Le Vin de Bordeaux. And the Plantagenets

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1 Le Vin de Bordeaux And the Plantagenets

The Conquest The vineyard in Gascony already existed in the 1st century of our era, but it was in the time of the union between Gascogne (Aquitaine)-Angleterre that it was its first Golden Age -

- 1154-1223: the wine providers for the Kings-Dukes came from the Aunis, Saintonge, Poitou and the main wine trade port was La Rochelle.

2 The Conquest The vineyard in Gascony already existed in the 1st century of our era, but it was in the time of the union between Gascogne (Aquitaine)-Angleterre that it was its first Golden Age Marriage of Henry Plantagenet to Aleonor, duchess of Aquitaine - He became King of England in 1154 (Henry II) and Duke of Aquitaine : the wine providers for the Kings-Dukes came from the Aunis, Saintonge, Poitou and the main wine trade port was La Rochelle : Bordeaux signed an agreement with King John (John Lackland): no taxes on the wines coming from the Bordeaux vineyards. Difficulties to develop the wine trade at that time : the French king captured La Rochelle. - From : the new port for the wine trade is Bordeaux. It made the city richer and richer. - Bordeaux had the monopoly for that trade on the English market and developped their vineyards

4 The expension - Towns and villages around Bordeaux took advantage of the developping town and increased the size of their Vineyards. - The large river (Garonne) favored the development of enterprising ports on the estuary., particulary on the right Bank from St Macaire to Blaye. - St Emilion, along the Dordogne, is the oldest vineyard For white wines in those days. In 1260, Edward I had the Bastide of Libourne built and imposed taxes on the traffic coming from the South of the Dordogne. Libourne rapidly became the largest port around. - This Wine Fever spread on the whole area. All the parts of Aquitaine, thanks to the rivers were reached by this fast developing trade. - Création of the «Bassin d approvisionnement de Bordeaux» - All the bastides grew wine at the foot of their walls

5 The St Emilion Vineyard in the MiddlE Ages

Bordeaux, a model - Largest among the gascon vineyards, - Exclusive print on the wine trade. - An existing vineyard brought back to life in the XIIth century.

7 Bordeaux, a model - Largest among the gascon vineyards, - Exclusive print on the wine trade. - An existing vineyard brought back to life in the XIIth century. - First maps of Bordeaux show growing properties that follow the actual line of the boulevards of the city. - Privileges acquired to protect sales and production years War increased links between Bordeaux and England: - Bordeaux wine was No1 on English tables. - In spite of political crisis, black death, wars (XIVth XVth centuries) the Bordeaux vineyard did not stop progressing. It was the largest in medieval Aquitaine.

8 Bordeaux in the Middle ages

9 The vineyard in Bordeaux - By the city walls, it is like a ring around 4 or 5 kms - Irrigated by a dense network of small streams. - Nothing else but grapes - Only willows to provide with posts and ties. - No villages, except the Bourg of St Seurin, and a few isolated farms. - Called by the scribes «Gravas de Bordeu» because of its gravelly soil. - End of Middle Ages: the vineyard does not cover the whole gravelly part. - Growth stopped because of the need for food producing areas.

vat (barrique). After stomping, a must (moût) directly appears on the marc. - White wine is only made for the elite as a press is required.

10 «Le» Vin - «Vinum clarum» in Latin, «vin clar» in Occitan, and «claret» by the English - Most famous wine at the time. - The only one exported to the markets in the North - Most popular drink, - Made from a variety of unknown cepages (vines) - At harvest, grapes are thrown loosely into a vat (barrique). After stomping, a must (moût) directly appears on the marc. - White wine is only made for the elite as a press is required. - Very small quantity of red wine is produced, mainly for local use or for «ouillage» (add some wine of the same origin after it evaporates in a cask) - The piquette (breuvage), plonk, is a very common drink, made from water added several times on the marc

John s Day to Pentecost) - Wine can be used to pay anything: debts,salaries - The claret trade was for Bordeaux

11 A necessity - Wine is nourishing and an important part of food - Important on local trade - The Bourgeois can sell wine in Bordeaux all the year through - Inhabitants can only pretend to buy wine during a limited period (From St John s Day to Pentecost) - Wine can be used to pay anything: debts,salaries - The claret trade was for Bordeaux one of the most important in medieval times - What were the amounts of wine exported from Bordeaux? See map next page

EXports - Before the 100 years War, sales were spectacular 93452 vats in 1306 and 102724 in 1308 (850000 hectolitres) - During the war, down to 14000.

once after harvest, the wine called vintage is loaded from the Port de Tropeyte (now place Jean Jaures) from September to December. 2.

