Dear friends and customers,
More than love a festival, Valentine’s day represents a symbol, but also there is one emotional history in the region that related to the coast of Rhône wine.
Roquemaure, a small village located in Gard famous for the quality of wine since first century A.D., and 15 kilometers distant from Avignon, celebrates Saint Valentine every year. In 1737, producers of vineyard created the stamping the letters C D R on the barrels in order to produce very good wine with strict rules. In a sense, this was the first step towards today’s AOC system. This wine was very appreciated so that it was exported to not lonely all over the France but also in England and in Italy.
In 1866, a calamity destroyed the economic and social life of the village. For the first time in Europe, the vineyards became diseased with phylloxera, also known as the “deadly pest” or the “Roquemaure stains”. At first, despite every effort made, the wine producers found their future compromised. Finally a rich landowner of Roquemaure, decided to go to Rome with the hope to acquire the relics of a patron Saint that would save the town’s economy. At that time people used to believe in the protecting value of Saint relics. They hoped that the relics would restore the “health and vigour” of their vineyards and protect them from any new harm.
Two years later, one big festival celebrated the arrival of Saint Valentine’s relics acclaimed by the jubilant population of Roquemaure. The fight of wine producer lasted longtime but by the grace of their courage and their determination, they could finally flourish again economically.
Since 1990, inhabitant of this region, which is right side of Rhône celebrate the festival of love which will carry out 16th and 17th Febrary this year with the then atmosphere with traditional costume. So please come and discover like more than 20,000 people every year to Roquemaure, the products of artisan, the kiss competition or the cutting vine and join this wonderful commemoration that is the love festival.
I owe the site of the Saint Valentine to give me these precious informations.
For all reservation of love couple, Avignon Hotel Monclar is happy to offer breakfast until Monday 18 February 2008.
F.CLOTA