Oratoire St Martin Seigneurs Bl 20

In 1692, under the aegis of Andre Alary, the Alary family settled in Cairanne, as shown by the municipal archives. Winegrowers on this terroir from father to son, 10 generations have successively passed on the estate, which has grown over time. Each generation has inherited the same passion of the vine and wine, the same conscientiousness for good farming practices and perfect winemaking. Until the 1900s, the Alary family practiced mixed farming. Sheep and silkworms breeding and madder growing complemented the work of the vineyard. Frederic Alary (eighth generation and grandfather of Frederic and Francois Alary) decided to devote himself exclusively to the family vineyard. This intellectual farmer, otherwise known as a winegrower historian by the people of Cairanne, decided, in opposition to the traditions of his time, to vinify his wines by plot. He quickly identified that among his vineyard Saint-Martin was by far its best terroir. In 1953, some parcels of Saint-Martin area were put up for auction. Courageous, he decided to sell all his vines (except the one of Saint-Martin) in order to have enough savings to win the auction. A risky gamble, he nevertheless relies on heavens and asks the good Saint-Martin to help him. He promised that if the vineyard was awarded to him, he would build an oratory in homage to Saint Martin. History and Providence proved him right. Later, in 1984, his grandchildren Frederic and Francois Alary took over the business.