Touraine Mesland
The sun glared down, the bright orb mercilessly baking all beneath it, the vineyards on the banks of the Loire near Blois shimmering in the heat haze. In the midst of the vines stood three men who had ventured out in the heat – unwisely, perhaps – to inspect the vines. The sight that met their eyes filled them with dismay; the leaves hung limp and flaccid, dehydrating under the relentless sun. The drought had them in its grip, and there seemed to be no end to it. It was not just that this year’s crop seemed in doubt; with baking heat, and no rain for months, would the vines themselves even survive to the end of the year?
There was no help forthcoming. Robert II (c.970 – 1031), also known as Robert the Pious, sat on the throne in Reims. Recently excommunicated by the Catholic church following the annulment of two marriages, the Pope having refused to annul the third, his mind was now occupied with the incorporation of the Duchy of Burgundy into his fledgling but increasingly impressive kingdom. The agricultural affairs of peasants and viticulteurs could not be further from his mind.
If the trio of viticulteurs wished for help, they would have to look somewhere else. And just as this thought entered the head of their leader, from the waters of the Loire – just behind them – there came a great commotion.
The three peasants turned to look across the water, and the sight that met their eyes was incredible.
The water level was lower than they had ever seen it. Admittedly not quite as low as it would fall in 2022, when social media was awash with not-quite-true images of the river running dry, but of course these 11th-century peasants would know nothing of that. And yet, as they watched, in the middle of the shallow watercourse a whirlpool appeared, one which built in intensity until the river bed was visible. From the exposed bed there appeared a thin silhouette, which as it took on more solid form emerged onto land as a naiad.
Although this particular water nymph presumably liked a glass of wine or two, as she sported an impressive head of hair resembling many bunches of grapes.
I should point out at this stage that the rumours the trio of viticulteurs had spent the morning in a local tavern are just that; rumours.
The nymph, named Meslande, spoke thus;
“I am the favourite of Dionysius and I am reborn for you. I am here to protect the holy symbiosis between your vines and your soil. Your land is like a child to me, and to Dionysius, and you must continue to nurture and cherish it, to raise this child each year. I will bring you the water you need, but be aware; I will return each future year to view your work.”
And so began the Legend of Meslande and her vines. One thousand years later – give or take a month or two – it would be embodied in the new Touraine Mesland geographical denomination, within the recently created Touraine appellation.
And why not? It has long been known that the INAO are more inclined to promote vineyards once they have been endorsed by an ancient deity.
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