Divine scents

They are an integral part of the local landscape and terroir! Easily recognizable thanks to their large pediments with their characteristic architecture, you will easily see the cooperative cellars during your walks ...

At the very beginning of the XXth century the gaps widened between small and large

landowners, while many winegrowers were very weakened by the Phylloxera crisis that raged at the end of the 1907th century. The rise of discontent will lead to the famous revolt of the wine growers which particularly raged in Languedoc in XNUMX. A social revolution is started, which will reform the whole organization of the viticultural society of Languedoc.

The cooperative movement is underway. Monumental cellars are built in a number of villages. This wave of construction, interrupted twice by world conflicts, will continue until the 1960s.

In Maraussan, a village a stone's throw from here, you can admire the 1st cooperative wine cellar in France. Created in 1901 and with the rallying currency, " All for one, one for all ", The" Vignerons Libres "cooperators decide to build the buildings of the cellar. Inaugurated on August 22, 1905 in the presence of the Belgian deputy Anseele, it received on May 1, 1905, Jean Jaurès, present in Béziers, who came to visit the site. He declares some time later " Never was the day of May First sweeter, more radiant with hope than in this peasant commune of Maraussan. "

Today, many Languedoc winegrowers are still cooperative members. And while some have chosen the status of independent winemaker, many of them wear double hats and reserve part of their production for the cooperative and the other part for direct sale.

 

WINE TOURISM: Find the wine cellars and vineyards of the territory which open their doors to you.