La région

The name of the appellation comes from the city of Cahors, formerly Divina Cadurcorum, city of the Cadurques. The cultivation of the vine was established there by the Romans and its trade naturally took off with the transport of the barrels on the Lot towards Bordeaux.

In the Middle Ages, it was called "black wine". It is said that it was on the table at the wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine with Henry II, King of England. François I appreciated it so much that he ordered it directly from Cahors.

From the Renaissance onwards, the Little Ice Age affected the maturity of the Bordeaux grape varieties and some merchants began to color their wines with those of the high country, including Cahors.
The reputation of Bordeaux wines improved to the detriment of Cahors.
Nevertheless, Tsar Peter the Great was said to have been cured with Cahors wine, and the Orthodox Church adopted it as a mass wine.

In the 19th century, Cahors reached a surface area of 40,000 ha, but unfortunately phylloxera wiped out the vineyards between 1868 and 1884. After years of trial and error, the specialists of the insect discovered the interest of grafting. The winegrowers who chose this method were the forefathers of those who would build up a quality vineyard in the 20th century.

A new ordeal shook the vineyard in 1956 during the terrible frost of February, 99% of the vineyard was destroyed. The vines were replanted not only with Malbec, but also with the newly registered accessory grape varieties Merlot and Tannat. In 1971, the vineyard covered 440 hectares when it was granted AOC status. Forty years later, the surface has been multiplied by ten.



Discover the Lot, some sites to help you:
https://qualite-tourisme-occitanie.fr/plongez-dans-laventure-occitanie/

https://www.tourisme-lot.com/les-incontournables-du-lot/saveurs-du-lot/produits-du-terroir/le-vin-de-cahors/les-vignerons-vignobles-decouvertes


The Lot, a department rich in surprises, although it is home to a world-renowned vineyard, it also conceals many treasures that will delight your eyes and your taste buds.

Its characteristic landscape is due to the path of the rivers Lot, Célé and Dordogne in the heart of the limestone plateaus which host a particularly rich flora and fauna. The Regional Natural Park of Causses du Quercy contributes to the preservation of this diversity. You will be able to appreciate this nature in particular thanks to the many hiking trails that you can explore on foot or by bike, or by discovering the wonders hidden in the depths of the earth (Gouffre de Padirac, Grotte de Lacave, Grotte de Fontirou, Grotte de Presque, Phosphatières Cloup d'Aural, ...).

Man has also made his contribution to the building and this for several millennia with cave paintings or burials (Pech-Merle Cave, Cougnac Cave, Foissac Cave, ...). You can also discover many villages classified among the most beautiful in France (Autoire, Rocamadour, Loubressac, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Capdenac-le-Haut, Cardaillac, Carennac).
Don't forget to visit Cahors with its Pont Valentré and its historical heart, Figeac with its Champollion museum, or Souillac and its Museum of Automata and Robotics.

During your travels, enjoy the gustatory treasures that Quercy offers you in its restaurants where passionate people will make you discover an amazing cuisine.
And above all, don't leave without having tasted melon or lamb from Quercy, cabécou from Rocamadour, foie gras or truffles, all this while tasting a Cahors wine!

If you are an astronomy enthusiast, continue your discoveries even at night! Indeed, because of its distance from the large cities of the South-West, the night sky of Quercy is a particularly privileged place of observation for the amateurs of astronomy.

Hotels and restaurants near the domain that will brighten up your stay!