Costières de Nîmes

Of Roman origin, the Costières de Nîmes vineyard is one of the oldest in Europe, at the junction of Occitania and Provence. Costières de Nîmes wines were appreciated by the Greeks, then the Romans, served to the Popes of Avignon and exported from the 16th century onwards. Geographically in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, but more closely linked to the Côtes du Rhône, Costières de Nîmes stretches from Nîmes to the banks of the Rhône. Costières du Gard became VDQS in 1950, AOC in 1986 and Costières de Nîmes in 1989. Today, the terroir covers 24 communes and extends over 25,000 hectares of hills and plateaus at altitudes of between 20 and 100 metres, of which only half is planted.

On the slopes of the sunny Camargue mountains, the grape varieties that produce these delights benefit from optimal conditions. Villafranchian gravel, low altitude, seaside... 

Given the region's weather conditions, it's not surprising that the Costières de Nîmes appellation is home to some of the world's finest wines.

The Mediterranean climate with maritime influences is characterized by 3 components: sunshine with over 250 days of sunshine a year, rainfall concentrated over a reduced number of days and the Mistral wind, which blows and cleanses the vineyards. Thanks to the water table, the vines avoid summer drought. The terroir of Costières de Nîmes wines, the largest Villafranchian terrace in Europe, is made up of pebbles. This layer, several meters thick, stores up the sun's heat and releases it again at night, as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. However, unlike its fiery neighbor, the warm mass formed by the pebbles here reinforces the convection effect of the thermal breezes. In fact, from mid-afternoon onwards, the cool sea breezes flowing across the Petite Camargue meet the warm mass of pebbles on their way up the Costières, creating a veritable suction of air. The tempering effect of these breezes reinforces the thermal amplitudes between day and night, which is renowned for preserving the freshness and purity of the fruit in the wines. These different elements produce grapes with great potential and high sugar content.

To make an outstanding costières de Nîmes rosé wine, you need exceptional grape varieties. Fortunately, there's no shortage of them in the Rhône region.

To qualify for the Costières de Nîmes appellation, vineyards must use one of the following grape varieties: 

The finest Costières de Nîmes vintages come from Château Mourgues du Grès and Château Mas Neuf.

Although costières de Nîmes rosé is the best-known PDO wine, it's far from the only one. In fact, wine enthusiasts will be surprised to discover that the winery also produces red and white wines. 

Despite its exquisite flavor, costières de Nîmes rosé wine is an alcoholic beverage that should be drunk young, just like its white counterpart. A costières de Nîmes red wine, on the other hand, can be kept for 4 to 5 years. 

For lovers of the terroir, it's good to know that costières de Nîmes wine is a beverage that doesn't keep for long. Whether white, red or rosé, it's when it's young that it reveals its finest aromas. 

The Bordeaux wines covered by the Costières de Nîmes appellation have a color that leaves no one indifferent. Deep, sparkling, with violet highlights when young.

White wines are bright, light yellow. Costières de Nîmes rosé wines range in color from pale pink to violet, before evolving into shades of salmon. 

On the nose, Bordeaux wines from the Costières de Nîmes appellation have an aroma in which red and stone fruits mingle. After a few seconds, this sweet aroma gives way to candied fruit and spices. 

When Costières de Nîmes wine is made with Syrah, it reveals aromas of red fruit and violets. On the other hand, when it includes Grenache, it reveals spicy aromas. 

Costières de Nîmes rosé wines are floral and fruity, with hints of ripe banana. White wines, on the other hand, are filled with floral aromas, notably acacia, and hints of citrus and exotic fruit.

Whether rosé, white or red, the beverages grouped under the costières de Nîmes appellation are well worth the detour.