Vineyards: these are located entirely within the commune Gigondas in the French Department of Vaucluse.
Soil types: stony red clay alluvium on the slopes and wide terraces.
Climate: dry, hot Southern climate with 2,800 hours of sunshine per year. The prevailing wind is the Mistral.
Background: from the 12th Century, it was the religious Houses that occupied themselves with expanding vine cultivation. Later, and right up to the 18th Century, Gigondas came within the Principality of Orange was owned by the Rhénane de Nassau family up until it was annexed by Louis XIV.
The Local Gigondas Appellation was awarded by decree in 1971.
Area under cultivation*: 1196 hectares, average yearly production: 35484 hl, Basic yield: 30 hl/hectare.
* Source: harvest statement 2005.
Grape variety mix: for the red: maximum of 80%Grenache black and a minimum of 15% Syrah and Mourvèdre. In addition, with the exception of Carignan, a maximum proportion of 10% of all the other grape varieties within the Appellation are permitted; the grapes are sorted when harvested. For the rosé: maximum of 80%Grenache black. All the other grape varieties within the Appellation are permitted up to a maximum proportion of 25%
Pruning: Syrah, Guyot pruning. For the other grape varieties, goblet or fan pruning on a stem with a maximum of 2 productive eyes per spur, with a total of 15 productive eyes per vine, plus a "bourillon" or first fertile bud.
Wine making: long maceration, and traditional maturing in old oak casks or tuns, natural alcohol content by volume, 12.5%.
