Haute Vallée de l'Orb wines

The Southern Cévennes boasts a rich and diverse history. Vines were introduced into the Languedoc back in Roman times. Winegrowing was developed here during the Middle Ages by the monks of Joncels and Villemagne, who grew vines on the valley slopes.

For centuries, farming in these "Hauts Cantons" - the mountainous districts of the Hérault - was subsistence farming based on livestock, a few cereals, vines and chestnuts.

However, deep under the ground of this rugged country were important mineral resources - bauxite, silver-bearing lead, coal, magnesium, aluminium and hot mineral springs.

The industrial age of the 19th century brought major changes to the valley's economy as these geological resources were exploited. Every miner had his own small plot of vines, which contributed to the development of viticulture in the area.

Between 1950 and 1970, other fruits, such as apples and cherries, began to be grown here.

During all this time, viticulture remained a traditional activity aimed at producing wine for the growers' personal consumption, the largest vineyards selling their surplus to wine merchants. At that time, the vines produced light wines with a low alcoholic degree.

But the world changes, and the way people drink wine is changing too. Today's consumers are turning more towards quality wines with fine aromatic expression.

Some twenty years ago, the local winegrowers began the work of planting new grape varieties with quality in mind.

Today, almost half of the vines have been replaced with varieties such as Syrah (Shiraz), Chardonnay and Merlot, which has enabled the growers to make new types of wine. One of the unique features of this area is its capability to produce vibrantly fresh white wines.