| CASCASTEL CHATEAU |
VERSION FRANCAISEContemporary History - 21st century.
Brief History of wine & vine culture.
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The new century has begun with a new period of over production. Less wine is being consumed in France. In addition the cost to the French public health system of individual abuse of alcohol could no longer be sustained and a campaign advising a more moderate consumption of alcohol was launched by the Government. AOC products were affected by poor sales. The regulations required to produce AOC wine are many and they do not take into account the actual demands required for the making of wine, the protection of the consumer and the market requirements. The various crisis that have occurred in the food industry during the last ten years (mad cow disease, listeria, salmonella, E.Coli, bird flu) had their origin in the considerable changes in production methods. To meet the loss of consumer confidence the traceability of a bottle of wine from the vine to the bottle became obligatory in 2005. La « Vendange » |
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The Vignerons du Paradis (The wine producing caves of Cascastel, St. Jean de Barrou, Fraisse and Villeseque) have opted for L’Agriculture Raisonée (Reasonable Agricultural practice). Types of fertilizer and pesticide, the quantity used and the date and manner of application have to be recorded in a form that can be checked. Hygiene, cleanliness and condition of the equipment, the maturity of the grapes at the time of harvesting are all checked at the entry to the Caves and a delivery of grapes could be downgraded. Good hygiene must be maintained during the making of the wine and in addition the percentage of sulphur, the presence of bacteria and toxins must be controlled. These rules have to be respected and are indispensable for the market. The yeast strains produced in hygienic conditions guarantees a product safe and consistent. Œnologie is a very innovative expertise and new processes allow for a consistent high quality wine.
The regulations include an obligation to produce a satisfactory product and meet the demands of the consumer. For local viticulteurs and vignerons cultivating vines and producing wine is a way of life, part of their identity and inheritance from previous generations and the idea of seeing their work become a product of marketing is very hard to accept. Traditional viticulture must adapt if it does not wish investors from elsewhere looking to make a profit from wine to take its place.
In this context independent Caves have made changes and this is also occurring at the Caves Co-operatives.
At Cascastel the floods of 1999 left many vineyards and tracks leading to them destroyed, but also the Cascastel Cave was inundated. The River Berre battered the Cave building, water flooded in and carried all before it: stock ready to be bottled or delivered, large and small equipment, including the bottling equipment, were destroyed or swept away. Mr. Christian MARTY was the President of the Société Coopéritive at the time and speaking to journalist from TF1 (French National TV Channel 1) declared that the Viticulteurs were “ durs ” (strong) that they had seen bad times before and that they would re-emerge. There were nevertheless complex problems of insurance, the search for grants and certainly new investment.
The vineyards have been renewed and the many activities destroyed in the floods have been relocated in the new Cave which is safe from any future flooding.
Direct sales from the Cave are indispensable,
for its success and its future. >
Les Maïtres Vignerons du Paradis : www.cascastel.com
Domaine Grand Guilhem : www.grandguilhem.com
Email : Clos des Camuzeilles tibes@club-internet.fr
Traditional methods of vitculture survived Phylloxera, fraud and the overproduction of the 1970’s. On the lost and hidden slopes the old ways of cultivation have to change and today the vines must be managed efficiently. The vines have to be staked and, where necessary, put onto wires. The ground around the vines has to be kept clear to allow for maximum benefit for the plant and for the grapes it produces. The use of organic fertilisers are encouraged.
Monoculture of the vine leaves the area economically vulnerable. There are few alternatives although olive trees are being planted to protect the parcels of land after the vines have been dug up and, of course, now there is tourism...
Our village and our region is rich in natural and historic sites and it is this which is the object of this web site, e.g... The Moulin de Cucugnan > featured in a story by Alphonse Daudet a native of Nimes (1840 - 1897) - ’Le Curé de Cucugnan’ from ’Lettres de mon Moulin’ More photos of Cucugnan |
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