So who made the wines of Saint Emilion ? The winegrowers first, the Romans who first planted vines. Let us add for completeness the English who, during the annexation of the Duchy of Aquitaine to England, widely popularized Saint-Emilion. At the same time, a jurade is created to administer and market the production.
So, it has to be said, since the 2000s, the wines of Saint Emilion, at least the Premiers Grands Crus Classés, have become more speculative than gustatory for the good reason that no one can afford them anymore. Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Angélus, Pavie are now reserved for rich people, a few Russian oligarchs, the Queen of England, Kim Kardashian, Jeff Bezos or Bernard Arnault. Finally for the latter it is free, since he is the owner of the prestigious Château Cheval Blanc.
But thanks to this speculative elevation, the fallout is spectacular, more than a million tourists a year flock to the 28 restaurants, the 48 cellars of Saint-Emilion and visit the Cardinal’s Palace, the Cloister of the Cordeliers and the monolithic church carved into the rock.