Costières de Nîmes is a wine region in southeastern France, located near the Rhône Valley. It produces mainly red and rosé wines with specific grape varieties.
How it is made
The region uses grape varieties such as Carignan Noir, Cinsault (max 40%), Grenache (at least 25%), Mourvèdre and Syrah (at least 20%). For rosé wines, up to 10% white grapes can be used. White wines are made from varieties like Grenache Blanc, Marsanne Blanche, Roussanne, Clairette Blanche, Bourboulenc, Macabeo and Vermentino.
History
Costières de Nîmes was officially recognized as an AOC in 1986. In 2004, it was officially acknowledged that the wines of this region are similar in type to those from the Rhône Valley. Previously, a sub-region called Clairette de Bellegarde was briefly designated as Costières du Gard in 1986, but reverted to its original designation in 1989.
Types and styles
Over 96% of wines produced in the region are red and rosé. Red wines account for 51% of total production, while rosé wines make up 45.5%. The remaining wines are white varieties.
How it is served
Costières de Nîmes wines are popular internationally. Major export markets include China, the United States, and the United Kingdom. These wines are typically served without specific food pairings mentioned in the source.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Костьер-де-Ним, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.