Monks and wine in the Middle Ages

The history and culture of the Entre-Deux-Mers are in close relationship to winegrowing. As for some vineyards, like the Medoc, who are only a few centuries old, those who come from this region are extremely old.

If the gallo-roman colonisation created the basis of big agricultural farms, it was specially the monks of the Middle Ages, who instaured the reputation of this land and wines. A decisive moment was the settling of Benedictin monks in the XIth century.

 

  
  The monks in the monasteries enlarged the vineyard areas, worked at improving the cultural methods and assured the fame of their vintages whilst insuring the growth of their wealth.

This winegrowing, making the monk the real "parer vinearum" (father of the vines) has assured the expansion and commerce (priviledged with England by Alienor d'Aquitaine) the posterity of our "terroir".