grapes. A grape farm is known as a vineyard, and the main product you can get from grapes is the alcoholic drink called wine. After picking the grapes they would be trodden by slaves to release the juice. Then the grape mix was placed in a wooden press, and pressed three times. The best wine was made from the first pressing, the poorest from the third pressing. Once decanted from bigger storage vessels called amphorae, wine was poured into beakers, ready for drinking.

Wine was the main drink of the Romans, and they produced red, white, yellow and black wines. After invading and settling in Britain they established vineyards to continue wine production, but the British climate was not always warm enough to produce good grapes. The Romans were introduced to beer when they invaded Britain, but they considered it a barbaric drink. Wine consumption in Britain increased after the Roman invasion, particularly in and near the new Roman towns and military camps.

The Romans worshipped many different gods and goddesses, depicted in human form as protectors of all aspects of life. Bacchus was the God of wine, and the Romans gave thanks to Bacchus after a good grape harvest. Bacchus is often shown as a young boy holding a bunch of grapes with vine leaves in his hair. He represents both the intoxicating power of wine, and its beneficial qualities of conviviality and relaxation.

Wine was drunk with water - it was considered uncouth to drink it undiluted. It was a sign of appreciation to burp after drinking. Some wines were drunk hot, with added spices. The most popular wines were white and sweet. Honey was often added to the wine during fermentation, producing a substance called muslum which was considered to be a delicious hors d'oevre. Red wines take their colour from the skin of dark grapes. Red wine was sold in the taverns and the wine allowance of slaves and labourers was a watered down fermentation of grape skin mash. Children often drank warm water with added honey.

A beaker is a drinking vessel without a handle. This indented beaker is the typical shape of Roman beaker. It is hand thrown with six indentations in its side. These have been formed by hand, the sides being pressed in whilst the clay was still malleable. The indentations made it easier to grip, especially if it was full of wine, making the outside wet or slippery. There are six ridges in between the indentations. These were created by rolling and pressing pieces of clay between finger and thumb until they were flat. They were then stuck onto the beaker after it had been thrown, using slip, a mixture of clay and water, as glue. The larger pieces of clay were at the top, the smaller ones at the bottom. The ridges added an extra layer of clay between the fingers and the wall of the beaker, enabling it to be carried when it was hot.

Pottery was a widespread industry in many areas of the Roman Empire, and amphorae, wine jars, and pots for cooking and eating were produced by the thousand. Many potters were slaves who had been set free and most were men. Some wealthy landowners had their own potteries on their estates.