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Domaine Tariquet dates back to the 17th century. The property belonged to the Montesquiou family, an ancient Gascon noble family whose lineage can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The first known written mention of the estate’s Armagnac production dates to 1683, proving its long-standing existence.
Even back in those days, the quality of this “eau-de-vie” was known to be remarkable, acting as a tonic to all those who drank it. It was even used to give strength to fragile newborns by rubbing their bodies with this elixir.
Domaine Tariquet combined grape growing with various types of agriculture, including livestock farming which dominated the region. After facing ups and downs over the early course of its history, it was in 1912 that the estate’s destiny changed.
It was during the 1880s that Pierre Artaud, like many of his compatriots from Ariège in the Piedmont Pyrenees, boarded a transatlantic liner for the Americas. He was not only drawn by a spirit of adventure, but also looking to lead a more comfortable life than what he had in his rugged mountain village
He had an unusual skill set, a specialty of his native village of Ercé. He was a bear trainer. He arrived in the United States and began to present his show to larger and larger audiences. He had some success and built up some savings.
It was during a return trip to France that Pierre discovered Domaine Tariquet, located in Eauze in the Gers.
He was seduced by the simplicity and elegance of this manor house nestled in the countryside, even if it was not in the state in which we see it today. This rectangular building had a ground floor topped by an attic, flanked by two towers. White cut stone surrounded the doors and windows, which allowed for golden sunlight to permeate the room.
It was in 1912 that Pierre and his son Jean-Pierre, who worked as a bartender in New York, combined their savings to purchase the estate. They immediately began the task of restoring it and cultivating its land, which included 7 hectares of vines.
Then came the Great War. Jean-Pierre, who had moved back to New York, returned to France to take up arms to defend his country. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured and could not return to New York until 1919, when he was finally reunited with his wife, Pauline, who during those years never missed the arrival of a boat from the Havre.
In 1922, Jean-Pierre and Pauline decided to return to France for good and began their lives together at Domaine Tariquet. It was there, in 1925, that their daughter Hélène was born.
Pauline and Jean-Pierre Artaud.
Hélène grew up on the estate and it was there she met Pierre Grassa, the son of a neighbouring farmer. The Grassa family were originally from Spain and came to France to work on the construction of the Somport tunnel in the Pyrenees before settling in the Gers. As a young man, Pierre shared his time between the Gers and Bordeaux, taking care of cattle and working as a hairdresser. Being athletic and a keen music lover, he would cycle from Eauze to Bordeaux where the Grand-Théâtre and its operas particularly attracted him. With the onset of Word War II, Pierre was drafted in 1939. While fighting, he was taken prisoner but after his captivity, he was freed and returned to Eauze where he joined the French Resistance.
As peace returned to Europe, Hélène and Pierre Grassa married in 1946, and so began the next chapter of Domaine Tariquet.
Now established, the Grassa family and their story have ever since closely intertwined with the development of Domaine Tariquet.
While many farms were growing corn, the two set their sights on the restoration of the Armagnac production. While breeding livestock and continuing their mixed farming, they set their sights on this lofty goal. While the couple took on a heavy load, to the dreamers come the spoils, and thanks to the Marshall Plan, they were able to purchase the first modern tractor in the region.
