Coteaux du Vendômois
The Loir rises as a tiny spring in a landscape of forest and arable fields, just on the edge of the Parc National Regional du Perche. We are a long way from any vineyards here; this is a region known not for wine, but for being the origin of the Percheron draft horse (a breed I have spotted working in vineyards from time to time). From its source the stream trickles east, creating a series of woodland ponds, before it passes by the imposing facade and high walls of the moated Château de Villebon. Built of brick during the 14th century, the property has hosted several French kings during its time, not least Henri IV (1553 – 1610), who enjoyed the hunting offered by the region’s woodlands.
Here the river turns south, and it flows for more than 20 kilometres before there is any hint of viticulture. Vines finally appear once it reaches Vendôme, the town for which the region – the Vendômois – and the river’s first appellation, are named. It is only here, on the slopes overlooking the town, and on the banks of the river as it now heads west, that we find the vineyards for which we have been looking. The vineyards of the Coteaux du Vendômois appellation.
History
The first documents pertaining to viticulture in what is the modern-day Coteaux du Vendômois appellation date to the 11th century, in a deed of endowment, which describes vines planted in Villedieu, today known as Villedieu-le-Château, a village some distance downstream of Vendôme. Villedieu was the site of a Medieval monastery, founded by Benedictines from the Abbaye de La Trinité in Vendôme. Sadly today all that remains of the Villedieu monastery are some undeniably picturesque ruins, and there are few (if any) vines nearby.
The monks of the aforementioned Abbaye de La Trinité in Vendôme, which was founded in 1035 by Geoffrey Martel (c.1006 – 1060), the son of Foulque Nera (c.970 – 1040) were thus significant in the local development of viticulture and a wine culture. They came to the region from the Abbaye de Marmoutier at Rochecorbon (where they also played a role in planting vines in what would eventually become the Vouvray appellation). Not only did they dispatch monks to settle and plant at Villedieu, it is also likely that they planted the first vines on the slopes around Vendôme itself.
