Discover the Gard by taking its various wineroads
The Gard is rich in a diversity of grounds where the wines flourish successfully. It is in this way that men have given birth in this department alone to six Protected Designations of Origin and three Protected Geographical Indications for wine, full of sunshine, flavour and generosity.
The origin of the success of the winegrowing in the Gard is largely linked to the characteristics of its soils: red and ochre soils enriched by alluvial deposits from the Rhône, rolled pebbles from the Costière, calcareous garrigues, carbonated plains, dune sand on the coastal strip: so many terroirs that make up the richness and diversity of our vineyards.
The Mediterranean climate ensures the unity of the different grape varieties planted in the Gard, a climate made of constraints and violence. It is indeed the hottest region in France, with temperatures that can exceed 30 degrees in summer. The rains are rare, irregular and badly distributed. The winds come to reinforce the dryness of the ground when it is an earth wind. On the other hand, the sea breeze brings beneficial humidity to the vines, and therefore moderates the effects of the heat.
Wine-growing here is a tradition rooted in Mediterranean culture, with the passion of its wine-growers who produce wines whose quality is widely recognised.
In the Gard, favoured by strong sunshine and a highly developed diversity of soils and terroirs, the whole of wine-growing has undergone a real revolution over the last twenty years.
Moving from a period of high production corresponding to mass consumption, all the winegrowers and their marketing structures (cooperative cellars and private estates) have enabled a huge leap forward: choice of grape varieties, a strong policy of qualitative grubbing up, reduction of production yields and research into new methods of vinification among others. Thus, the production of Vins de Pays has turned towards fruity wines, sometimes reinforced by the typicality of certain grape varieties (chardonnay, viognier, merlot).
This evolution has made it possible to reply at the demand, while at the same time allowing the possibility of exporting the wines, which has been growing steadily for the last ten years or so. To discover them, nothing beats a short stop at the village cooperative cellar, or the private estate indicated on the roadside. Vineyards & the wine road.
- Domaine de Saint Nabor
Address: 2686 Route de Barjac – 30630 Cornillon
Telephone: 0033 4 66 82 24 26 - Domaine de Trescombier
Address: 30630 Cornillon
Telephone: 0033 4 66 82 31 43 - Domaine de Bel Air
Address: 5077A Chemin des Combes – 30200 La Roque-sur-Cèze
Telephone: 0033 4 66 82 71 60
- Domaine de Challias
Address: 30630 Cornillon
Telephone: 0033 4 66 82 22 79 - Cave de Saint Gely
Address: 30630 Cornillon
Telephone: 0033 4 66 82 21 03 - Domaine de Gressac
Address: 958 Chemin de Gressac – Lieu-dit Clapeyret – 30630 Verfeuil
Telephone: 0033 4 66 72 90 36
- Château de Manisy
Address: Route de Roquemaure – 30126 Tavel
Telephone: 0033 4 66 82 86 94