CASCASTEL CHATEAU

Contemporary History - 19^th century.

Brief History of wine & vine culture.

Until the reign of Louis Phillipe and Napoleon 111 the peasant economy of the Corbières was self sufficient. Certain villages (Saint Jean de Barrou) produced good wine and olives. There were many flocks of sheep and goats which produced great quantities of wool that was then sold. The exploitation of mines and quarries was not nearly as important and was practised when seasonal work (the grape and crop harvest) permitted.

On the other hand the demand for wine was increasing with the growth of industries and working populations in town and cities that were very often centred on older medieval towns.

The areas on the plain near to the Canal du Midi, for example the site of the loading area and the tow path at Salléles d’Aude, were also close to the railway and experienced a certain prosperity, indicated by the number of Châteaux called “ pinardiers ” (producer of cheap wine).

In between the years 1850 - 1870, vines were planted everywhere. The vine was the only collodity produced for sale elsewhere as it was capable of a high economic yield.

The vines were planted even on the slopes of the most distant valleys which were sheltered and where the best grapes could be grown. Each vigneron in his small Cave, made his own unique wine by using the grapes obtained from the different varieties of vines planted together on each parcel of land. There was beginning to be a better understanding of the techniques involved as a result of the work of Pasteur, Chaptal, etc. but accidents during the making of the wine were not unusual.

The High Corbières was isolated by the difficult double river crossing at Ripaud where there was the junction of routes and a coaching inn which meant that there was a lack of good transport enjoyed on the plain. As a result there was not the same development of the vines in the area.

As the land was planted with vines it could no longer produce enough food for the population or for the animals and so owners took great care to carefully manage the land to ensure their survival. There were still many flocks of sheep in the countryside and the sheep created desert like conditions which persisted until the 1950’s. The wool from the sheep was used by the clothing industry. Sheep imported from elsewhere and extensive raising of sheep in Australia plus problems of sanitation destroyed this old economic system. Today all that can be seen of this old way of life are the ruins of bergeries (shepherd’s huts) with their stone arches and any number of stone walled enclosures. (This type of construction with crossed arches was noted in 1719) < The Gateway to the High Corbières.   [ photo 1 | photo 2 ] v Below : Ancient vaulted sheep pen.

The railway was long awaited because it was more rapid than the huge chariots that had been constructed to transport the barrels and which were pulled by mules or horses.

Before the vines were affected by Oïdium (a fungal growth) and certainly the Phylloxera (a sap sucking insect) the work in the vines was primitive. “ There was no grafting or sulphering. the cuttings were planted with prayers, some even benefited from water blessed by the Priest, and manure principally from the sheep, was spread over the ground before ploughing. ” ( “ Les Moulins à Nuages ” - “ The Windmills in the Clouds ” by Georges J. ARNAUD)

In 1861 the Phylloxera arrived from America and all the European wine growing regions were affected. It began in the Department of the Gard, which allowed the vignerons of the Hautes Corbières to sell all of their products at a good price. In 1879 the harvest was sold immediately, but the malady then advanced into the Corbières.

It was necessary to replace all the vines. The American variety of vine which was resistant to Phylloxera had a high yield but made bad wine. French varieties of grapes were grafted onto the American vine stock to give plants resistance to the disease and were capable of high yields and producing good wine.

“ Who would do the grafting onto the American plant? Who would know how to begin? It would be necessary to pay the high cost of those who were capable. And the sulphur for the oïdium? The Copper sulphate against Phylloxera that was used in the Gard, how would we do this who are so ignorant of the new methods? ” (“ Les Moulins à Nuages ” Georges J. ARNAUD).

The growing of vines had become more technical and therefore the costs of production went up, and the increase in the price of wine went up accordingly. The situation held up until the end of the 19^th century when more wine was produced than people were prepared to buy. During the difficult times the commercial producers had profited by putting onto the market fraudulent alternatives, given the name of wine, but made from sugar beet or imported re-hydrated dried grapes.