Costières de Nîmes

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Varieties of interest

Terroir

• The stony plateau known as the "costière" stretches from northeast to southwest over approximately 40 kilometres and around fifteen kilometres wide, between the Vistrenque and the plain of the Camargue.
• The geographical area of the appellation is delimited within the territory of 24 communes in the département of Gard.
• The Mediterranean climate offers strong annual sunshine, averaging 2,700 hours, along with a period of summer sub-drought.
• The climate is influenced by the Mistral, a cold, dry, and often violent north wind blowing down the Rhône valley, but also benefits from cool marine breezes coming from the nearby Camargue, drawn onto the costière by the convection effect linked to the rising of air superheated by the stony soil; the moderating effect of these breezes amplifies the diurnal temperature range.
• Sheets of pebbles mixed with red sandy clay, deposited by powerful rivers at the end of the Tertiary era and the beginning of the Quaternary, make up the bulk of the costière, which constitutes the largest Villafranchian terrace in Europe despite its dimensions.

• From the eighth century onward, Benedictine and then Cistercian monks developed extensive vineyards around their abbeys and preserved the viticultural practices inherited from the Roman era.
• Recognition as an appellation d'origine contrôlée was granted in 1986 under the name "Costières du Gard", renamed as early as 1989 "Costières de Nîmes" after the terminology of the terrace forming the foundation of the geographical area.

• The white wines, produced mainly from Grenache blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne, are balanced and lively, with floral aromas of white flowers and fruity notes of citrus and white-fleshed fruit.
• The rosé wines are generally bright in colour, showing great freshness and breadth, with good aromatic persistence on the finish and aromas of small red fruits and dried fruits.
• The red wines, produced mainly from Grenache and Syrah, are characterised in their youth by red-fruit aromas and have a medium ageing potential, developing towards spicier and more vegetal notes over time.

• The diurnal temperature range, amplified by the layer of pebbles that stores the day's heat and draws in the marine breezes of the Camargue, preserves freshness and aromatic complexity, while the dry, warm summer climate promotes good berry ripeness.
• The frequency of the Mistral ensures a concentration of sugar levels in the grapes and limits the development of fungal diseases.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 3 mars 2025 publié au JORF du 7 mars 2025, JORF 7 mars 2025
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône