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Why did a little-known wine
from the Minervois win 3 outstanding awards, including Best
French Red Wine in the London based International Wine Challenge
2005? Why did another win the Grand Prix d’Excellence at the
Paris championships 2005 and a third become the only Languedoc
Roussillon red, of over 100 tasted, to gain a 5* rating in Decanter
magazine? The answer lies in the terroir, the choice of the grapes
and the dedicated winemaking.
Visit all chateaux like these during
the Magic of Minervois wine tour. You will delight in
discovering these hidden wine secrets. The visits to the main
wineries concerned will not be monotonously similar, but each will
be themed to teach our wine loving guests more about the subjects
of viticulture, winemaking, the importance of terroir, as well as
enjoying tutored tastings of the finest local white wines, red wines
and fortified Muscat dessert wines.
The winery tours can be
balanced with a number of interesting local visits, including one to
a multi award winning goat farmer specialising in cheese production,
an olive oil production centre, or a traditional cooperage that
makes barrels for famous Bordeaux chateaux. Added to this may be a
walk through the remarkable castle walls of Carcassonne’s la Cité,
and a guided tour of the historic Benedictine Abbey of St Hilaire,
founded in the 8th century. Here you will find the
original cave where the first sparkling wine in the world was
produced in 1531. That cave is a mere child in comparison with the
5,000 year old Dolmen des Fades, which is recognised as having the
second oldest cellar in France.
Other activities can include a 2
hour cruise on the Canal du Midi at Homps and a visit to the
spectacular Cathar village of Minerve.
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