The inhabitants of Cambous, a neolithic village on the Saint Martin de Londres limestone plateau, may already have drunk Pic Saint Loup...

The vine has been present in the region in its wild form – lambrusques – from prehistoric times to today, where this ancestor of the modern day vine can be found on the protected slopes of the “Pic” (peak).

 

 

The cultivated vine, first introduced by the Phoenecians, then develops throughout the province under the Romans. As good sense alone wasn’t enough, the Roman Empire, with an uprooting policy and a ban on planting, ensures its colonies only grow vines on the much less fertile limestone slopes. There is every reason to believe that our region was affected!

 

 

The fall of the Roman empire brings with it the decline of the Languedoc vineyards, until the Middle Ages. Then, with the influence of the monasteries, the vineyards are reborn including those of the Pic Saint Loup as the place names testify: The commune of Claret, which appeared in the 11th century, certainly derived its name from the white wine, which at that time went by the name of "claret"; The name of the village of Saint Jean de Cuculles (hood) evokes monastic clothing, and also that worn by the wine makers...

From that time onwards, written documents certify the continuous presence of vineyards in Pic Saint Loup, even if not at the centre of culture.

It is from the end of the 19th century, with the replanting of vineyards destroyed by phylloxera, and the rise of cooperatives, that the region gradually moves towards monoculture, and that the Pic Saint Loup wines start to be consumed outside their production area, first in Montpellier, then in other regions via the port of Sete.

Towards 1900, they appear on the wine lists of Parisian restaurants and they obtain awards from regional and national wine competitions.

So it is that Joseph Manissier sells wines awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition, under the denomination "Pic Saint Loup". Cyprien Abric’s wines also gained awards at this Exhibition and then at the Turin International Exhibition in 1911.

Founded in 1931, with the inclusion of 6 communes, the organisation springs back into life at the end of the war. The "VDQS" label (wines of superior quality) is ratified in 1955 and sets out the conditions to obtain it.

Three communes join in 1955; four more in 1966, which brings the communes within the defined appellation area to the thirteen we still have today.

Anticipating the need to move with the times, there is a collective drive to create a great "Pic Saint Loup" appellation, undertaken in a spirit of solidarity and synergy.
With this aim, at the end of 2001, the winemakers submitted to the INAO (French appellations organisation) a request for Pic Saint Loup to have an AOC (appellation) in its own right.

Having been approved by the Regional Council, the dossier will be presented in February 2002 to the National Council.

Three brothers, Guiral, Alban et Thieri Loup, all enamoured of the beautiful Bertrade, left for the crusades not knowing which of them she would choose as her husband.
When they returned from the Holy Lands, their beloved had just died.
They decided to live as hermits on the summit of the three neighbouring peaks: Thieri Loup on the highest, Guiral and Alban on the other two. On 19th March, each of them lit a fire in remembrance of Bertrade.
In memory of Thieri, who was the last to pass away, the largest peak was named Pic Saint Loup.