Looking for a fun outing just before the start of the school year? The last weekend of August will see the third edition of the Fête des Vendanges in Toulouse! The Place du Capitole will be the perfect setting for this joyful event promoting the pleasure of the senses…
An event dedicated to epicureans
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 30 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, August 31 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.. Two afternoons and two evenings during which the emblematic square of the Ville Rose will be transformed into an open-air tasting cellar! No fewer than 40 producers will play the game of introducing as many people as possible to the richness of their vineyards. Of course, the gastronomy and the terroir of the southwest will also be at the heart of the festivities, in order to enhance the 16 AOP (Protected Designations of Origin) and the 11 IGP (Protected Geographical Indications) of the region.
Which wines to taste?
It is impossible to make an exhaustive list of all the wine treasures that will be at the festival. However, interested onlookers will be able to enjoy a sip of wine from Ariège, Brulhois, Cahors, Côtes du Lot, Côtes de Gascogne, Côtes du Marmandais… Not forgetting the small and large producers of Fronton, Gaillac, Marcillac, Madiran & Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, Saint-Sardos and even Tursan! With the possibility of leaving with one or two bottles of wine, to uncork quietly during a future evening with friends…
Also read: Wine cellar in Toulouse: the grand cru to find wines, beers and spirits
Above all, an art of living
But, more than the product itself, the 2024 Vineyard Festival aims to celebrate the beauty of a heritage and its artisans: the winegrowers. Moreover, the region's winegrowers have come together around the "Sud-ouest de cœur" appellation, to emphasize their deep love of their land and their profession. After all, doesn't the notion of pays de cocagne take root in Occitania? A story of generosity, sharing and sweetness of life, that the women and men present on the stands will be delighted to share…
Also read: Papilles Cocktails unveils The City in Pink, an exclusive cocktail that pays homage to Toulouse
A few anecdotes…
The vineyards of the southwest are full of fascinating stories! Here are a few that deserve our attention…
Did you know?
- - The Gaillac vineyard dates back to... Roman times! As proof: ancient pottery intended to collect wine was discovered after archaeological excavations in the village of Montans (Tarn).
- - A third of French grape varieties originate from the southwest; a nice score.
- - A plot of the Saint Mont appellation is even listed in the inventory of historical monuments. In fact, it has pre-phylloxera vines (before the 19th century and therefore the appearance of phylloxera, a devastating vine parasite).
- - It was on the paths of Santiago de Compostela that the great adventure of the expansion of the South-West vineyards began. Moreover, these are now part of the European Cultural Route of Vine and Wine ("Iter-Vitis - Les chemins de la vigne").
- -The IGP Côtes de Gascogne is the first in France for white wine!
Find the vineyards of the southwest on Instagram and on Facebook.