The Cahors wine is considered as one of the oldest in Europe

About 2000 years ago the Romans imported some vines in Quercy. The wines developed so well and acquired such a high quality that they overcame the Italian wines. In 92 the Roman emperor asked to pull out the Cahors vines but - thankfully - was not obeyed.

A wine exported all over Europe and appreciated in many countries

In 1152, after Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future King of England Henry II, the wines of the Aquitaine area, from Bordeaux to Cahors, became very fashionable in England. The "black wine of Cahors" was especially favored by the British wine lovers.

The pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela (or Saint James of Compostela) enjoyed the wines of Cahors and helped carryring the good reputation of the wine all over Europe. In 1310, Cahors produces 850,000 hl, i.e. 50% of the exportations from the Bordeaux port.

Bordeaux, rival of Cahors

Bodeaux was the port where almost all wines were shipped to other countries. Bordeaux is also a major wine producing area. In 1373, the wines from Cahors are subjected to a special tax and became more expensive than the Bordeaux wines. Their economical decline started but their reputation is still famous in Europe. Kings, like Francis I in France and Emperors, like the Russian Emperor Peter the Great, enjoyed the Cahors wines. In the 17th century, Cahors wines are also very popular in Netherlands whose drinkers loved their inky and strong flavor.

The days of wrath

The 19th century saw the decline of the Cahors vineyards. The phylloxera destroyed entirely the vineyard. Some winemakers used clones that produced a pale and thin wine, so different from the real Cahors Malbec. In 1947, some vintners created a cooperative farm to give a second birth to the Malbec of Cahors. The frost of 1956 destroyed almost entirely their efforts.

The road to success

Far from being discouraged, the vintners went back to work and replanted the vineyard. In 1971, Cahors Malbec covered only 440 ha. In 2008, there 4,500 ha in the Controlled Appellation.

A group of winemakers created a special chart, called Excellence to give birth to special cuvees and upscale crus.

Cahors is back!