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The vineyard : extends over more than 10,000 hectares on the right bank of the Rhone River and the hills bordering the delta, where Languedoc and Provence meet.
The soils : hills and plateaux situated between 20 and 130 metres above sea level are made up of siliceous rounded pebbles (les Gress). The thickness of this alluvial soil varies between 3 and 15 metres, which allows the vines’ roots to go as deep as 4 or 5 metres to find the water vital for proper ripening of the grapes.
The climate : Mediterranean climate with its sea-side influence gives an exceptional bonus in the production of these authentic wines. The 3 essential characteristics being the wind: the Mistral helps to keep the vines healthy; the rainfall: a limited number of intense rainy days and an exceptional number of sunny days.
Background : already appreciated by the Greeks, then by the Romans, the Costières de Nimes wines are intimately entwined with numerous historical vestiges such as: the Arena in Nimes, the Square House, the Abbey in St.Gilles, classified as a world wonder, which was a favourite destination for pilgrimages during the Middle Ages, whose wines were delivered to the Popes of Avignon.
Vinification
Surface of production :* 3,951 hectares with an average annual production of 211,621 hectolitres with a yield of 54 hectolitres per hectare.
*Sources: the Official Harvest Report 2010
Grape Varieties : for the red and rosé wines: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Cinsault. For the white wines: White Grenache, Marsanne, Roussane as well as Clairette, Bourboulenc, Maccabeo and Rolle.
Minimum alcoholic : 11 ° for the 3 colours.
For more information :www.costieres-nimes.com
