Oustau        Le Bijou 

Gimios is a tiny hamlet, just a minute by car (or 5 minutes on foot) from "our village", Saint-Jean-de-Minervois. There are about 25 homes in Gimios, owned by an assortment of international families, including mostly French, but also English, Scottish, Irish, Dutch, Belgian, Greek, and American! Some inhabitants grew up here, while others have settled here from elsewhere, having been drawn by the peaceful countryside and the desire to return to a simpler way of life. The neighborhood is quite close and everyone cares about their neighbors. Rather than telephone or email, neighbors walk to each others' homes and knock on the door. People chat in the road and are always willing to help each other in need.

Gimios has its own organic winemaker, Le Petit Domaine de Gimios, which is just up the road from our house.

Saint-Jean-de-Minervois also has a very small town feel, but is a little larger than Gimios, with a wine cooperative (offering tastings of the local wines), restaurant, post office, church and town hall. Saint-Jean has a number of small winemakers, including Le Domaine du Gravillas organic wines. The Saint-Jean pétanque (boules) court is available for your use.

The Chemin de la Traverse is a footpath that connects Gimios to Saint-Jean-de-Minervois. Another footpath, through the vineyards, leads to l'Église de Jean Dieuvaille (known as l'Église du Trou), and continues on to the hamlet of Barroubio, which also has excellent wines.