The use of the description AOC Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) is covered by a decree of 1946 with later modifications in 1951, 1956, 1972.

The land covered by the specification of this appellation is limited to the village of St-Jean-de-Minervois in the extreme north-east of the Minervois, at an altitude of more than 250m.

In 1998, six individual producers and 1 cooperative produced about 4,400 hl on 160 ha. Output will rise to around 6,000 hl as young vines come into production.

In order to use the appellation "AOC Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois", the wines must be made only from grapes of the variety "Muscat doré de Frontignan" also called the "muscat blanc à petits grains".

There is a limit specified for maximum production yield of muscat per hectare of 28 hectolitres beyond which the appellation may not be used. If yield exceeds 40 hl per ha, none of the must is permitted to be used for this appellation.

AOC Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois wines must have a minimum alcohol content of 15% volume and contain at least 125 grammes of sugar per litre.
These wines must be made from a 'must' which has an initial minimum sugar content of 252g/l. During fermentation, between 5% and 10% by volume of alcohol of at least 95° is added. This must be done before 31st December of the year of the harvest.

To qualify for the Muscat de St Jean label, the wines must remain in production units on the property until at least 15th November in the year of the harvest.