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CLASSICAL
WINES.
Roman.
Falernian,
Caecuban,
and
other
Wines
—
Galen's
Opinion
—
Colu-
mella's
Receipt
—
The
Roman
Banquet
—
Dessert
Wines
—
'ihe
Supper
of
Nasidienus
—
Dedication
of
Cups
—
Wines
mentioned
by
Pliny
made
of
Figs,
Medlars,
Mulberries,
and
other
Fruits.
Op
Roman
wines
the
Campania
Felix
boasted
the
most
celebrated
growths.
The
Falernian,
Mas-
sican,
Caecuban,
and
Surrentine
wines
were
all
the
pro-
duce
of
this
favoured
soil.
The
three
first
of
these
wines
have
been,
as
the
schoolboy
(not
necessarily
Macaulay's)
is
only
too
well
aware,
immortalised
by
Horace,
who
doubtless
had
ample
opportunities
of
forming
a
matured
judgment
about
them.
The
Caecuban
is
described
by
Galen
as
a
generous
wine,
ripening
only
after
a
long
term
of
years.
The
Massican
closely
resembled
the
Falernian.
The
Setine
was
a
light
wine,
and,
according
to
Pliny,
the
favourite
drink
of
Augustus,
who
perhaps
grounded
his
preference
on
his
idea
that
it
was
the
least
injurious
to
the
stomach.
Possibly
Horace
differed
from
his
patron
in
taste.
He
never
mentions
this
wine,
which
is
however
celebrated
both
by
Martial
and
by
Juvenal