Costières de Nîmes

Dating back to Roman times, the Costières de Nîmes vineyard is one of the oldest in Europe, located at the junction of Occitanie and Provence. The wines of Costières de Nîmes were appreciated by the Greeks and later by the Romans; they were served to the Popes of Avignon and exported as early as the 16th century. Geographically located in Languedoc-Roussillon but more closely associated with the Côtes du Rhône in terms of its characteristics, the Costières de Nîmes region stretches from the city of Nîmes to the banks of the Rhône. The Costières du Gard were classified as VDQS in 1950, AOC in 1986, and became Costières de Nîmes in 1989. Today, the terroir covers 24 municipalities and spans 25,000 hectares of hills and plateaus at altitudes between 20 and 100 meters, only half of which is planted with vines.

On the slopes of the sun-drenched hills of the Camargue, the grape varieties that give rise to these delicacies enjoy optimal conditions: Villafranchian gravel, low altitude, and a seaside location... 

Given the region's weather conditions, it is 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 three key elements: sunshine—with more than 250 days of sunshine per year—rain concentrated over a small number of days, and the Mistral wind, which blows through and cleanses the vineyard. Thanks to the water table, the vines are protected from summer drought. The terroir of Costières de Nîmes wines—Europe’s largest Villafranchian terrace—consists of pebbles. This layer, several meters thick, stores the sun’s heat and releases it during the night, much like in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. But unlike its scorching neighbor, the warm mass formed by the pebbles here enhances the convective effect of thermal breezes. In fact, starting in the mid-afternoon, cool sea breezes passing through the Petite Camargue encounter the warm mass of pebbles as they move up along the Costières, creating a powerful suction of air. The moderating effect of these breezes amplifies the temperature fluctuations between day and night, a factor known to preserve the freshness and purity of the wines’ fruit. These various factors produce grapes with high potential and high sugar content.

To produce a Costières de Nîmes rosé that leaves a lasting impression, you need exceptional grape varieties. Fortunately, there is 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 wines from the Costières de Nîmes undoubtedly come from Château Mourgues du Grès and Château Mas Neuf.

Although Costières de Nîmes rosé is the best-known wine from the AOP, it is by no means the only one. In fact, wine enthusiasts will be surprised to learn that the winery also produces reds and whites. 

Despite its exquisite flavor, Costières de Nîmes rosé is an alcoholic beverage best enjoyed young, just like its white counterpart. A red wine with the Costières de Nîmes appellation, on the other hand, can be cellared for 4 to 5 years. 

For lovers of local wines, it’s good to know that Costières de Nîmes wine doesn’t keep for very long. Whether it’s white, red, or rosé, it reveals its finest aromas when it’s young. 

The Bordeaux wines covered by the Costières de Nîmes appellation have a color that leaves no one indifferent. Deep and shimmering, it is accented with violet hues when the wine is young.

White wines, on the other hand, have a bright, pale yellow color. As for Costières de Nîmes rosé, its color ranges from pale pink to purple, before evolving into shades of salmon. 

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

When Costières de Nîmes wine is made from Syrah, it reveals aromas of red berries and violets. However, when it contains Grenache, it reveals spicy aromas. 

As for Costières de Nîmes rosé wine, its bouquet is floral and fruity, with hints of ripe banana. The white wines, meanwhile, are full of floral aromas—particularly acacia—along with notes of citrus and exotic fruits.

Whether they're rosé, white, or red wines, the wines grouped under the "Costières de Nîmes" appellation are well worth the detour.