Travel book · Côte d'Azur

Château Minuty at Gassin: 90 years of history since Gabriel Farnet, Cru Classé since 1955

Updated on 5 October 2026 3 min read

Set high above Gassin, in the Saint-Tropez peninsula, Château Minuty is one of twenty-three estates to have received the Cru Classé designation in 1955 in Côtes-de-Provence. It is also, ninety years on, one of the finest family sagas in the Provençal vineyard, an estate that remained within the same family from its acquisition by Gabriel Farnet in 1936 until 2023, when Moët Hennessy (LVMH) became majority shareholder.

The vineyards, including 55 hectares in a single block at Gassin, are planted on south-facing slopes across calcareous and schistose soils overlooking the Bay of Saint-Tropez, giving the estate its signature: a distinctly marine influence in the wines, with a freshness that contrasts with the heat of the Var summer.

Three generations of Farnet and Matton, then LVMH

Gabriel Farnet acquired the estate in 1936, when the Var was still largely devoted to viticulture and before the peninsula became the fashionable destination it is today. In the 1960s, his daughter Monique Farnet and her husband Étienne Matton undertook a comprehensive restructuring of the vineyard, replanting, selection of grape varieties, and modernisation of the winery, at the moment when the commercial production of Provence rosé was gathering momentum.

In the 1990s, Jean-Étienne and François Matton, the sons of Monique and Étienne, took the reins in turn. Their generation positioned Minuty among the most recognised brands of Provence internationally, without losing its local roots. Since 2023, the LVMH group (Moët Hennessy) has been the majority shareholder of the estate.

The range: from Cru Classé to 281

The historic bottling, Château Minuty Rosé and Blanc, upholds the Cru Classé identity: a blend of grenache, cinsault, syrah and tibouren (the emblematic grape variety of the Var terroir). This is the wine that justified the 1955 classification and remains the house’s internal reference point.

The 281 cuvée, identifiable by its blue bottle, is the most emblematic of recent production. It derives from a rigorous parcel selection of grenache. A fine, saline wine with a restrained aromatic profile compared to mainstream rosés, it is often served in Michelin-starred restaurants.

Other cuvées (M de Minuty, Rose et Or, Prestige) round out the range at different price points and levels of complexity.

Wine tourism: visits and tastings

The estate is open to visitors by appointment. The standard visit includes a tour of the vineyard, a presentation of the winery and cellars, and a commented tasting. Several options are available; please enquire directly with the estate.

The estate’s private chapel, built in 1865 under the Second Empire, is one of its visual landmarks. Visitors can view it as part of the visit.

Saint-Tropez

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When to visit

Harvest typically takes place between late August and mid-September, depending on the vintage. It is a lively period at the estate, though visiting is prioritised for the production team. For a peaceful visit, aim for June or the second half of September, less crowded than July-August, with still-favourable weather and golden light across the vines.

Planning a stay on the peninsula

AEC Collection selects and represents fine villas and homes in Gassin, Ramatuelle and Saint-Tropez. Visits and tastings should be booked directly with Château Minuty.

By the AEC Collection team