Although the wine has flowed in Madiran since 800 BC, the story of Madiran begins in the 11th century with the arrival of the Benedictine monks.
The Benedictine monks founded the Priory and participated in the development of the vine culture in the region. At this time, the production of wine in Madiran was easy as the grape was flourishing.
With a ‘rustic’ profile, its good resistance, especially to transport, led it to be used to reinforce wines from other regions and years of small harvests.
Expansion
Little by little, the Madiran wine naturally became a wine for Mass. Its renown was assured by the Way of St James pilgrims who took the route Aire-sur-Adour/Lescar.
In the 17th century with the rise of maritime transport via the Adour and the port of Bayonne, the wines conquered the populations in the North. Holland was the first land to welcome the sweet Pacherenc wines, quickly followed by the Madiran reds.
The apogee
It is in 1948 that the modern history of Madiran and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh wines started, with the creation of the AOCs.
From that moment on, the growing of the vine experienced a new boom in the region. In the 1980s, under the impetus of a few pioneers, the appellation began a shift towards the production of quality wines.
It is since the years 2000 that the Madiran winegrowers confirmed their expertise and recognised their moment of glory.
It was not until the 20th century that things were structured and it was in 1906 that the first winemakers syndicate was born, followed in 1948 by the AOC recognition for Madiran and Pacherenc du Vic Bilh by the INAO.
madiran
& Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh
the key dates
Creation of the Crouseilles cooperative cellars