13 EXports - Before the 100 years War, sales were spectacular vats in 1306 and in 1308 ( hectolitres) - During the war, down to The wine fleets: 200 ships to England, Wales and Scotland. - Wine was only transported twice a year: 1. once after harvest, the wine called vintage is loaded from the Port de Tropeyte (now place Jean Jaures) from September to December. 2. In Spring when there were less storms, before Easter (vin de Pâques). They sail in convoys to avoid pirats. - Ships tried to be England as soon as possible before Christmas to take advantage of the high prices of the English market for new coming wines

14 Where to? WhereWhere to?

Les vintners In the mid XIVth century, ships owners were Bretons, Bayonnais, English, along with Bordelais and Gascons. They armed their vessels and went to England along with their cargo.

15 Les vintners In the mid XIVth century, ships owners were Bretons, Bayonnais, English, along with Bordelais and Gascons. They armed their vessels and went to England along with their cargo. Some of them, for example, had branches in London in the Vintry area, along the Thames. They were the major actors of the wine trade, and were supported by the monarchy: In 1302, Edward I signed the Grande Charte which gave the vintners special privileges. Later they couldn t resist their English competitors: within 10 years, the English undermined the privileges of the Gascon Merchants. In the end, the French preferred to ship the wine through English ship owners

In 1214, no tax, no «coutumes» (another tax,) on the wine trade: (John I Lackland) 2.

16 The privileges Bordeaux merchants protected their trade in order to sell the wine in the best conditions Being the capital of the duchy, they obtained from the «dukes-kings», some privileges: 1. In 1214, no tax, no «coutumes» (another tax,) on the wine trade: (John I Lackland) 2. In 1241, limitation for the wines coming from beyond St Macaire after St Martin s Day. Le Bas Pays had the privilege to trade all year through, and le Haut Pays had limited time

Le Bas Pays et le Haut Pays XIIIth century: Le Bas Pays supported England as Le Haut Pays was more favourable to Toulouse and to the King of France. Only in 1259 both pays were reunited.

17 Le Bas Pays et le Haut Pays XIIIth century: Le Bas Pays supported England as Le Haut Pays was more favourable to Toulouse and to the King of France. Only in 1259 both pays were reunited. The 100 years War splitted the 2 communities again: both a war and a commercial conflict. Bordeaux became the capital of the Principauté de Guyenne ( ): the Duke King Edward III demanded Bordeaux to defend Guyenne. The towns of the haut Pays were punished because of their resistance to the English occupation (Treaty of Calais 1360): they wouldn t be able to ship their wines before Christmas. The wines had to be unloaded in the Faubourg des Chartreux (Chartrons) in different casks not to mixed up with the Bordeaux wines. Protectionism was the key word of the period: principal and privileged purveyor of the English market, the suburban vineyards got more important as the new ones had no tax to pay either.

Conclusion 1453: End of the 100 years War: After the battle of Castillon and the second reddition of Bordeaux in 1453, nothing really changed, in spite of Charles VII intention to punish the city and

19 Conclusion 1453: End of the 100 years War: After the battle of Castillon and the second reddition of Bordeaux in 1453, nothing really changed, in spite of Charles VII intention to punish the city and abolish its privileges. But as the city went very low and was close to a rebellion the following year. The French King decided to play a soft mode: the only change was for the Haut Pays wines to be shipped a month earlier (November 30th). In 1462, Louis XI went back to the previous date (Dec 31st) and the Parliament of Bordeaux was instaured with new rules and new controls. The last Plantagenet king (Richard III) died in 1483 at Bosworth Field. The next king was a Tudor ( Henry VII)

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