Armagnac’s first ambassador
Although Armagnac was already rich with its centuries old history in the 18th century, it had not yet made the tour of the world and it didn’t have the success that it has today. Its consumption, still very local at the time, was essentially limited to the family and friends of those that produced it. At least that was until the Marquise of Livry helped it cross the country when she introduced it to the Court of France…
But who was this Marquise that Armagnac owes so much to? Born at the beginning of the 18th century – it is difficult to establish an exact date, - she was the great granddaughter of Thomas de Maniban, General Counsel for the Parliament in Toulouse and prominent local figure.
It was he who started the construction of a chateau in 1649 on the family estate: Chateau du Busca-Maniban. It was his grandson Joseph-Gaspard, the Marquises’ father who gained access to the prestigious job of President of the Parliament of Toulouse, who continued the construction of the chateau. On his death, his daughter, Marie-Christine de Maniban, inherited this property that had the oldest Armagnac “brûlerie” (distillery) in the middle of several hectares of vineyards.
Not yet truly marketed at that point, the production of Armagnac was mainly concentrated in the small cellars that each property had. Tastings were offered to friends and family without really seeking to spread the word.
After her first marriage with a Bourbon, Marie-Christine de Maniban married the Marquis de Livry, the maître d’hôtel for Louis XV in Versailles. Meanwhile, the King’s regent concentrated the government in the Palais Royal and because of this, social life was centered in the heart of Paris and it became essential to have a home there in order to receive guests as often as possible. The Marquise acted quickly and acquired a pied-à-terre in the capital where she regularly invited the Parisian upper crust.
During these little social get-togethers, it fell upon each one to treat their guests to the products from their provincial regions. The Marquise got on with introducing her entourage to Armagnac produced in the family distillery in the Gers. Little by little, the Parisian aristocracy adapted to the “burning water” and due to its success and sure of its virtues, the Marquise took advantage of her prestigious wedding to introduce it to the Court of Versailles, where Armagnac became the product of choice.
A sitting room in Paris, a perch in Versailles and a chateau in the provinces: an unusual combination initiated by the Marquise of Livry without which Armagnac may have been resigned to a museum rather than sitting in the best wine and spirit merchants as it is today.
We therefore say “Thank you Madame la Marquise”.
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