THE MUSCADET AREA
ORIGINS
The region is viticultural since at least the Roman era.
Then, through out the time, the monks developped the vineyard and operated at the best the numerous ways of travelling of the region : the Sèvre, and the Maine rivers, the marsh of Goulaine offering a privileged access to the Loire river ; and the numerous roman roads.
In the 9th century, in the Vendée region, the Cardinal Richelieu offers the vineyards of his bishopric to the poors. Then, ”gentlemen” such as Voltaire and Rabelais promoted the wines of the region.
In the 16th century, the grape “Folle Blanche” (literally “Mad White”) appears, and the thick and fleshy aspect of the vine inspired the name “Gros Plant” (literally “Big Seedling”). During this period, the Dutch living in Nantes saw the port as an opportunity to develop the transport of the wines by shipping. Then, Gros Plant became one of the first Nantes wines to know an infatuation in Northern Europe.
Around 1635, Burgundy people brought a grape with round leaves : the Melon, which not acclimatized well in Burgundy but very well in Nantes region. At the same time, the wines from Ancenis (a town near Nantes) started to be well known.
