The Saint Mont appellation

 

The epic history of Côtes de Saint-Mont reaches back to the 4th century B.C. Imported by the Greeks, via Spain, the wines enjoyed a boom from 1050 A.D. on, thanks to the founding of the Saint-Mont monastery by Benedictine monks. The vintages, already well-known in the 11th century, met with great success throughout the 14th and 15th centuries when exported.

 

In recent years, bottles laid down but then overlooked in cellars for 50 to 100 years have highlighted the quality and ageing potential of the wines from this area. Vineyards planted in pre-phylloxera days still survive, bearing witness to the diversity and richness of the region's traditional range of grape varieties.

 

1957 : the beginning of the reconstituted vineyards : one day in 1957, some thirty winegrowers got together to found the Syndicat de Défense et de Promotion des Côtes de Saint-Mont. An adventure was under way. Grape varieties were identified, catalogued and cultivated again, the plots were categorised to identify the areas and the soil best suited to the vine, the appellation zone was delineated.

 

1981 : the Appellation d'Origine VDQS (Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieur = wine of superior quality from a specific area) officially recognised

LThe winegrowers abide by strict regulations: traditional and local varieties, low and controlled yields and compulsory harvesting by hand. The Saint-Mont wines are then introduced to the national market.