Les Vignes de l'Arque - Duché Uzès (organic)

Les Vignes de l'Arque is situated in the relatively undiscovered Gard region, close to the historical town of Uzès and the amazing Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard. The estate is named after the 9th century chateau, l'Arque de Baron, the ruins of which can still be seen atop the nearby hill (and is represented on all the wine labels). The foothills of the Çevennes are a few miles to the west, and the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône lie to the east.Depending on which wine information resource or map one refers to, Duché d'Uzès falls within either (or both) Languedoc-Roussillon or Rhône. Historically and geographically, it is Languedoc-Roussillon, but for administrative purposes (due to the close proximity of the ruling body) it is now designated as Rhône. Indeed, the wines - especially the reds - are perhaps more Rhône in style than Languedoc, although they possess a freshness more typical of the latter. Until recently, the region had no AOP, so all of the wines were designated as IGP (formerly Vins de Pays). Thankfully, that has now changed, with the richly-deserved introduction in 2013 of the Duché d'Uzès AOP.