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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Landscapes of the wine: the four seasons of herault

Landscapes of the wine: the four seasons of herault

Abstract

[English version below]

Les paysages participent à l’identité des vins de l’Hérault, avec une grande richesse de diversité. Leur observation, au travers des quatre saisons, s’appuie sur deux dimensions primordiales : la genèse de leur construction par l’homme et l’esthétique. L’hiver est la saison la plus favorable au décryptage de ce vignoble étagé, du littoral méditerranéen aux premières pentes du Massif Central; il permet de lire l’histoire des stratégies viticoles des vignerons. Les autres saisons sensibilisent plus à la beauté de vignobles dans des écrins de végétation typiquement méditerranéenne. La multiplicité des pratiques culturales et des cépages contribue à cet attrait. L’incitation au parcours, en toute saison, est très forte grâce au réseau des routes et des chemins de vigne. Les vignerons, à la fois créateurs et acteurs des paysages, sont de plus en plus conscients de l’enjeu que représente la nécessité d’instaurer une adéquation entre la qualité des produits et la qualité des lieux de production. Outil de valorisation des produits, de la culture et du tourisme, les paysages constituent un atout majeur de développement. Dans l’Hérault, leur qualité s’impose naturellement comme toile de fond à une gamme de produits touristiques, « les paysages du vin en Hérault », élaborés autour du patrimoine et du savoir-faire vignerons. Une démarche a été mise en œuvre : d’une part, pour le montage des produits avec les professionnels des filières viticole et touristique ; d’autre part, pour la commercialisation confiée à une agence spécialisée. Cette démarche, initiée sur certains territoires d’appellation d’origine contrôlée, est en cours de transfert sur l’ensemble du département de l’Hérault.

The landscapes participate in the identity of wines of Hérault, with a big wealth of variety. Their perception, trough the four seasons, leans on two dimensions : the genesis of their construction by the man and their own aesthetic. Winter is the most favourable season to discover this terraced vineyard, from the Mediterranean coast to the first hillsides of Massif Central ; it allows to read history of wines growers strategies. The other seasons make more sensitive the beauty of vineyards in cases of typically Mediterranean vegetation. The multiplicity of culturale pratices and grappes varieties contributes to this charm. The incentive to the course, all the year round, is very strong due to the network of roads and paths of vineyards. The wine growers, both creators and actors of the landscapes, are more and more aware of the stake which represents the necessity of establishing an equivalence between the quality of the products and the quality of the places of production. Tool of valorization of product, culture and tourism, the landscapes constitute a major asset of development. In Herault, their quality stands naturally out as backdrop in a range of tourist products, “les paysages du vin en Hérault”, elaborated around the patrimony and the know­how wine growers. A method was implemented : on one hand, for the establishment of products with professionals of wine growing and toruism ; on the other hand, for the marketing entrusted to a specialized agency. This method, introduced in some territories of registrated appellation origin, is about to be transferred on the whole territory of Hérault.

DOI:

Publication date: February 15, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2002

Type: Article

Authors

MARTIN J.C. ; STORAI J.P.

(1) Institut Supérieur de la Vigne et du Vin – Agro Montpellier, 2 place Viala – F. 34060 Montpellier cedex 1
(2) Directeur du développement agricole et rural, Conseil général de l’Hérault, 1000 rue d’Alco – F. 34087 Montpellier cedex 4

Keywords

paysages, saisons, diversité, valorisation, développement
landscapes, seasons, variety, valorization, development

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2002

Citation

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