CHATEAU HAUT CAILLOU A.O.C. Lalande De Pomerol
CHATEAU HAUT CAILLOU A.O.C. Lalande De Pomerol . As in Pomerol, the first vineyards of the appellation were created by the Romans, fine connoisseurs in terms of vines, who knew how to appreciate the potential of the region. In the 12th century and throughout the Middle Ages, they were cultivated by the commanderies of the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem (predecessors of the Knights of Malta). Pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela stopped at Lalande de Pomerol and were accommodated there during their journey. During their journeys, they contributed to the excellent reputation of the wines of the Libourne region.
Destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War, rebuilt several times during the 15th and 16th centuries, the vineyards of Lalande have continued to prosper since then. During the 19th century, the region’s wine trade by sea was already thriving.
Alas, like the whole of the French vineyard, the territory of the appellation was hit by the phylloxera crisis at the end of the century. It was the daughter of a local winegrower, Caroline Ponsot, who contributed to the rescue of the infected vineyards by championing the use of American rootstock, which was immune to the disease. The AOC was validated by decree on 8 December 1936.
