The Minervois appellation was created in 1985, it is located in the Languedoc region north-east of the Medieval city of Carcassonne. It is named after the ancient city of Minerve, originally a Roman fortress named after the Goddess Minerva. The appellation stretches for 60 kilometres from east to west and about 20 kilometres from north to south across the departments of Aude and Hérault. It is also one of the 18 appellations within the Languedoc region. Within the appellation Minervois there are two other appellations which are Minervois - La Livinière and Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois known for its fortified dessert wines.
Vineyard
The 4,300 hectares of vineyards are planted between 50 to 350 metres in altitude at the foot of the Montage Noir (Black Mountain) in a vast amphitheatre on terraces facing south. The vine density varies from 3,000 to 4,000 per hectare. The terroir is very complex ranging from the Primary to the Quaternary eras, depending on the area in the appellation, it can be limestone based or fluvial, schist and stony on the terraces.
The grapes planted for the Minervois reds and rosés are mainly Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Syrah including some Lladonner pelut, Picpoul Noir, Terret Noir and Aspiran. As for the Minervois whites the main grape varieties are Marsanne, Roussanne, Maccabeu, Bourboulenc, Vermentino (Rolle), Grenache Blanc, while the secondary grapes are Picpoul Blanc, Clairette Blanc, Terret Blanc and Muscat à Petits Grains.
Climate
The climate is one of Mediterranean-Atlantic transition, with Mediterranean being dominant where summers are hot and dry, spring and autumn are mild with the occasional morning frosts in April. Winters are mild too, sunny, with temperatures rarely falling below freezing. Rainfall is low (the lowest in France is certain communes) whilst the omnipresent Tramontane wind helps prevent plant disease. The Mediterranean influence is particularly felt at the far west of the region where the sea has a strong influence on the climate.