Costières de Nîmes: A Roman capital

Located on the right bank of the Rhône, Costières de Nîmes is the Rhône Valley’s southernmost vineyard area. The lowland plateau on which the vines grow spans some 40 kilometres and reaches an altitude of just 100 metres, yet affords panoramic views of the surrounding countryside: Nîmes to the north with the Cévennes and Prealps on the horizon, and the lakes of the Camargue to the south, with the coastline in the distance. With the silhouettes of Mont Ventoux to the east and Pic St Loup to the west, the Costières de Nîmes appellation provides a graceful transition from Provence to the Camargue.

The appellation’s terroir mirrors its location well. 

Sea breezes coming off the Camargue create a substantial difference between day and night temperatures, helping to preserve fresh, fruity flavours in the wine. 

Meanwhile the soils, mostly comprising galets roulés (rounded pebbles), store up the heat of the sun-drenched Mediterranean days, releasing it at night. 

The Mistral blows all year round, reducing rainfall, lowering humidity and helping keep the vines free of disease, fungal disease in particular. 

This makes it a powerful ally for the Costières de Nîmes winegrowers, 25% of whom farm organically. The appellation is considered a model of environmental protection and landscape preservation.

Vines have been part of this landscape since ancient times, planted by the Greeks then further developed by the Romans.

 The early wine trade flourished here for many centuries, as evidenced by archaeological finds as far away as Italy of amphorae manufactured in Beaucaire.

Unlike the Greeks, the Romans saw wine as the perfect accompaniment to a celebratory meal – and that’s a practice still espoused here today, at the festivities, celebrations, and events taking place in Costières de Nîmes throughout the year.

These include the Vignes Toquées gourmet walks, the Costières de Nîmes Bodega evening in spring, the JeuDiVin (Wine Thursdays) series of events and the pop-up bar at the summer harvest celebrations. It seems celebration is part of the Costières de Nîmes DNA!