Domaine M.

History of the Hermitage The precise origin of the cultivation of the vine on the Hermitage is not well established. If history goes back to the time of the Crusades in the XII century when a hermit, the Knight of Steremberg, decided to cultivate vines between 1224 and 1226, it must be admitted that this fact is more myth than historical truth. It is very likely that the first vines date back to the very beginning of our era in Roman times. Plène, moreover, writes that the wines of the around Vienna and the Dauphiné were very popular in Rome. Notoriety of the Hermitage As early as the XVIII century many writings attest to this, a famous person, Thomas Jefferson, future President of the United States, wrote in 1787 during a trip to France that the White Hermitage was the best wine in the world. This statement is attested by the fact that in the XIX century, the White Hermitage is the most expensive wine in France. As for the Red Hermitage, it was very appreciated for its color, tannins and alcohol to such an extent that it served to strengthen the best Bordeaux wines (Margaux or Lafite) by "coupage" for the English market (XIX century).