Where Rhodanian character meets signature freshness
Rhodanian character wines
The wines of the Costières de Nîmes are made from a mosaic of grape varieties. Reds and rosés are mainly made from traditional grape varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and more rarely Carignan, Cinsault, and Marselan. Whites are made from Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, but also Clairette, Viognier, and Vermentino (Rolle).
In all three colors, the blending of at least two grape varieties is mandatory.
Syrah, the King of varietals
Syrah, the iconic grape variety of the Northern Rhône Valley, has found an ideal terroir in the Costières de Nîmes. The grape thrives on the region’s well-draining soils, which have excellent water retention capacity that deep roots can exploit.
The proximity to the sea and ponds brings cool breezes, tempering the southern character of the vineyard and preserving the beautiful appearance of the bunches. Of the 3,000 hectares classified as AOC, 1,500 are currently planted with Syrah.
Often the dominant variety in blends with Grenache, Syrah produces aromatic, modern, and elegant wines characterized by delightful fruitiness and remarkable freshness.
Grenache, the Rhône Valley Signature
The AOC increasingly focuses on creating distinctive blends that highlight the Syrah- Grenache duo, guaranteeing beautiful complexity.
Grenache, which thrives on soils mainly composed of rolled pebbles, finds an ideal terroir in the region. With an intense garnet color that develops beautiful brick-like reflections with age, Grenache is characterized by its generosity, roundness, and mellowness.
Its typical aromas evoke ripe black fruits, prunes, licorice, and cocoa, evolving towards dried fruits, mocha, and cherry brandy. Particularly resistant to drought, Grenache adapts well to the driest areas of the appellation.
Grenache, the Rhône Valley Signature
The AOC increasingly focuses on creating distinctive blends that highlight the Syrah- Grenache duo, guaranteeing beautiful complexity.
Grenache, which thrives on soils mainly composed of rolled pebbles, finds an ideal terroir in the region. With an intense garnet color that develops beautiful brick-like reflections with age, Grenache is characterized by its generosity, roundness, and mellowness.
Its typical aromas evoke ripe black fruits, prunes, licorice, and cocoa, evolving towards dried fruits, mocha, and cherry brandy. Particularly resistant to drought, Grenache adapts well to the driest areas of the appellation.
Mourvèdre, «Le Plant de Saint Gilles»
Mourvèdre, a renowned southern grape variety, is celebrated for its tannic structure that imparts a racy texture and aging potential to wines.
It is said that Mourvèdre thrives best with its feet in the sea and its head in the sun, making it particularly demanding in terms of location and winemaking expertise.
As Mourvèdre ages, it develops a powerful fruitiness accompanied by superb aromas of leather, musk, pepper, sweet spices, resin, and truffle.
This variety is particularly prevalent in the commune of Saint-Gilles, the southern gateway to the appellation.
Wines for pleasure and gastronomy
Best Sommelier of the World 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, President of the French Sommelier Union from 2016 to 2023
Pleasurable wines
The Reds
The art of blending lies between Grenache and Syrah. These ruby wines with garnet reflections are fragrant, exhibiting notes of red fruits and wild berries such as blackberry and elderberry. They can be enjoyed young to savor the freshness of the fruit or aged for three to five years, during which they develop typical aromas of violet, black olive, sweet spices, and garrigue. On the palate, these wines are fleshy and linger with delicious licorice tannins.
The Whites
The bright golden yellow hue of the Costières de Nîmes whites hints at expressive, lively, and flavorful wines. These wines develop a generous fruitiness, revealing fresh aromas of white flowers, citrus, and exotic fruits.
The Rosés
Boasting a beautiful tender pink color, these wines offer a delightful aromatic palette of red fruits, citrus, and exotic fruits. Lively on the palate, they showcase flavors of strawberry, grapefruit, and passion fruit. These versatile wines adapt to all occasions, from the most authentic to the most elaborate, and pair well with everything from appetizers to desserts.
The Whites
The bright golden yellow hue of the Costières de Nîmes whites hints at expressive, lively, and flavorful wines. These wines develop a generous fruitiness, revealing fresh aromas of white flowers, citrus, and exotic fruits.
The Rosés
Boasting a beautiful tender pink color, these wines offer a delightful aromatic palette of red fruits, citrus, and exotic fruits. Lively on the palate, they showcase flavors of strawberry, grapefruit, and passion fruit. These versatile wines adapt to all occasions, from the most authentic to the most elaborate, and pair well with everything from appetizers to desserts.
Gastronomic Wines
The Reds
The red wines of Costières de Nîmes are characterized by two distinct profiles: the modern touch, exemplified by the great Syrahs grown on pebble terroirs, and the traditional touch, showcasing the noble character of Grenache.
Both styles exhibit elegance, aromatic complexity, and aging potential.
The hallmark of the Costières de Nîmes appellation is creativity. Some winemakers produce cuvées that showcase Mourvèdre in their blends.
Although less common, Carignan also leaves its mark on some exceptional cuvées, contributing finesse and minerality.
The Whites
Some cuvées are vinified and aged in barrels.
These complex and fat wines benefit from being aged for at least three years. They develop rich aromas of very ripe yellow fruits, such as apricot or peach, and evolve towards notes of honey and wax.
The Rosés
Boasting a delicate and intense currant color, these wines are elegant and subtle. They are distinguished by their aromatic complexity, which combines notes of red fruits such as strawberry and raspberry with floral undertones. Well-balanced and full-bodied, with a long aromatic persistence, these wines make perfect companions to refined cuisine.
The Whites
Some cuvées are vinified and aged in barrels.
These complex and fat wines benefit from being aged for at least three years. They develop rich aromas of very ripe yellow fruits, such as apricot or peach, and evolve towards notes of honey and wax.
The Rosés
Boasting a delicate and intense currant color, these wines are elegant and subtle. They are distinguished by their aromatic complexity, which combines notes of red fruits such as strawberry and raspberry with floral undertones. Well-balanced and full-bodied, with a long aromatic persistence, these wines make perfect companions to refined cuisine.
Clairette de Bellegarde
The Irreducible at the Heart of the Costières de Nîmes
You may be expecting fizz – but this is in fact a sophisticated still white wine, reflecting the spirit of the Rhône Valley greats. Clairette de Bellegarde is a single-varietal wine grown on seven hectares of vineyard bordering on the mediaeval village of Bellegarde – a selfcontained zone within the Costières de Nîmes appellation. It has enjoyed AOC status since 1949, and its wines reflect the dry, mineral-filled, elegant character of the Clairette Blanche grape.