A terroir which has contemplated centuries of history…
Nearly 250 million years ago, even before dinosaurs appeared on this earth, the Rhone Valley existed on the edge of a gigantic ocean running from the Massif Central to the Pacific Ocean. From these ancient and curious origins, a unique and generous land was born, bearing Tuscany airs and Italian influences for more than 5 centuries.
The first Muscat grapes were planted in BEAUMES around 600 BC by Greek colons when they settled down in our area (vestiges on the Courens Plateau, 5th century BC).
Pliny the Elder (23-79) wrote in his “Natural History”: “the Muscat grape has been grown for a long time in Beaumes and its wine is remarkable”.
In 1248, Saint Louis took along a supply during his 7th Crusade.
As early as 1309, Marguerite des Baux, Lord of Beaumes, supplied the Pope Clement V in Avignon, and the Apostolic Chamber owned a “muscardière”, ancient terraces planted with vines or olive trees.
Azstorg-de-Peyre, Duke of Beaumes, developed production in order to supply the Papal Palace with Muscat wine.
The religious wars during the Middle Ages drastically reduced the vineyards. Throughout the centuries, the notables of the kingdom, such as HENRY IV, regularly sipped Muscat wine, but at the end of the XIX century the major part of the vineyard was destroyed by phylloxera.
In the beginning of the XX century, with the epidemic abated, the vines once again appeared in the countryside around the Dentelles de Montmirail and obtained their AOC denomination of Natural Sweet Beaumes de Venise Muscat Wine in 1943 and for the Cotes du Rhone appellation wine in 1956.
Pursuing their efforts of quality and restructuring, the Beaumes de Venise wine producers, (Balmes du Comtat Venaissin) joined the family of Cotes du Rhone Communal Village wines in 1978 with their red, rosé and white wines.
On June 9, 2005, the red Beaumes de Venise wines obtained their appellation, AOC Beaumes de Venise thus acceding to the supreme heights of Rhone Valley Crus. This consecration crowns with success 20 years of effort and rewards 100 wine producers who have strived towards this new appellation respecting environment and quality. This distinction coming 62 years after the Natural Sweet Muscat wines of Beaumes de Venise classification.
Beaumes de Venise was officially approved as a “ Remarkable Site of Taste” for its Muscat wine by the representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism, Culture, and Environment as well as the President of the Association of Remarkable Sites of Taste.
This association between wine, sites and a welcoming infrastructure allow for a new synergy making a visit or a stay in Beaumes de Venise simply unforgettable.