CASCASTEL CHATEAU

Contemporary History - 20^th century.
 
The crisis at the start of the century, & the revolt in the Midi.

The overproduction and the fraud had created conditions for a serious social crisis which culminated in 1907 with the revolt in all of the Midi region that the State abandoned to the debt collectors and bailiffs.

Solutions were found to punish the fraudsters, certainly, but more important result was the creation of an organisation to regulate wine production, as true wine and “ natural ”.

Barrels of wine at the Villeneuve railway station. (1906) - General view of the South >

Barrels of wine at the Villeneuve railway station. (1906) - Close-up of the train. v

The First World War of 1914-1918 increased the demand for wine destined for the troops and the harvest was requisitioned and paid for directly by the State and benefiting viticulteurs.

The riots in Montpellier, June 1907. >

La Belle Epoque and, after the World War, the twenties, made fashionable vermouths and other products with a vins doux naturels such as “ BYRRH ”. Until the 1960’s Grenache and Muscat vines were planted (AOC Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée - the name of the wine was registered and the production controlled - Rivesaltes, AOC Côtes D’Agly). This type of vine grew on the poorest land and reached perfect maturity on the schist soils which held the heat and reflected the sun. It was not for nothing that the inhabitants of Cascastel were given the name of “ les Americains ”!

The Second World War 1939 -1945 held up the creation of an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) Fitou and blocked its development. But this was the least important consequences of this conflict. After the War mechanisation and productivity increased. Small tractors for ploughing and distributing various treatments in the vines became abundant.

After the great struggles of 1907 professional organisations were created and what began to emerge was the idea of “ loyauté; ” or loyalty which was indispensable for improving sales and remuneration. In 1919 a law was passed prohibiting the fraudulent naming of products. The product had to indicate a particular area or place and its development according to local practice and customs.

In the 1930’s the idea of the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) began to gain support. A law of 1935 linked the production area, the variety of vine, the minimum degree of alcohol and methods of culture in order to define the AOC. It enabled the identification of wine from specific locations, cultivated and produced according to traditional methods, and particular knowledge. Finally it allowed the consumer to recognise a product of quality and the producer to receive a just re-numeration.

The professional committees became in 1947 “ L’Institut National des Appellation d’Origine ” (INAO) and it was this body which published the decree establishing the birth of the Cru FITOU.

By the end of the 1960’s the demand for vins doux had declined. There was a new crisis of over production which accompanied this fall. The Minister of Agriculture at the time (Christian Bonnet) came to Carcassonne to say that it was necessary to end the production of “ bibine ” (cheap wine or plonk).

The Colonial period had allowed for the dilution of the strong wines of the plain with wine from Algeria, Italy and Spain.

As to Cascastel and the High Corbières the low yields have always allowed for a reasonable quality.

The crisis of over production was solved by the planting of improved varieties of vines and the 1970’s and the 1980’s were highly successful for the AOC FITOU.

Syrah	Carignan	Mourvedre	Grenache