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Origin and history

Château Minuty is an iconic 170 hectare wine estate located in Gassin, in the peninsula of Saint-Tropez. It produces AOC Côtes-de-Provence wines, classified in vintage since 1955, as well as IGP Var wines. Its history is closely linked to that of Provençal viticulture, with roots dating back at least to the seventeenth century, as evidenced by a terrier book of 1691 mentioning the vines of Joseph Minuty, who gave his name to the neighborhood and the estate.

In the 19th century, the estate belonged to the Germondy family, influential in the region, with members like M. Berger-Germondy, rewarded in 1891 for its wines during an exhibition in Cannes. In 1936, Gabriel Farnet bought the estate and replanted the vineyards, marking the beginning of its modernization. During World War II, part of the land was occupied by Allied troops, disrupting production for two years. In 1955 Minuty became one of the 23 estates of Provence to obtain the classified raw mention.

Since the 1990s, the estate has been run by the Matton-Farnet family, which has modernized the operation and increased sales six times in fifteen years. In 2023, the LVMH Group announced its acquisition for an estimated amount between €350 million and €450 million, highlighting its status as the peninsula's flagship domain. Minuty played a key role in transforming rosé into a luxury product, thanks in particular to the commitment of Gabriel Farnet, founder in 1933 of the Association of Winegrowers of Var to defend the appellation Côtes de Provence.

The present castle, originally a 19th century bastide enlarged in the 1860s, houses a private chapel built in 1865 by Zélia Fouque, widow of Claude Germondy. This chapel, of Second Empire style, is still used for family events and marks the beginning of harvests. The estate also includes modern tasting areas, designed by Villecroze and Mignot & Saguez, as well as vats installed at the beginning of the 21st century.

The vineyard extends over several communes, including Gassin and Ramatuelle, with limestone-schistose soils suitable for grape varieties such as grenache, tibouren and syrah. Minuty is also known for his appearance in Le Gendarme and the Extraterrestrials (1979) and his sponsoring of events, as a promotional evening at the Exumas Islands in 2019. Its cultural and economic influence makes it a symbol of Provençal wine heritage.

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