KNOW-HOW

The fruit of a family history and patiently built expertise, our know-how reflects a balance between tradition and innovation.

a preserved environment

For a wine from the Estate, everything begins in the vineyard, in a protected environment. The vineyard is cultivated sustainably, with particular attention paid to reducing environmental impact, controlling health risks, and ensuring the health of the team.

Since 2019, our work has been HVE (High Environmental Value) certified, and we reached level 4 in February 2025. In addition, 15 hectares have been certified in Organic Agriculture since 2023. At the Domaine, we favor prophylaxis and Biocontrol products to limit phytosanitary practices as much as possible.

Since the acquisition of Château Minuty by the Matton-Farnet family in 1936, no herbicides have been used on the vines, and all amendments are of organic origin.

Finally, during the harvest, everything is done to ensure the perfect integrity of the grapes, in the most natural way possible, and Minuty remains one of the last estates in the Côtes de Provence where the harvest is entirely manual.

floor maintenance

Soil life is a fundamental element for the proper development of the vine. To maintain this life (earthworms, fungi and bacteria), we have been using plant covers between the rows during the winter and spring for over 10 years. These covers are composed of a mixture of legumes and grasses known for not competing too much with the vine. Plant covers have several fundamental roles for the vine:

- They promote the activity and biological life of soils by being an important source of organic matter;
- They have a structuring role by increasing the porosity of the soil. On covered soil, rainwater infiltrates twice as deeply as on bare soil;
- They limit soil evapotranspiration during the summer, thanks to the natural mulch created during the destruction of plant cover at the end of spring.
- They limit erosion due to heavy winter rainfall.

Also, every year, our vineyards welcome free-roaming sheep, which gently graze the land, maintaining balance and enriching the soil.

WORKING THE LAND AND THE EARTH

A healthy vineyard reflects living soil, cultivated intelligently. For four generations, our teams have mastered the art of cavaillon, allowing roots to dive deep, up to 10 meters, to draw water and nutrients. This system reduces the need for irrigation during dry periods.

The vines are trained to optimize ventilation and sunlight, and pruned using the "Palmette Provençale" technique, a technique specific to the estate. This pruning allows for harmonious growth and a controlled harvest, guaranteeing the quality and sustainability of the vineyard.

We work to preserve the exceptional quality of its grapes, respecting the most natural methods.

and tomorrow?

In response to global warming, we are implementing R&D experiments to adapt our vineyards to future climate conditions. This research focuses on three main areas:
- In-depth analysis of the terroirs and observation of the practices of three generations of winegrowers.
- Research into grape varieties adapted to drought and optimization of the grape variety/rootstock pair.
- Water management, with precision irrigation calculated using leaf and soil moisture analyses, in collaboration with local partners.

Connected weather stations have been installed to study climate change and fruit hedges are being established to preserve biodiversity. In partnership with the French Observatory of Apidology, Minuty is experimenting with propolis-based treatments to limit the use of phytosanitary products.

We also ensure that our suppliers are HVE certified and are committed to making Provence wine production more sustainable and responsible, for the sustainability of the estate, the appellation and the planet.