A former “administrative province,” Gascony today is at once a geographical and cultural region. Its story is both long and rich, and to understand it is to gain a more complete understanding of the uniqueness of Domaine Tariquet.
Geology:
Eauze, in Latin “Elusa,” was conquered by Caesar in 41 BC. A few hundred years later, it became the capital of the Roman province of Novempopulanie, a union of nine peoples, which included the Elusates. Grape cultivation was already established. Archaeologists have found ceramics showing grape bunches in the “domus” of Cieutat, in Eauze. There are remarkable mosaics representing bunches of grapes in the Gallo-Roman villa of Séviac, in Montréal-du-Gers, a neighboring commune.
fter the Romans, the Goths controlled the region, followed by the Arab-Muslims, who we can thank for the words “alcohol” and “still.” Alcohol for them was the antimony powder, the kohl. The meaning changed in French to designate ethyl alcohol before grouping together all alcoholic beverages. As for “alambic”, it originally referred to a vase, and later as a distilling device used by alchemists in the Middle Ages.
The old Roman road, which adjoins the estate’s vineyards.
demarcate Spain from historic Gascony, a land of trade and hospitality.
It was during the 7th century that the region was named Gascony, in memory of the Vascons, another name for the Basques who had invaded these lands a century earlier from Cantabria in northern Spain. hree centuries later, a county named Armagnac was established. Legend has it that the name came from a Frankish soldier, Armin, famous for his courage who received these lands as a reward for his service. This county was passed around before being attached to the Domaine de la Couronne by Henri IV, and then included by Louis XIV in the larger region of Guyenne, which encompassed Aquitaine and present-day Bordeaux.
Despite these avatars, Gascony, a welcoming and generous land, always managed to maintain its individuality over the centuries. This Gascon spirit, is a constant thirst for independence and infinite curiosity. It has a boundless bravado, unafraid of challenges, but with the discipline to not deviate from its goals. The most classic incarnation of this spirit is d’Artagnan (whose real name is Charles de Batz de Castelmore, born in Lupiac, a few kilometres from Eauze). His legend was, of course, recounted by Alexandre Dumas in the “Three Musketeers,” whose story enchanted our childhoods with tales of combat and the belief in the eternity of friendship.
This territory is rich and varied, which explains the diversity of terroirs which led to the mix of crops that were planted over time – wheat, sunflowers, corn and, of course, vines.
