1937: Cotes du Rhone. 
1953: Cotes du Rhone Village Gigondas
1971: Gigondas

Until 1971 only two CRU appellations for red wines existed in the southern Rhone: Chateauneuf du Pape (1936) and Lirac (1947), and it was not until 19 years later in 1971 that the next CRU  Gigondas was declared.

Cahier des Charges 2016

The rules for AOC Gigondas includes red and rosé wines. You can't make white wines with that name. 

The area of the appellation includes only vineyards in Gigondas commune. 
Gigondas is situated by the feet of Dentelles de Montmirail and a part of the vineyards are situated at the slopes. 
The level of altitude in the commune varies from 87 to 698 metres.

Click for bigger image

Click for bigger image

The grapes

Primary grape: (cépage principal) Grenache.

Secondary: (cépages complémentaires) Syrah and Mourvedre.

Other allowed grapes: (cépages accessoires) Bourboulenc, Cinsault, Clairette, Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne, Muscardin, Piquepoul Noir, Piquepoul Blanc, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Ugni Blanc, Vaccarese and Viognier.

Red wines

Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre must together counts for at least 90% of the vines at a property.
Grenache must counts for 50%.
Syrah and Mourvedre must together must counts for 15%.
.

Rosé wines

Grenache may not exceed 80% of the vines.
Other allowed grapes (cépages complémentaires and cépages accessoires) must not exceed 25%.

The white varieties may be used for red wines, but is normally used only in rosé wines

If a producer wants to declassify a part of his production, maybe because of young vines or if the vintages is pour it might be named Cotes du Rhone or Vin de Pays. It's not allowed to call the wines from Gigondas Cotes du Rhone Village.

The yield must not exceed 36 hl./ha. and the level of alcohol must be at least 12.5%.

Producers and production

80% of the production is vinified at private producers.
20% of the production is vinified at a co-operative.
35% of the production is sold to a negociant firm.

At least 200 private producers.
80 producers bottle the wines at the estate.

Red wine counts for 96% of the production and 4% is rosé
Approximatly 35% of the produktion is exported 

Area and production 2016 - 2020

The potentional area in production is 1230 ha.

Links: 

Map of Lieux-dits     Geological map    Physical map 

Press Book 2019