From the Middle Ages until well into the 19th century, the economy of Bargota’s families was essentially one of subsistence. The circulation of money was limited, and most payments —including taxes and everyday transactions— were made in kind. In this context, wine had a special value: as well as being a prized product, it formed an essential part of the daily diet, since access to drinking water was not always guaranteed and, at times, the water available did not meet the necessary sanitary conditions.

Producers kept part of the wine for their own consumption once the obligatory taxes had been paid, and if the harvest had been generous, they could sell the surplus, although almost always on a small scale.

But the 19th century brought profound changes. The advance of industry and the expansion of capitalism transformed methods of production and trade, affecting every economic and social sector… and, of course, the world of wine as well. Bargota was not untouched by this process, which marked the beginning of a new stage in its long wine-growing tradition.