T hough but a speck on the scale of the planet’s history of course, it was long enough to form the base of the giant limestone slab of the Causse of Minerve, and to trace the key features of the relief, and forge the underlying elements of the mineral melting-pot that makes up the terroir of La Livinière. A mixture of limestone, pebbles, sand and clay where alluvial deposit and erosion have patiently carried out their work: hollowing out gorges in the limestone plateau of the causse, a little lower down shaping the succession of sandstone hills dotted with woods, and lastly carpeting the terraces with pebbles. An elaborate preparation of the ground for viticulture, possible up to 400m above sea level.