Wine Tasting Cahors, Home of Malbec

A visit to our stunning holiday house in the South West of France wouldn’t be complete without a wine tasting trip to the nearby town of Cahors.

Cahors is the capital of the Lot region and the birthplace of Malbec wines from all over the world. In Cahors, Malbec is more famously known by its medieval nickname of ‘Black Wine’ due to its deep, dark colour. During the Middle Ages, the ‘Black Wine’ was drunk all over Europe by kings, emperors and Popes.

Today a good Cahors can be compared with a good Bordeaux, although Cahors will be cheaper in price. Some of the locomotives of the appellation are Chateau du Cedre, Clos Triguedina or Chateau Lamartine.

Cahors is also famous for its rich history. The Cathédrale Saint-Etienne enjoys UNESCO World Heritage Site status, as it’s part of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route. The other site not to miss before returning to the vineyards is the Pont Valentré, a giant medieval bridge built in stone which spans the Lot River and provides a spectacular view.

South of Cahors, in the charming towns of Castelnau-Montratier or Saint-Pantaléon, you’ll find the Coteaux du Quercy appellation. These vineyards, at the crossroads of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, produce red wines with delicate notes of raspberry or cassis and woody tannins, and also rosés which are perfumed with citrus or white flowers. Reflecting the singular nature of its wines, the Côteaux de Quercy obtained its protective AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) designation in 2011.

Château de Chambert

One of the rare “real” wine castles is Château de Chambert. For over 300 years, its Malbec wine was enjoyed by kings, Popes in Avignon, tsars in Russia and officers in Bordeaux. Exported all over Europe, it was known in England as the “Black Wine”. Chambert has received over 190 medals and praise from the most respected wine critics. Recently taken over by a young winemaker specializing in organic wines. Deefinitely worth a visit. More details here.

Château de Haute-Serre

Château de Haute-Serre, neighbouring the Laburgade saffron fields, is a few kilometers from Lalbenque, famous capital of the Tuber Melanosporum black truffle. The winery’s is famed for use of eco-friendly vine-growing and tending techniques, aging in new oak barrels, trials with wood from different origins and work on toasting suitable for Malbec. More details here.

You can reach Cahors from Las Vignotes de Lea in just 45 minutes by car.