| For centuries, the Roussillon region of France, was | | | | appear as ghosts, sitting silently atop of the |
| considered the hinterland of France. Fortresses | | | | mountains. They poke their heads through the |
| were built during the 11th and 12th centuries in | | | | clouds while you drive through one of the major |
| strategic positions scattered in a hop scotch | | | | wine producing regions in France. On the highest |
| pattern across the very top of the mountain | | | | points of these mountains overlooking the wine |
| ridges between Perpignan to Carcassone. This | | | | valleys, you can catch a glimpse of the "Cathar |
| was an area in which the border was always | | | | Castles" as they continue to keep watch, as they |
| being redefined. One century it was owned by | | | | have for centuries. |
| Spain, the next by France. These French castles | | | | One of the major wine trails and Cathar castle |
| were designed to maximize their view over the | | | | routes in this section of southern France is found |
| surrounding valley an in effort to prevent the | | | | along the D117 road that runs from Perpignan and |
| Kings of Spain from expanding their realm of | | | | continues west through a valley framed on either |
| influence. | | | | side by mountains. Chalk and clay form the soil |
| During the 12th century, the castles took on a | | | | for the vineyards that are scattered between the |
| different significance. The Cathars, a Gnostic | | | | wild brush that forms the landscape in this |
| religion, were gaining a strong influence in the | | | | agricultural region. The majority of the wine in this |
| southern region of France. The nobility in this area | | | | area is Rivesaltes AOC; however, Maury wine is a |
| felt more of an allegiance to the Cathars, who | | | | small appellation that has chiseled out a section of |
| they considered people of their land rather than | | | | land in the midst of the AOC Rivesaltes. |
| the remote religious leader of the Pope. They | | | | Maury wines are the only wines in this region that |
| offered their castles and fortresses as a refuge in | | | | are allowed to produce a sweet wine. There have |
| what became the last stronghold for the Cathars. | | | | been comparisons of the Maury wine to a port. |
| As the Pope grew incensed at what he | | | | But the wines I tasted at Mas Amiel, the largest |
| considered the heresy of the Cathars, crusades | | | | independent producer in Maury, tasted more like |
| were instigated with the sole determination of | | | | the ice wine produced in Canada. Some of their |
| destroying the Cathars. Because the nobility | | | | wines had a bit of a tartness added to the sweet |
| protected the Cathars and their families within the | | | | flavor. They did not have the heavier taste |
| castle walls, their fortresses became the focal | | | | associated with a port. Mas Amiel has a huge |
| point of major battles in which the Pope tried to | | | | estate surrounding the town of Maury. Signs along |
| rid France of the Cathars. They were massacred | | | | the road point towards their vineyards and |
| and burned at the stake and when that did not | | | | "gustation" or wine tasting rooms. As you drive |
| destroy every remnant of their religion, the | | | | through the valley you see their logo etched into |
| Inquisition was launched. Eventually the Cathars | | | | the side of the mountain. Surrounding their tasting |
| were eliminated. Today those ancient ruins | | | | rooms are "bonbonne" bottles filled with wine that |
| survived the battles and the passage of time; | | | | is going through the initial fermentation process. |