Ventenac-en-Minervois

Our next stop along the Canal du Midi was a stop at the small village of Ventenac for some wine tasting at the Chateau de Ventenac.

Approaching Chateau de Ventenac

French cuisine isn’t complete without being accompanied by fine French wines. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, producing 7-8 billion bottles of wine each year. Many of France’s wine regions date back to Roman times.

At Ventenac, we sampled local wines of the Minervois countryside. Each style of wine is linked to the area where the grapes are grown and the wine made.

Wines sold at the Winery of the Chateau de Ventenac are made from a variety of grapes, including Carignan, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and Macabeu.

The chateau was built in the 18^th century on the ruins of a middle age fortified castle. The gothic cellar is a model of innovation and is one of only ten existing in France.

The agricultural year for grapes begins in the autumn. Towards mid-November the vines are cut by hand with scissors or pruners. Annual pruning is key to preventing problems in grapes. Growers need to take care to prevent mildew, fungal, and bacterial diseases that can minimize the vigor of these plants. Weeding is done with a hoe, or plough, to clean the foot of the trunk. Old plant material can harbor fungal spores in soil, even over the winter. Insects and birds can also be a nuisance and pose problems.

The Ventenac Winery Cellar

The village of Ventenac-en-Minervois