Vine growing in Tunisia

The vine growing in Tunisia has a long tradition which began in the Antiquité as in much from other countries from the Mediterranean basin, thanks to the Phéniciens and, in this specific case, by the Carthaginois.

The agronomist Magon, which lives in Carthage phenician, note in its treated of wine Agronomie , of the practices which are always into force nowadays. With the arrival of a Moslem capacity as of the 7th century and the independence of the Tunisia in 1956, the Vine growing forever disappeared and this branch from the Agriculture has a real importance in the economy of Tunisia.

History

The history of the vine growing in Tunisia coincides with that of many of other countries of North Africa. During the Roman period, this type of culture develops largely until the arrival of the first Moslem capacity almost makes disappear the culture from the Vin in the country.

It is necessary to await the introduction of the French Protectorat in Tunisia starting from 1881 so that the production of wine is started again. At that time, the country counts only approximately 1000 Hectare S of Vignoble of which 95% are intended for the culture of the Raisin of table. The 50 remaining hectares, which are intended for the vine growing, quickly pass to the hands French. Tunisia becomes a wine supplier of cover and cut and the remainder even when the country émancipe of the domination of France. It is only in the middle of the Années 1960, when the French owners are expropriés and that is introduced the planned economy, that the production of wine falls into a deep crisis.

State of the sector

The Tunisian vines are located on slopes where the Température annual average never goes up above 20°C with ideal Précipitation S between 250 and 500 Millimètre S per annum. The Tunisian wines, mainly of the red and rosy, are rich in alcohol (11 with 12° for the red wine and the rosy wine and a little less for the white Wine) without excess of Acidité. That is due to the character of the new wines.

Tunisia has a right of the wine copied from the French model of the names of controlled origin. The marketing of the wine, as in Algeria, is almost completely under the control of the Tunisian State through the Office of the Tunisian wine until in 1999. Thereafter, the sector is liberalized and a strategy of quality is encouraged with the establishment of seven AOC and the conclusion of partnerships with foreign professionals (in particular of France, Germany and Italy). In addition, there exist eight mixed companies whose object is the development of wine fields, three companies tuniso-Frenchwomen (including two with the Castel group), two tuniso-allemandes, two tuniso-Italian and tuniso-Austrian. In this context, the cultivable ground intended for the manufacture of the wine is strongly in drop and the production of table grapes takes importance. The majority of the Cépage S cultivated find itself in the south of France:

red type of vines: Cabernet-sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah
white type of vines: chardonnay, Muscatel, ugni white and Sauvignon

Cultivated on an agricultural surface of some 18.000 Hectare S, of which the two-third are in the Gouvernorat of Nabeul, the Tunisian vineyard produces annually between 300 and 350.000 hectolitres of wine. The annual Exportation S exceed as for them the 100.000 hectolitres. The production of wine of tank for its part dropped while passing 416.000 hectolitres in 1999 with 300.000 in 2005. This one is produced to a total value of 70% by a grouping of Tunisian interest, the central Union of the wine co-operatives (first exporter of Tunisian wine to a total value of 25% of its production having 10 cellars out of 18), to a total value of 10% by a privately held company (Company for the industry and the marketing of drinks and to a total value of 7% by the wine co-operative of Bou Argoub.

Germany and France are the two principal Tunisian wine importers, certain quantities being also exported towards the Suisse, the Belgium, the the United States, the Canada and certain countries of Europe of the East. The production is marketed for nearly wine 70% of AOC of which 20% profit from the mention “first believed”.

List AOC

Mornag great wine

The AOC is located at forty kilometers in the south of Tunis. This surface produces wines fleshy, velvety with the palates, generous and vigorous. The principal type of vine, the carignan, is associated with stronger types like the syrah or the cabernet-sauvignon. The rosy ones come from cinsault and grenache and the white of ugni white and rezzegui. They accompany well the dishes by Viande and especially the Gibier: Mornag castle, Slopes of Carthage, Atlas Field, Field of Charmettes and Sidi Saâd.

Mornag

The AOC covers the major part of the Tunisian Vignoble and extends on the areas from Grombalia and Takelsa until Korba in the east and Enfida in the south. Of share its Surface, this zone presents aptitudes to produce red, rosy and white wines. The Climat is drier there with a Pluviométrie going from 300 to 400 millimetres. This zone is bordered by sea, which increases the moisture and limit the variations of Température S. This name is marked by the introduction of Cépage S ameliorative, which offers more a great choice for the development of reds, rosy and white balanced: Slopes of Mornag, Field of Ouzra, Kurubis Field, High Mornag, the Noble one of Mornag, Mornag Village, Magon and Vieux Magon.

Thibar

The AOC is under a continental Climat influenced by a Altitude where the Hiver S are cold and be S heats with a pluviometric average of about 500 millimetres per annum. This production zone makes it possible to obtain red, rosy and white wines marketed under the following denominations: Closed of Thibar, Slopes of Thibar and Domaine of Thibar.

Slopes of Utique

The AOC is located at forty kilometers in the north of Tunis. The ground is there muddy with falls, the vineyard being often in slopes and profiting from a good exposure. The red and rosy wines are remarkably appreciated for their dresses, their smoothnesses of bouquet and their velvety with the palate. These wines are known under the names of Fériani Castle, Côteaux of Bizerte, Côteaux of Mateur, Côteaux of Utique and Domaine Karim.

Tébourba

The AOC covers a important Superficie. Thanks to its Climate, this one produced of the wines equipped with single characteristics and a notorious prestige. This area produces red and rosy wines marketed under the names of Slopes of Schuiggui, Côteaux of Tébourba, Domaine of Lansarine and Tébourba Village.

Sidi Salem

The AOC is located at about thirty kilometers in the south of Tunis. The ground is made of alluvia and gravel pockets. The annual Pluviométrie lies between 500 millimetres and 600 millimetres per annum. This area produces red and rosy wines which accompany the dishes well by Viande and of Gibier. They known under the names of Khanguet Castle, Castle Saint-Augustin, Slopes of Khanguet, Nepheris Field and Khanguet Village.

Kélibia

The AOC is located at the point of the area of the Cape Bon being with 140 kilometers in the east of Tunis. It profits from a Mediterranean Climat and its grounds are Silice ux. The vineyard is made up only of only one Cépage, the Muscat of Alexandria, still called “muscatel of Kélibia”. The muscatel of Kélibia is fruity and dry and advisable either as Apéritif or with roasted Poisson S or seafood.

See too

Sources

Internal bonds

Vine growing by country

External bonds

Site of the Vine growers of Carthage

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