earlier experience of Mediterranean vintners along the slopes of the Alps. Likewise, the
spread of Christianity had an equally important effect on the northern expansion of the
vine, since wine was central for the celebration of the Mass. As a result, the founding of
each new church and monastery saw vineyards appearing soon afterward.
The most important period for medieval French viticulture occurred during the
economic revival of the 11th-13th centuries. The resulting growth in population,
commerce, and urban life encouraged landowners to increase productivity, and no area of
agriculture was more affected than was viticulture. It was during these centuries that the
regions of Anjou, Arbois, Beaune, Bordeaux, Épernay, and Hautvilliers established their
reputations for producing fine wines.
The documents of this period are filled with references to the métayage and medium
vestum agreements. By the terms of métayage, a cultivator would give the land-owner a
fixed percentage of his harvest in return for the use of the land. Under medium vestum,
the cultivator agreed to clear lands and make them productive. Once this was
accomplished, usually after five to seven years, the land would then be evenly divided,
with the cultivator now becoming a small landowner.
If those involved in viticulture made significant investments in labor and materials,
they could feel confident that the demand for their product would more than justify their
expenses. Throughout the Middle Ages, wine was not simply the preferred beverage of
rich and poor alike. In a period when water was often hazardous, wine offered the
consumer the dual benefits of pleasure and security.
Stephen Weinberger
[See also: AGRICULTURE; BEVERAGES; MÉTAYER/ MÉTAYAGE; WINE
TRADE]
Berlow, Rosalind Kent. “The ‘Disloyal’ Grape: The Agrarian Crisis of Late-Fourteenth-Century
Burgundy.” Agricultural History 56(1982):426–38.
Dion, Roger. Histoire de la vigne et du vin en France des origines au XIXe siècle. Paris: The
Author, 1959.
Grand, Roger. “Le contrat de complant depuis les origines jusqu’à nos jours.” Nouvelle revue
historique de droit français et étranger 40(1916):169–228, 337–82, 555–89.
VOTIVE MASS
. Mass offered for a special intention (a votum), such as for peace (pro pace) or for the
dead (pro defunctis), as opposed to a Mass called for by the liturgical calendar. Votive
Masses are already mentioned during the patristic period, and the early-medieval
Sacramentaries make ample provision for them. They grew in popularity throughout the
Middle Ages, even though the increasingly full liturgical calendar left few days without
their appointed Mass and Office. The situation was circumvented by having the
prescribed Mass celebrated once each day on the high altar, while individual priests
offered their private Masses as votive Masses. In some localities, it was customary to say
a weekly series of votive Masses: Sunday, of the Trinity; Monday, for charity; Tuesday,
The Encyclopedia 1825