"The
Culture of the earth is man's
greatest work" wrote Charles
Louis de Secondat, baron de Labrède
et de Montesquieu (Labrède
1689-Paris 1755) in his book l'Esprit
des Lois.
This gives an idea of the
passion and rigor with which the
famous philosopher managed his
numerous estates and those of
his wife, Jeanne de Lartigue.
Thus the magistrate abandoned
his post in parliament in 1748
in order to devote himself to
his lands in the Gironde that,
in addition to his properties
in Labrède and Martillac,
in the heart of the Graves vineyards,
were situated in the Entre-Deux-Mers.
In order to conserve and pass
on his family heritage, he increased
his lands around château
Bisqueytan in 1750, the old fortress
situated on the right bank, and
purchased the picturesque Luzié
mill in Saint Morillon.
He constantly oversaw the management
of his lands, checking on harvests
and his herds, clearing out land
for vines and even taking part
in the grape harvests. With the
help of his talented agricultural
friend, the Abbot Goasco, he constantly
improved upon his grape varieties
and the wines that he exported.
Most of the wines were then made
in the cellars of the beautiful
château Raymond of the fortified
farm of Rochemorin. |
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Colette
GABORIAUD
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Museum
of
Aquitaine
Museum
of
Decorative
Arts
City Library
The 3 Ms
To
see:
Bust, Museum of Decorative Arts
/ Statue:
Esplanade des
Quinconces /
Family residence,
11 rue Vital Carles |
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