Charlemagne pioneered the Burgundy wine manufacturing industry
The long history of wine is like the vicissitudes of the European continent, in other words, the history of wine is the history of the founding of France. In the distant Roman era, the people there were the first to love this elixir. It was their bold idea of sowing grapes in the majestic north of the Alps that laid the groundwork for the later prosperity of the French winemaking industry.
In the glorious chapter of the Roman Empire, the city of Lyon in Gaul was a shining jewel, made even more brilliant by the rise of winemaking. At the same time, in the Burgundy region, north of Lyon, vineyards have sprung up.
When it comes to big fans of Burgundy wines, everyone knows Charlemagne of the Frankish Kingdom. At the end of the 8th century, he swept through Western Europe and conquered countless small states, eventually earning the title of Roman Emperor, who was crowned by Pope Leo III himself.
Charlemagne's full name is Charles I
For Christians, wine is a symbol of faith, an indispensable element of the Lord's Supper, and bread and wine represent the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, respectively. Charlemagne, the new guardian of Christianity, naturally regarded this sacred drink as a treasure. In order to protect the wine, he ordered the people to expand the vineyards so that more land could be bathed in the shade of the trellises.
As a result, the famous "Gordon-Charlemagne" was born, which was named in honor of Charlemagne. He loved the wines of the Gordon Hills in Burgundy, made it a private domain, and sent clergy to continue cultivating new vineyards.
Legend has it that Charlemagne's long-cherished Gordon wine was once considered a mellow red wine. However, it was not until the 19th century that people were surprised to discover that the Gordon Hills were rich in white grapes, which were used to make white wines. Since then, "Gordon-Charlemagne" has become synonymous with the region's top white wines, and has been passed down through the ages.
Religion gave birth to the great development of Burgundy wine, which became popular in Europe
In the early light of the 10th century, in the fertile land of Burgundy, France, a monastery called Cluny rose majestically, which became not only the cradle of the Catholic Reformation, but also a solid bastion of faith and Benedictine precepts.
The Pope presided over the inauguration of the monastery (12th century)
The administrators of the Abbey of Cluny, the monks of the Abbey of Cluny, were devoted followers of the Benedictines. As far back as the sixth century, on the Italian peninsula, a wise man named Benedict laid the foundation of the Catholic monastic life. From then on, the monks who strictly adhered to the rules began to practice Benedictine's teachings with self-discipline. The Abbey of Cluny is the shining embodiment of this sacred tradition.
At the dawn of the Middle Ages, the Order of Cluny reshaped the religious map of continental Europe with its profound influence. Not only did they inaugurate the Reformation and lead the faithful on pilgrimage, but they also played the role of standard-bearers in the Reconquista, laying the foundation for the birth of Spain and Portugal.
The voice of the Clony Abbey was heard in Europe, not only because of its strong faith, but also because of their wealth. Their dedication to the cultivation of the land, especially the cultivation of the vineyards of Burgundy, has led to the harvest of wines that are full of aromas, which are transformed into golden veins in their diplomatic strategy.
Burgundy, the highest latitude, has a harsh climate that challenges the winemaking, but it is the discoveries made by the monks of Cluny in the eastern hills that reveal this secret – the grapes grow here, with deep roots and leafy roots, sucking the essence of the earth and producing luscious fruits that are rare in the world.
The monks of the Abbey of Cluny, with their devotion to their faith and the accumulation of agricultural wisdom, have made the most of the potential of the Burgundy grape. The vineyards they cultivated gave birth to the famous Bourgoni wines, which are the highest tributes to excellence.
Burgundy wine was popular at the French court. And this trend continued to prevail even under the reign of Louis XV and Louis XVI
Over time, Burgundy's field work is still seen as an integral part of wine production, a tradition that dates back to the holy days of the Abbey of Cluny. With more than 1,000 branches throughout Western Europe, the Abbey of Cluny was not only a seminary, but a powerful force like a feudal prince.
In those years, the Burgundy wine produced by the Abbey of Cluny was the highest reward for talent and power. Through the diplomatic medium of wine, they skillfully paved the way for the Reformation by gifting delicious wines to the able.
With the accumulation of wealth, the Abbey of Cluny became one of the most magnificent architectural wonders of medieval Europe. Before the Renaissance, it was one of Europe's most spectacular religious landmarks, and its monks were able to dress in fine attire with peace of mind.
In order to resist the corruption of the Clony Order, the Cistercian Order was born, a reformist force that also admired the precepts of Benedictine, and expanded its territory in Burgundian lands and became an innovator in agriculture and winemaking. Their bold experiment with monoculture at Château Cross and the abandonment of traditional blending methods not only improved the quality of the grapes, but also brought a qualitative leap forward in Burgundy wines, thus amassing a great fortune for Cisterciación. To this day, Château Cross is still a symbol of high quality.
Bordeaux: From the British King's Territory to a wine-producing region
When one thinks of French wines, one inevitably thinks of two of the world's most famous regions: Burgundy and Bordeaux. Bordeaux's wines are renowned around the world thanks to the unique soils in which they are grown. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Bordeaux was the seat of the kings of the British Isles.
King Henry II of England
It was the political marriage between the royal families that made Bordeaux the territory of the British crown. In 1154, Henry II ascended the throne of England, opening a glorious chapter in the Plantagenet dynasty. As the Count of Anjou in France, he was not only the king of a country, but also inherited the vast land of the French Anjou family. His spouse, Eleanor of Aquitaine, also owned a vast territory in southwestern France. As a result, Henry II actually ruled over a vast territory that spanned England and France, and was revered as the "Empire of Anjou". Bordeaux, on the other hand, is one of the jewels of the Aquitaine territory in this empire.
Since then, the area centered on Bordeaux has come under the control of the British royal family, and local customs have gradually become more and more British. Bordeaux is not only basked in the blessings of the British royal family, but also deeply influenced by the French royal family. It can be said that Bordeaux was in the diplomatic contest between the British and French royal families, and gradually elevated its high status among European cities.
In this context, Bordeaux has been given many privileges. At the beginning of the 13th century, King John of England lost a large amount of territory in France and earned the title of "King of the Lost Land". However, even in the face of such adversity, Bordeaux remained firmly in the hands of the British royal family.
However, Bordeaux was not settled, and seeing the decline of the power of the British crown, he wanted to turn to the arms of King Philip II of France. This frightened King John of England and forced Bordeaux to grant more privileges to reassure the people.
Bordeaux was originally a port for wine exports from the Aquitaine region, and had not yet become a wine region. Thanks to the right to trade freely granted by King John of England, Bordeaux wines were able to circulate freely around the world.
This move led to unprecedented prosperity in the Bordeaux region. Bordeaux wines are selling so well that locals even sell inland wines as Bordeaux wines when demand outstrips supply. This is undoubtedly a shocking falsification today, but it was tacitly accepted at the time. It was this historical background that contributed to the gradual prosperity of the Bordeaux region, and the local population turned to focus on the cultivation and cultivation of local grapes, writing a legendary chapter in Bordeaux as the birthplace of the world's famous wines.