Costières de Nîmes

Dating back to Roman times, the Costières de Nîmes vineyard is one of the oldest in Europe, situated at the junction of Occitanie and Provence. The wines of Costières de Nîmes were appreciated by the Greeks and later the Romans, 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, Costières de Nîmes 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 communes and spans 25,000 hectares of hills and plateaus at altitudes between 20 and 100 meters, only half of which is planted.

On the slopes of the sun-drenched hills of the Camargue, the grape varieties that produce these delights thrive in ideal conditions. Villafranchian gravel, low altitude, and a seaside location... 

Given the region's climate, it's no surprise 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 over 250 sunny days per year—rain concentrated over a small number of days, and the Mistral wind, which blows through and cleanses the vineyards. Thanks to the water table, the vines are protected from summer drought. The terroir of the Costières de Nîmes wines, the largest Villafranchian terrace in Europe, 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 heat stored in the pebbles here enhances the convective effect of thermal breezes. Indeed, starting in the mid-afternoon, cool sea breezes passing through the Petite Camargue encounter the heated pebble layer 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 fruit in the wines. These various elements 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 of 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 in 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 from the Costières de Nîmes appellation, on the other hand, can be cellared for 4 to 5 years. 

For wine lovers, it’s worth noting that Costières de Nîmes wine doesn’t age well. Whether 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 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 violet, eventually developing into salmon hues. 

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

When Costières de Nîmes wine is made from Syrah, it reveals aromas of red berries and violets. On the other hand, 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 are rosé, white, or red wines, the wines grouped under the Costières de Nîmes appellation are well worth the detour.