{"id":3591,"date":"2022-01-28T11:54:34","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T10:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chateaudeterride.com\/2022\/01\/28\/the-wines-of-gaillac-history-of-a-vineyard\/"},"modified":"2023-02-01T10:00:38","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T09:00:38","slug":"the-wines-of-gaillac-history-of-a-vineyard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chateaudeterride.com\/en\/2022\/01\/28\/the-wines-of-gaillac-history-of-a-vineyard\/","title":{"rendered":"The wines of Gaillac : history of a vineyard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gaillac is one of the oldest vineyards in France. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discovery of wine consumption and trade in the Gaillacois territory is attested by archaeological research.  Amphorae for storage, vats or containers used to transport wine were discovered. The cultivation of the vine was imported into the Gaillacois by the Romans, following the first conquest of Gaul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaillac wines : the vineyard of Gaillac<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Concerning the vineyard, several things can justify that the vine was implanted in the Gaillacois. Indeed, the geographical situation of the vineyard is ideal, because it is at the crossroads of communications. Moreover, the soil of Gaillac is favourable to the culture of the vine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The important culture of the vine in the region of Gaillac makes turn an economy around it. You can find specialized shops like the pottery sites of Montans<\/a>, where amphoras are made. The forest of Gr\u00e9signe and its wood resources allow the production of casks and barrels for the conservation and transport of wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Z’elles gaillacoises <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another factor favored the development of the vineyard: the monks! In 972, Raymond I of Rouergue gave the town of Gaillac to the abbot Saint-Michel who built the eponymousabbey<\/a> on the banks of the Tarn. At that moment a part of the Tarn vineyard, destroyed by the Moors, was replanted. The Benedictine monks of the Saint-Michel Abbey developed it. Over time, viticulture became a real economic force for the region and thus gained the support of the Counts of Toulouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This place of choice will be at the origin of the creation of very strict rules governing viticulture and wine making. Consequently, eight centuries before the creation of the AOC, the Gaillacois vineyard is one of the best protected and organized in France: prohibition to mix wines with “foreign” wines, regulated pruning, ban of the grape harvest, prohibition to smoke the vines, organization of the working time… Moreover only one fertilizer is authorized. This is the “colombine” (pigeon droppings). This is how we can observe a consequent number of pigeon houses in the Gaillacois vineyard. Today, no longer in use, many of them are abandoned and are gradually disappearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“It was during a conversation with her colleague Louis de Faramond of Ch\u00e2teau Lastours that Alix had the idea for the Z’elles Gaillacoises. While they were talking about the challenge of maintaining the vineyard’s built heritage, Louis confided to her his difficulty in finding the funds to restore his dovecote. Classified as a historical monument, the building is absolutely remarkable. A member since its creation in 2014 of SO Femme & Vin, the first professional network of women in wine in the Southwest, the idea of associating vineyards, dovecotes and women then became obvious to her. Very quickly, with the help of Nathalie Vayssette, they contacted the women winemakers of the Gaillacois. The association, in addition to being a place of exchange and mutual aid for the women of wine, has indeed given itself the mission of promoting the wines of Gaillac and the vineyards of the South-West, but also the preservation of the wine heritage. Alix shares her enthusiasm with her colleagues and soon, a collective of about thirty women winemakers from Gaillac is organized, supported by the whole network SO Femme & Vin. A project for a wine tourism event to raise funds is taking shape. The Z’elles Gaillacoises are born: the adventure begins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The events of the Z’elles Gaillacoises<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One weekend in June, under the benevolent eye of the dovecote chosen for the edition, the Z’elles Gaillacoises offer two days of activities to discover the wines of Gaillac, live at the pace of the vineyard and contribute to preserving this remarkable wine heritage that are the dovecotes. The profits collected during the weekend will be donated to the renovation of the pigeon houses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Grape varieties and soils<\/strong> suitable for the cultivation of Gaillac wines <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Gaillac PDO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the beginning, the Gaillac winegrower has always been concerned with choosing the grape variety best suited to the terrain and exposure. According to his terroir, his climate and his tradition, the winemaker has chosen typical, specific and high character grape varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the phylloxera crisis, the vineyard is devastated. Very quickly, the winegrowers replanted their traditional white grape varieties, which allowed them to obtain the controlled appellation in 1936.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the reds, the winegrowers replanted productive grape varieties to meet the country’s demand and only obtained the red Gaillac PDO in 1970 after replacing these productive varieties with more indigenous and qualitative ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White grape varieties :<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Far from the Eye <\/strong>It owes its name to the fact that the long-stalked bunch of grapes places the grape “away from the eye” (an eye in wine language means a bud). This very old grape variety is found only in Gaillac. It produces a wine with a very fine floral aroma in dry white, but also in sweet white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mauzac<\/strong>: the traditional grape variety of Gaillac. It is characterized by aromas close to apple and pear. It gives its structure to dry white wine. However, it can be used for the elaboration of soft and obligatory for the Ancestral Method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the white grape varieties, we also find Muscadelle, Semillion, Sauvignon and Ondenc, an indigenous grape variety that is coming back into fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red grape varieties :<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braucol:<\/strong> It is also called Fer Servadou and gives a structured wine. The dominant aromas are raspberry and blackcurrant and sometimes bell pepper when it lacks maturity. It requires a longer breeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duras<\/strong>: it is one of the oldest grape varieties of the Gaillacois. It is soft and thin at the same time. It is mainly characterized by aromas reminiscent of pepper or spices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prunelard<\/strong>: an old Gaillacois grape variety, brought up to date. He is the father of Malbec and offers structured wines with plum aromas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, in the red grape varieties, we find Gamay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gaillac and its range of wines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AOP Gaillac rouge <\/strong>: Deep color and powerful nose characterize the red Gaillac. The dominant aromas are red fruits and spices. The traditional reds, rather easy-drinking, have a medium ageing period, whereas the top-of-the-range reds, more structured, can easily reach 10 years. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n