AOP Costières du Nîmes

AOP Costières de Nîmes

1950: VDQS Costières du Gard (Vins Délimité de Qualité Supérieure)
1986: AOC Costières du Gard
1989: AOC Costières de Nîmes

The appellation includes 24 communes in Gard departement.

Aubord, Beaucaire, Beauvoisin, Bellegarde, Bernis, Bezouce, Bouillargues, Cailar, Caissargues, Garons, Générac, Jonquières-Saint-Vincent, Lédenon, Manduel, Meynes, Milhaud, Nîmes, Redessan, Rodilhan, Saint-Gilles, Sernhac, Uchaud, Vauvert and Vestric-et-Candiac

Until 1998 the appellation was considered a part of Languedoc, but in 1998 the syndicate asked for an administrative removal and has since as appellation been a member of INTER RHONE the organization which promotes the wines from THE RHONE VALLEY, which means from appellations where Cotes du Rhone can be made and from appellations surrounding Cotes du Rhone as Ventoux, Luberon and Costières de Nîmes

The name Costières can't be translated directly like Côte or Coteaux.
It is a name of a lieu-dit near Nîmes which is not of special interest.

The logo of the appellation is a crocodile chained to a palm. It's used as signs standing by the roads where you have to turn to find a producer - very smart.
The logo was used by the Romans as a symbol of their colony in the Nîmes-area.

The brotherhood in the appellation has a bit long name
Ordre de Boisson de la Stricte Observance des Costières de Nîmes.

Syndicat des vignerons des Costières de Nîmes
President has since 2018 been Bruno Manzone, Domaine Manzone

The highest point in Costières de Nimes (exept Nîmes) is Générac, the altitude here goes up to 144 m. The most southern vineyards will be near sea level
Saint-Gilles which probably are the most interesting of the small wine villages are situated arund 30 kilometers from the Mediterranien.

The 24 communes included in the appellation

Cahirs des Charges - Rules for the appellation

Allowed grape varieties

Red and rosé
Primary varieties Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah
Other varieties: Carignan, Cinsault, Marselan.

White
Primary varieties Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne
Other varieties: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Macabeu, Vermentineo, Viognier.

Shares of varieties in the single procuers vineyards - Éncepagement

Red and rosé
Together the primary varieties must count for at least 60%.
Together Syrah and Mourvedre must be at least 20%.
Marcelan may not count for more than 10%.

Rosé
Up 20% white varieties are allowed

White
At least two of the primary varieties must be present, but a single variety may not ecxeed 80%
Together the three primary varieties must be at least 50%.
Viognier may not count for more than 20%.

Blends in the single wine - Assemblage

Red and Rosé
At least two primary varieties must be included and at least 50% of the wine must be from primary varieties.
Marcelan may not exceed 10% of the blend.

White
At least two primary varieties must be included and at least 60% of the wine must be from primary varieties.
Viognier may not exceed 20% of the blend.

Area and production 2016-2020

	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Hectar	4091	4181	3948	3680	2844
Hectolitre	221215	199851	211752	177594	153380
Source: Inter-Rhone

When you read about the producers you will often meet the geographical term Petite Camargue. As you can see at the map below two inportant villages in the appellation, Vauvert and Saint Gilles are near by or a part of Petite Camargue.