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Wine Minervois

The Minervois AOC is a great appellation of the Languedoc region. The terroir is magnificent: at the crossroads of mountains and rivers, the vines are planted on a wide variety of soils, which produce very different wines depending on where they are produced, but always with a lot of character. Read more on Minervois
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Appellation Minervois

The Minervois appellation owes its name to the Goddess Minerva


It was the Greeks who first began to cultivate the vine in the region, around the 6th century BC. They named the area after Minerva, the Greek goddess of wisdom, which drifted over time until it became Minervois. Viticulture flourished in the region until the end of the Roman Empire. The vines were worked less and less during the Middle Ages, which were ravaged by barbarian invasions and crusades. Soldiers were often ordered to burn the wheat and uproot the vines.

It was not until long after the passage of the Black Prince through the region and the end of the Hundred Years' War that the vineyards began to produce wine again. It was not until the arrival of the Canal Royal du Languedoc, which linked the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, that cereal and wine growing resumed in the region. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the canal allowed for better transport of wine via barges, which contributed to the development of wine production in the region.
The Minervois AOC covers the departments of Aude and Hérault, over 50 communes, between Narbonne and Carcassonne. This terroir is particularly favourable to the cultivation of vines: the AOC is situated in a sort of natural amphitheatre made up of the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. The appellation covers an area of 4,500 hectares and produces an average of around 180,000 hectolitres per year.

The Minervois AOC is located in the heart of the mountains and rivers


The Minervois AOC benefits from a very pretty terroir crossed by two waterways, the Aude and the Canal du Midi. Located in the heart of the Pyrenees and the Massif Central, the vineyard parcels are often beautiful hillsides, low-lying plains or plateaus, which are windier. The style of soil therefore varies greatly depending on where you are. The terroir can be divided into 5 zones:

The Balcons de l'Aude: this is the area around the Canal du Midi, and is therefore Mediterranean influenced. Thesoils are sandstone and pebbles. This is the preferred area for Mourvèdre, as it is particularly sunny.

The Causse: this area is between 200 and 500 metres in altitude, and is therefore one of the coolest in the AOC. On the other hand the chalky soils allow the vines to warm up quickly.

Les Mourels: this is one of the hottest areas of the AOC. The sandstone soils allow few vines to take root, but the grapes produced here are very concentrated in aroma, and very complex.

Le Petit Causse: the heat is also on in this area, where it also rains very little. Sandstone and limestone soils are in the majority. The wines produced from the grapes of these soils are characterised by aromas of candied fruit.

Les Terrasses: this area is located on the border of the Corbières AOC, where the climate is the most temperate. The wines here are particularly balanced and rich in tannins, polyphenols and anthocyanins.

Overall, the climate of the AOC is therefore Mediterranean-influenced, a climate conducive to the cultivation of the main grape varieties producing the red, rosé and white wines of the appellation.

The three colours of wine are therefore produced in very different proportions: 3% white, 13% rosé and 84% red. The main grape varieties for the reds and rosés are Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Carignan must always remain below 40% of the final blend, while Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre must be above 60% of the blend. For whites, the authorised grape varieties are White Grenache, Maccabeu, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Vermentino.

The red wines of the AOC generally mature after 2 years of ageing, and can be kept for 8 to 10 years for the best vintages.

What to expect when tasting a Minervois?

Minervois red

On the nose, the reds are ruby or garnet, very intense. With age, the robe becomes slightly tiled. On the nose, they give off aromas of blackcurrant and violet, mainly when Syrah is in the majority. Spicy aromas are often also present, accompanied by vanilla and cinnamon. On the palate, the reds are powerful, full-bodied wines. The aromas sensed on the nose are confirmed in the mouth.

Minervois rosés

Rosés have a colour that leans towards tile orange and express fruit aromas, such as strawberry, blackcurrant, grenadine. Rosés are fresh, but powerful, and long in the mouth.

White Minervois

The whites are very pale, bright and luminous. In the mouth they are very lively, frank and clean. Often reared on lees, they are quite fat, and give off notes of vanilla, honey and are carried on white fruits, such as peach, or exotic fruits

With what dish to enjoy a Minervois?


The reds will go perfectly with lamb, duck, terrines or pâtés. Medium-aged cheeses will also be pleasant with red wines from the Minervois AOC. The whites will go well with grilled fish, fruit and honey-based desserts, while the rosés will be very pleasant with salads, exotic dishes and summer aperitifs.

Discovering 2 domains in the Minervois appellation

Château Villerambert Julien

The 100 hectares of vines on the property have been cultivated by six generations of the Julien family. This terroir is relatively unique, as the soils are made up of marble. This predominantly Syrah cuvée is very intense and representative of the Minervois appellation.

Khalkhal-Pamiès

This organic wine was awarded two stars in the Guide Hachette des vins. This exceptional cuvée is only marketed after 4 years of ageing at the property.

Languedoc-Roussillon appellations

Banyuls

Banyuls Grand Cru

Blanquette-de-Limoux

Cabardès

Clairette-du-Languedoc

Collioure

Corbières

Corbières-Boutenac

Coteaux-du-Languedoc Cabrières

Coteaux-du-Languedoc Grès-de-Montpellier

Coteaux-du-Languedoc La Clape

Coteaux-du-Languedoc La Méjanelle

Coteaux-du-Languedoc Montpeyroux

Coteaux-du-Languedoc Pézenas

Coteaux-du-Languedoc Saint-Drézéry

Coteaux-du-Languedoc Terres de Sommières

Côtes-du-Roussillon

Côtes-du-Roussillon Les Aspres

Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages

Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages Caramany

Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages Latour-de-France

Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages Lesquerde

Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages Tautavel

Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Miramont

Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Murviel

Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Peyriac

Vin de Pays des Coteaux du Pont du Gard

Vin de Pays des Coteaux du Salagou

Vin de Pays des Coteaux Flaviens

Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes

Vin de Pays des Côtes de Prouilhe

Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thau

Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue

Vin de Pays des Côtes du Brian

Vin de Pays des Hauts de Badens

Vin de Pays des Pyrénées-Orientales

Vin de Pays du Gard

Vin de Pays du Mont Baudile

Vin de Pays du Torgan

Vin de Pays du Val de Montferrand

Vin de Table