Definition: Saint Maurice

Only the small commune of Vadans in the Jura region has made him its patron saint and protector of vineyards. Nine months to the day separate Saint Vincent from Saint Maurice. However, the name of the patron saint can also be found between the Rhône, Drôme and Allier rivers.

The distinctive feature of Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues is that it has only one wine cellar, its cooperative.

It is commonly said that Saint-Maurice wines can be enjoyed both young and old. In short, they improve from the moment they are born. Thanks to Grenache, these Côtes du Rhône wines express themselves fully. In short, heady wines for young abbesses.

There is another unique feature in the form of the Viret wine estate, which bases its production on the principles of cosmoculture. This is a whole programme that extends biodynamics.

The Coteaux de Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues winery has a very large wooden vat that is several centuries old.

Origin of the name Saint-Maurice: More than 60 communes in France bear the name Saint-Maurice. But who was this person?

A Roman officer, Mauritius was the leader of the Theban Legion recruited in Egypt and converted to Christianity along with his soldiers.

Rather than renounce the promise of peace he had made to his rebellious Christian opponents of Maximian's imperial regime, he refused to obey orders to fight.

His cohort was decimated and Mauritius martyred at the beginning of the 3rd century. Saint-Maurice was built in the heart of its vineyards, guarded by the proudest of Christian centurions. Around a hundred hectares produce Saint Maurice appellation wines, AOC reds and rosés.

Saint Maurice is an excellent Côtes-du-Rhône that deserves its place on the table as well as in the cellar. Let's leave the Drôme for the Gard, where we discover the Château Saint-Maurice-l'Ardoise in the small vineyard of the Laudun appellation. This château overlooks the hundred hectares of vines that produce 15,000 hl year in, year out.

There is also a Saint-Maurice in Switzerland (canton of Valais), with a remarkable abbey.