THE COSTIERES REGION: THE KINGDOM OF PEBBLES
The Costières de Nîmes area, between the Cévennes, Rhône and Camargue, is mainly made up of clay-limestone soil with numerous rolled pebbles.
These small pebbles play a very important role in the ripening process of the grapes. Thanks to the reverberation of the sun, these pebbles act like little ovens!
The Mistral wind also plays an important role, drying out the vines and preventing the development of disease. As a result, fewer treatments are needed.
TYPICAL RHODANIAN GRAPE VARIETIES: A UNIQUE IDENTITY
Costières de Nîmes wines are made from a wide variety of grape varieties. White wines are created from clairette, marsanne, roussanne, bourboulenc, viognier, macabeu and vermentino. Red and rosé wines are made from syrah, mourvèdre, grenache, carignan and cinsault.
Costières wines are blends made from at least two different grape varieties.
THE COSTIERES REGION, A BEAUTIFUL STORY...
More than 2,000 years ago, the Costières region was already favored by the Greeks, who wanted to establish vine cultivation here. However, it was the Romans who were responsible for the development of viticulture in our region a few centuries later.
By the 8th century, the wines produced here were so highly regarded that they were even tasted at the Palais des Papes!
Recognition of the quality of Costières wines owes a great deal to Philippe Lamour, a Parisian lawyer and Costières landowner, who obtained the Vins de Qualité Supérieure appellation in 1945.
In 1986, Costières became an AOC called Costières du Gard, before finally adopting the name Costières de Nîmes in 1989.
The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) guarantees that the product has been processed and produced in a specific geographical area. The PDO label is a European mark. The French version of the PDO is the AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée). It protects the product on French territory.
Key figures
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69 Private cellars
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12 Cooperative wineries
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3 Traders
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30M bottles per vintage
COSTIERES DE NIMES EVENTS
Every Thursday in July and August, the JeuDivin in downtown Nimes offers wine tastings accompanied by local produce in a festive atmosphere!
Bodega des Costières : right after the bullfights, true aficionados gather at the bodega des Costières de Nîmes! Situated at the foot of the Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Castor Cathedral, where the poetry and magic of the festival come together in a warm atmosphere. Here, you can sample the three colors of the appellation, as well as local produce from the foodtruck, all night long. Passion, joy and sharing make the Bodega des Costières de Nîmes the ephemeral place to be during the Feria de Nîmes!
Vignes Toquées offers you a walk among the vines! Enjoy a gastronomic itinerary and savor dishes concocted by Michelin-starred chefs while tasting the wines of some thirty Costières de Nîmes winemakers!
AN AREA RICH IN DISCOVERIES
The Costières de Nîmes region, which has been awarded the Vignobles et Découvertes label, and the winegrowers who bring it to life, are delighted to welcome you all year round and offer a wide range of activities to suit all tastes.
So why not let yourself be tempted by a guided tour and tasting at a charming estate, or a peaceful weekend in a gîte in the middle of the Gard vineyards?
