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 neighbouring village.
After 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. Three 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 was 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 that led to the mix of crops that were planted over time – wheat, sunflowers, corn and, of course, vines.
Climate plays a fundamental role in viticulture. That of Gers is best described as “temperate.” Indeed, there is no excess. The winters are never too harsh, and the summer heat is attenuated by ocean air, a constant source of freshness and humidity. Lying between the Occitan Country, which is much drier, and the oft rainy Basque Country, the Pyrenees protect the region from the hot breezes emanating from the south. An oceanic trend reigns in Gascony which primarily benefits the cultivation of vine; with the added advantage of this rather rare characteristic of having cool nights during the summer and sunny days as the grapes are approaching maturity.
Combined with the terroirs of Gascony, this oceanic climate and its thermal amplitude between day and night are the key to the progressive maturation of the grape and their skin. Thus, the fruits will on the one hand retain a lot of freshness, on the other hand become less concentrated in sugar, and therefore potentially give less alcoholic strength after fermentation.
This explains why we obtain perfectly ripe grapes, with lots of fruit and freshness, which can be perfectly expressed through wines whose alcohol content is most often only around 11 or 12%, sometimes less.
Climate, geology and history. Essential to a fuller understanding of a “place,” they offer a deeper insight into Domaine Tariquet, its culture, its terroir, and ultimately, the Grassa family.
Monday to Saturday
10am to 12pm / 2pm to 6pm
Closed Sunday and public holidays
Domaine Tariquet
32800 Eauze – France
EXCESSIVE USE OF ALCOHOL IS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
