Ancient and Modern Wine

[Aetius Helvius Merula]

I'm wondering why romans watered their wine -- is it because wine in those days was so strong? Is there a huge difference between modern and ancient wines?

Also, I read that women were not allowed to drink wine (or frowned upon at least). What was the reasoning for this?

From what I've learned, it's because the wine was so thick by the time it was finished fermenting. I haven't been able to learn how modern processes avoid this, but I've read that ancient wine had a syrupy consistency. Thus the water, to thin it out. It was considered vulgar and barbaric to drink it unwatered.

I'm not a big wine fan, but we (my group) were talking about how to replicate the ancient sort of wine over the stove. Boil it for a few minutes? Something else?