Gigondas

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Varieties of interest

Terroir

• The limestone massif of the Dentelles de Montmirail constitutes the most complex geological structure on the left bank of the Rhône, with substrates derived from Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous formations.
• The relief reaches its highest point at 630 metres above sea level at the Rocher du Turc, while the neighbouring massif of the Crêtes de Saint-Amand attains 730 metres.
• The upper part of the vineyard rests on sandy and calcareous molasse, yielding skeletal, light soils that are very warm and resistant to drought.
• The lower part of the vineyard occupies the terraces of the Ouvèze, composed of ancient alluvial deposits with fragmented stones and red soils with high stoniness and a substantial clay fraction.
• The vineyard is planted between 160 and 400 metres above sea level, on west- and north-west-facing aspects that provide protection from excessive summer sunshine, and its hillside situation shields it from fog and spring frosts.
• Part of the vineyard is sheltered from the Mistral by the rocky ridges of the Dentelles de Montmirail, while this wind otherwise keeps the vineyard healthy. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The frost of winter 1956, following that of 1929, caused the disappearance of many olive groves and once again tipped the agricultural balance in favour of the vine, in a context that saw the birth of the cooperative cellar.
• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Gigondas was recognised by decree on 6 January 1971, taking its place within the family of the Crus des Côtes du Rhône after having been associated since 1951 with the Côtes du Rhône appellation name.

• The red wine, a wine for ageing, displays a shimmering colour ranging from ruby to deep garnet, structured and generous, with a bouquet of very ripe red and black fruits in its youth.
• With ageing, the red wine evolves towards wild notes of forest floor and truffle, while the rosé is distinguished by a nose of almond and small cooked fruits and a heady, balanced palate.
• By limiting morning sunshine, the Dentelles massif considerably extends the ripening period of Grenache, which must ripen gradually for this variety to express itself at its best.
• In the higher sites, the slow ripening of white varieties such as Clairette reveals freshness, while the calcareous substrate reveals minerality, the combination of the two generating an airy dimension in the wines.
• In the Miocene sands, white varieties, and Clairette in particular, express salinity and aromatic complexity.

• The high stoniness of the soils promotes drainage and exerts a positive thermal influence on the grapes during their ripening phase.
• The Mistral, a cold and dry wind, limits the development of fungal diseases and encourages the natural concentration of berries.

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 10 décembre 2024, JORF 12 décembre 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Syndicat des Vignerons de Gigondas