Presentation and history
Welcome to Périgord-Agenais!
Local wine that's good to drink!
An artisan winemaking philosophy and deep-seated Gascony values bring the Bergerac and Duras vineyards together. Idyllic landscapes home to unspoilt historical landmarks: châteaux, monasteries, manors, bastides, abbeys and more.
The Pécharmant and Rosette hillside vineyards stand proud over Bergerac Valley. The adventure continues due south with the majestic Château de Monbazillac and its famous north-facing slopes that snuggle into the River Dordogne. To the west beyond the Saussignac slopes, another sweet wine hotspot, take time out among Montravel wine where Montaigne still watches over a vineyard imbued with philosophy and wisdom.
The Guyenne area plays host to Château de Duras, once home to the region’s dukes. It stands on its limestone spur and gazes out at the hills that run into the Bergerac vineyard slopes.
Generation after generation has been proud to protect a unique culture, expertise and lifestyle that bear the signature and soil of Périgord-Agenais.
Our Bergerac and Duras vineyards celebrate the terroir. A mosaic of rich soil bursting with limestone and flint. Mankind’s handiwork and our skilled winemakers bring out its wonder as they smooth and polish a noble material that will produce the nectars that are outstanding Bergerac – Duras wine. The wine collection includes no fewer than 17 designations in five colours (red, rosé, dry white, sweet white and dessert white wine).
The history of Bergerac & Duras wine
281
The dawn of the Gallo-Roman civilisation brought the Bergerac and Duras vineyard with it. “Biturica”, an ancestor of cabernet, was the first variety used.
12th century
Documents first mention the size and location of the vineyard.
1255
King Henry of England awarded freedom of movement to Bergerac wine as far as the Gironde’s river mouth.
Late 13th century
Gaillard de Got became the ruler of Duras: this was the beginning of Duras wine’s acclaim throughout Christendom.
1337-1453
The Durfort Duras family ruled Duras during the Hundred Years’ War. They were English allies and took their wine to the English court where it proved very popular. England helped the vineyard flourish with its supply of Duras wine, so much so that France accused England of “harvesting Aquitaine”.
1515
François I was crowned king. He called Duras wine “nectar” and encouraged new vines to be planted in the Duras area.
1865
Phylloxera wiped out the vineyard until 1890. The vineyard shrank from 107,000 to 2180 hectares.
1924
Foundation of the Syndicat de Défense des Vins du Canton de Duras (Duras Wine Protection Union).
1953
Foundation of the CIVRB (Interprofessional Bergerac Region Wine Council)
2014
Merger between the CIVRB and Interprofessional Duras Council to form the IVBD (Bergerac-Duras Wine Interprofession).