In the Minervois, AOC wines are produced from grapes grown under widely differing conditions in several geographically distinct areas with various climatic influences. A terroir map of the Minervois showing the situation of these terroirs is provided.

• Les Côtes Noires - situated in the north west of the Minervois, this is the region most under the influence of Atlantic weather. It has the advantage of rain in the summer with a drier autumn offering favourable conditions for ripening of the fruit. The grapes have a growth cycle of 180 days.
  The soil is shallow, relatively poor schists and subject to erosion on the slopes.

• La Clamoux - situated in the south-west of the Minervois, this region is protected from the Mediterranean influences by a series of hills. The winter is temperate and the growing season is longer at 205 days. There are two sub-regions within the Clamoux :
  • the east - flatter, soil depth limited by a sub-strate of sandstone, medium water reserves, exposed to the winds
  • the west - fluvial terraces recently deposited quartz and schist gravels, plentiful water reserves and hills between 250 to 400 meters.

• The Central Zone - in the heart of the Minervois, this area is sheltered from Atlantic influences and gets its less abundant rain from Mediterranean influences. Vegetation of the 'garrigues' is scrubby in nature and rainfall varies greatly year on year. The vines have a favourable growth cycle of 215 days. Four sub-regions are noted :
  • Les Mourels - at the eastern end of the central zone, from Beaufort to Aigues-Vives in the Hérault, alternations of sandstone, limestone and marl deposits produce a rugged landscape of successions of garrigues separated by valleys often with steep sides on which are planted the vines. Reserves of water are low.
  • Le Petit Causse - is the most northern sector of the central zone. Generally regular slopes have a southern exposure. The soil is generally shallow marl on top of limestone. This sector favours those varieties most resistant to drought and high summer temperatures.
  • L'Argent Double - is the western sector of the central zone and consists of silicious deposits around the two small rivers, the Argent Double and the Ognon. Water reserves are satisfactory and this sector, in the heart of the MInervois, is the largest of all.
  • Les Balcons de l'Aude - in the south west of the central zone, this sector overlooks the dried out bed of the former 'étang de Marseillette'.Its slopes are steep with exposure to the south and the east.

• Le Causse - in the north-east of the Minervois, this zone is exposed to cold air descending from the Montagne Noire. Only certain sheltered areas are planted with vines. The natural vegetation is of typically Mediterranean, higher altitude plants.
  Water supplies are poor and reserves low. The growth cyle for the vines is lower at 195 days. The soil is very stony and the vine roots have to seek out small pockets of red soil in splits in the rock.

• Les Serres - this region is in the south-east of the Minervois and at 20km is the closest to the Mediterranean sea. It is protected from the North by the Serre d'Oupia and the Pech de Bize. The favourable growth cycle is the longest at 230 days. Three subregions can be identified :
  • a river terrace with deep soil, silicious deposits and low water reserves
  • gentle slopes with a lime soil and thin layer of red clay
  • hillier with stony marl soil and moderate water reserves.