Today's post starts with the Treaty of the Pyrenees, ending a war
between France and Spain, signed on November 17, 1659.
The treaty gave France the area north of
the Pyrenees, including Rousillon (more below). The way it was
written, France received all "villages" north of the mountains. But a
place called Llivia was not considered a village, it was considered a
town/city. So it remained (and remains) part of Spain. It is a small
place, population about 1600, a little east of Andorra, completely
surrounded by France.
Llivia, as it turns out, is famous for the Esteve Pharmacy, which is
one of the oldest functioning medieval pharmacies. The pharmacy is
famous for its collection of decorated Albarello jars (ceramic pots
used to store medicines). It was opened in the 1400's.
Anyway, Rousillon is in the southermost part of eastern France, just
north of the border with Spain, part of the region known as
Languedoc-Roussillon. Turns out this region is the largest wine
producing area in the world, about 700,000 acres planted, about a
third of France's total wine production. It produces more wine than
the entire US production (as of 2002). One third of the wine imported
into Britain is apparently from Languedoc-Roussillon.
The area has its own unique grape: the Lledoner Pelut, related to the
Grenache. A bottle of Domaine La Colombette Lledoner Pelut sells for
about $20. I could not find one near where I live, though local stores carry
Languedoc-Roussillon wines, as well as wines from Corbieres, which is
in the same area.
There are about 150 major varieties of grapes used in wine production,
though there are more than 5000 varieties of grapes. It takes between
600 and 800 grapes to produce a bottle of wine. An acre of of vines
produces about 800 gallons of wine.
An enormous amount of wine is produced every year; statistics are at
http://www.wineinstitute.org/
If I am reading it correctly, 26 billion liters were produced in 2010.
The standard bottle is 3/4 liter. You can do the math. Wow.
between France and Spain, signed on November 17, 1659.
The treaty gave France the area north of
the Pyrenees, including Rousillon (more below). The way it was
written, France received all "villages" north of the mountains. But a
place called Llivia was not considered a village, it was considered a
town/city. So it remained (and remains) part of Spain. It is a small
place, population about 1600, a little east of Andorra, completely
surrounded by France.
Llivia, as it turns out, is famous for the Esteve Pharmacy, which is
one of the oldest functioning medieval pharmacies. The pharmacy is
famous for its collection of decorated Albarello jars (ceramic pots
used to store medicines). It was opened in the 1400's.
Anyway, Rousillon is in the southermost part of eastern France, just
north of the border with Spain, part of the region known as
Languedoc-Roussillon. Turns out this region is the largest wine
producing area in the world, about 700,000 acres planted, about a
third of France's total wine production. It produces more wine than
the entire US production (as of 2002). One third of the wine imported
into Britain is apparently from Languedoc-Roussillon.
The area has its own unique grape: the Lledoner Pelut, related to the
Grenache. A bottle of Domaine La Colombette Lledoner Pelut sells for
about $20. I could not find one near where I live, though local stores carry
Languedoc-Roussillon wines, as well as wines from Corbieres, which is
in the same area.
There are about 150 major varieties of grapes used in wine production,
though there are more than 5000 varieties of grapes. It takes between
600 and 800 grapes to produce a bottle of wine. An acre of of vines
produces about 800 gallons of wine.
An enormous amount of wine is produced every year; statistics are at
http://www.wineinstitute.org/
If I am reading it correctly, 26 billion liters were produced in 2010.
The standard bottle is 3/4 liter. You can do the math. Wow.
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