Tarn - the Region
The
Tarn is in the Midi Pyrenees with Albi as its major centre. It is a farming
region, rich in gourmet traditions, replete with villages built of mellow
local stone, vineyards, orchards and gardens. The gastronomic excellence
of the Midi-Pyrénées is unquestionable, whether you dine in a Relais-Château
or in a local inn, you will taste wonderful foie gras, cassoulet, roquefort
and drink local wines such as Fronton, Gaillac and Cahors. In
Albi one can see the paintings of Henri Toulouse Lautrec famous son of
the city, and the monumental Cathedral Saint Cecile.
A region rich in history
This has been as turbulent as the waters of River Tarn from which the department takes its name. With the rise of Cathars in the 13th Century leading to the Albigensian Crusade and the disastrous Wars of Religion in the 16th and 17th Century the area has experienced war and peace, prosperity and poverty. To this day one can see the huge Umbrella Pines, said to have been a sign of sanctuary for the Huguenots during the religious wars and visit the hillside Bastide towns such as Cordes sur Ciel, bastions of protection for the Cathars. The woad (cocagne) or pastel, a blue dye made from a plant, made the fortunes for many in the area and the term Pays de Cocagne, a name also given to the area, denotes great wealth.
The fortified town of Cordes sur Ciel is about twenty minutes drive from Albi, and some 70 kilometres north of Toulouse. Perched a-top a rocky hill, little has changed since its establishment in 1222. This part of the country seems to have escaped the worst of the tourist-born scourges of appalling traffic, sky high prices and disappointing cuisine that can afflict the more well-known areas. Its music festival and medieval festival are summer highlights.
Gaillac
Gaillac is situated on the river Tarn and gives its name to the appellation. Although grape growing in Gaillac dates from 125 BC, it was the efforts of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint-Michel who provided the first real impetus to the cultivation of vineyards in 972. The Tarn River flows through the area and delimits the right and left banks of the appellation. Tarn is a Celtic word meaning deep and quick. The river starts five thousand feet up in mountains and flows into the Garonne which then joins the Dordogne and becomes the Gironde. In the thirteenth century 600 casks of Gaillac wine a year went from Gaillac to England. The wine was transported in wooden boats called gabarres. At beginning of 19th Century there were 240 boats working at the river port in Gaillac.
The Wines
Terrible frosts, phylloxera and war all but wiped out the vineyards in the early twentieth century, but today there has been a renaissance in the vineyards and a return to quality winemaking. The winemakers have wisely decided to keep the ancient varieties unique to the region. Traditional varieties still cultivated include Mauzac, Loin de l’Oeil and Ondenc for the white varieties and Braucol, Duras and Prunelart for the reds. In addition there is some Syrah, Merlot and a little Cabernet Sauvignon cultivated. Gamay is grown, and makes the early primeur wines released in November.
The rich soils and temperate micro climate of Gaillac produces whites and reds of quality and finesse. The sweet or doux wines are famous. The valleys of the Vere and the Tarn Rivers have three specific and different types of geological profiles. The temperate influence of the ocean limits the risks of severe frosts and allows the vines to take advantage of all the moisture for the vine. The warm Mediterranean climate in summer accentuated by the Autan wind assures ideal growing conditions for the vines. The vintage usually takes place in fine weather conditions in September. There are three distinct terroirs, the left or south bank, the right or north bank and the plateau Cordais.
Your opportunity
You can explore this historic, scenic region during either a week of Indulgence or a shorter Gourmet Getaway.
