A story about winemakers: the Saint-Sardos wine festival celebrates 30 years

Already in the Middle Ages, the monks of Grandselve Abbey, near Saint-Sardos, had planted grapes. Over the centuries, this activity has evolved. In the 13th century, hundreds of barrels of wine were sent down the Garonne to be sold throughout France and beyond.

It has never been easy to keep the vineyards going against vine diseases and the uncertainty of the weather. This was the reason why the grapes came together in 1955 and created an association under the law of 1901: the Saint-Sardos AOC wine union including the grapes of Navan and the Domaine de la Tucayne.

150,000 bottles per year

Their first wine dates back to 1957. Sixty-seven years later, their establishment is still in the same place, only the shop was renovated in 2019. It has around thirty members ‘ association. Romain Miramont and Bertrand Guiraud (also president of the union) are the chairman of the Board of Directors of Navan.

The cellar has 9 employees, the estate currently covers 85 hectares, producing between 3500-4000 hectoliters per year including 150,000 bottles of AOC and IGP (Mark Defense Geography). The production strategy is to reduce the quantity to increase the quality of the wines.

The first party in 1994

For this 30th edition of the wine festival, the winemakers have created a so-called “solidarity” cuvée, in a limited series, called “Colibri” (red and rosé). It comes from hand-crafted harvests in 2021 and winemakers are counting on its success…

It was the vice-president of the winemakers’ union, Jacques Miramont, who organized an Open Day for the first time in 1994. In the years that followed, the town expanded its activities. The event was first held in the town square and then expanded along the paths known as “Le Valat grand”.

In 2000, the festival committee joined the organizers. Together, they launched the iconic bottle uncorking competition, an event that still attracts many visitors.

This Sunday, August 4, in addition to a traditional garage sale, a gourmet and craft market and various musical and children’s activities, three new products will cause a sensation.