Costières de Nîmes is a large, low-lying plateau, situated between the city of Nîmes and the west bank of the Rhône. Just to the south lies the Carmargue and the Mediterranean, and the climate is therefore extremely pleasant (except for when it is just too hot, or when the cold, dry Mistral decides to blow)! The large stones or "galets roulés", which are a feature of the soil in this region, were washed down the Rhône valley from the Alps in prehistoric times, and the terroir is therefore very similar to Chateauneuf du Pape (a little further up the valley).
These stones reflect the heat of the sun during the day yet retain the warmth during the night, providing excellent ripening conditions. Being wedged between the vineyards of the Rhône to the north and east, and the Coteaux du Languedoc to the west, the wines of Costières de Nîmes are not only geographically but also stylistically somewhere between the two. Syrah and Grenache are the mainstays, with Mourvedre also becoming more popular. The wines of Costières de Nîmes are very underrated, and certainly deserve to be better known.
