Since 1868, Valentine watches over this region on the right bank of the Rhone, over its inhabitants and its vineyards with their centuries old reputation.
In mid-February, Valentine also watches over an annual operation that is the most important of the wine grower’s tasks: wine pruning.
Through this ancient act handed down generation to generation, and which is very often not given the importance it merits, the wine grower gives new life to his vine and prepares it as best as he can to produce an appreciable quantity of quality wine the following summer.
Since the name Valentine is derived from the Latin word “Valerius”, i.e. “give health and vigour”, it is only natural that the wine growers of Lirac should have chosen Saint Valentine’s Day to celebrate their festival of wine pruning.
On the Sunday morning of Saint Valentine’s feast, seven carts loaded with vine shoots from the seven main vine varieties of the Lirac appellation accompany the procession of Saint Valentine’s relics in the streets of the ancient part of the village.
