Does your telephone hold popping up images of holidays passed by? Mine does, and whereas they might convey again pleased recollections of summers previous, they’re additionally a reminder that I gained’t be travelling wherever this summer time. It’s good to dream although, so this week and subsequent, I’ll take a digital journey to a wine producing area that’s well-liked with Irish holidaymakers too.
Minervois is a type of acquainted wine names that folks discover laborious to find on a map. It’s set again from the coast, going north-eastwards up into the mountains from Carcassonne within the Languedoc. On two events, I’ve misplaced my approach on the winding roads on this sparsely populated area, questioning how any plant may survive right here within the naked, brilliant, white rocky mountainsides.
One was on a shopping for journey looking for a brand new producer. Individuals had been scarce as was any signage for hamlets or wineries. The wine was definitely worth the stress as soon as I tracked down the producer, in a small cottage overlooking the valley beneath. The second time I used to be on a vacation and in additional relaxed kind.
I discover wines from La Livinère typically have a freshness, an acidity and generally an magnificence not usually present in Minervois wines, however a lot is dependent upon the grower
As with many elements of the Languedoc, there’s a mass of cheap wines produced in Minervois, often by a co-operative or a big negociant, in addition to some attention-grabbing wines from extra formidable small estates. Minervois is a big space, with all kinds of soils and climates producing all kinds of wines – there are literally 5 sub-zones however I defy any wine buff to call them. Most Minervois is pink, however white, rosé and candy wines are additionally produced.
