n the beginning : A culture

The Malepère vineyards are found at the foot of the medieval city of Carcassonne & they have been nourished on its culture & history.

Catharism, the Dominican doctrine & inquisition have all shaped the region, bequeathing their magnificent chapels, bell-towers, famous castles, fortifications & their unusual round villages.

In this land of heresy, the Malepère Cathar Vit Dominique (St. Dominique), tried to tempt les Parfaits (the Perfects) back to the fold of the church, creating for that purpose the Prouilhe monastery. He also founded the Order of the Preaching Friars at Fanjeaux..
In the 19th century the Malepère, like the Languedoc, returned to the orthodox faith.
Montréal established its own church.

he vines : Since ancient times.

Since the period of the Roman villas, the vine has been part of the Côtes de Malepère landscape. We can find in the ancient records of the 11th century, the laws that determined the relationship between the Nobles & their subjects e.g. Le Comte de Barcelone, Lord of the Razès.
In the 14th century the Bishops of Narbonne, who were the proprietors of the Cellars of Alaigne & Routier, also made reference to their wines.
In the 17th century, the Canal du Midi contributed to the business that took place between the large towns, which gave a new impetus to commerce.

The era of mass production (beginning of the 20th century up to the 1960's) has finished. The improvement in the quality of the wine, encouraged by the men & women of the Malepère, was begun more than thirty years ago & is aided by the research, & the results, that is recorded at the experimental Domaine de Cazes.

Today the wine growers of the Malepère continue to pursue a tradition of quality that will allow them, in the very near future, to be classed as Appellation d'Origine Controlée.