Welsh-owned Corbieres organic estate at Fraisse-des-Corbieres on the southern Languedoc border, 10 hectares in the rocky Hautes Corbieres on the edge of the Roussillon, run by Jon and Elizabeth Bowen for more than two decades.
Signature wines: Le Fournas, Magneric, Sainte Croix Celeste
Tip: Le Fournas and Magneric are the cellar reds; the estate's natural-leaning approach gets it picked up by UK and US natural-wine importers.
Address: 7 Avenue des Corbieres, 11360 Fraisse-des-Corbieres, France, Languedoc
Minervois-La Liviniere biodynamic estate purchased in 1997 by British-born Robert Eden, certified organic by Ecocert in 2002, Biodyvin in 2004 and Demeter in 2008, with B Corp certification awarded in 2016.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at La Liviniere by appointment
Signature wines: La Touge, Les Planels, Maris Old Vine Grenache
Tip: Les Planels is the upper-tier Syrah-Grenache bottling; the on-site hemp-cellar building is a sustainability case study in its own right.
Minervois organic estate on the high limestone plateau of Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, founded by Franco-American couple John and Nicole Bojanowski, working both dry Minervois reds and AOC Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois fortified Muscats.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Saint-Jean-de-Minervois by appointment
Signature wines: L'Inattendu, Lo Vielh, Gravillas Muscat
Tip: Lo Vielh is the old-vine Carignan; the Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois bottling is an age-worthy Languedoc fortified white that holds for a decade in cellar.
Minervois-La Liviniere estate at Felines-Minervois run by the Escande family, working biodynamic principles and an old-vine focus inside the Minervois-La Liviniere cru.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Felines-Minervois Monday to Saturday, 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm
Signature wines: La Feline, Cuvee Sylla, Belle de Nuit
Tip: La Feline is the affordable old-vine Syrah-Carignan; Sylla is the cellar-worthy upper-tier La Liviniere.
Minervois old-vine specialist at Badens west of Carcassonne, run by Pierre Cros with a deep focus on rare Languedoc varieties (Alicante Bouschet, pre-phylloxera Aramon) bottled separately.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Badens by appointment
Signature wines: Vieilles Vignes, Pierre Cros Cuvee 2017, Pierre Cros Alicante
Tip: The Alicante Bouschet varietal is the rarity bottle in the cellar; the Vieilles Vignes is the heritage Carignan-Grenache.
Minervois family estate in a 12th-century chateau at Oupia, taken over in 1969 by Andre Iche and run since 2007 by his daughter Marie-Pierre Iche, classic old-vine Carignan-led Minervois.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at the 12th-century chateau in Oupia, by appointment
Signature wines: Minervois Tradition, Cuvee des Barons, Nobilis
Tip: The Tradition is the value Minervois rouge that punches above its price point; Les Barons is the upper-tier old-vine bottling.
Minervois family estate at Felines-Minervois run by Philippe and Maguy Chabbert, working both AOC Minervois-La Liviniere reds and standard Minervois.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Felines-Minervois by appointment
Signature wines: Cuvee Andrea, Petit Causse Tradition, Petit Causse Blanc
Tip: Cuvee Andrea is the La Liviniere cru flagship; the Tradition is the entry-level Minervois.
Discover the secrets behind the wine making of Château Capion wines with a guided tour. Taste all wines from the vineyard.
Discover the wines of Languedoc with a tasting and a fun wine quiz 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Enjoy seeing Montpellier with a local guide. See the city center, and try local wines and specialties, including fresh seafood and regional cheeses, fougasse, pastries...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Languedoc (25) · Wine tours and day trips in Languedoc (18)
