Visiting the beautiful city of Nîmes? Come and meet the region’s winemakers and taste some exceptional wines!
Are you a wine lover visiting the Gard department in the Occitanie region of France? If so, don’t stop at Nîmes, nicknamed the « French Rome »! Although Nîmes boasts a rich historical, cultural and architectural heritage, the city and its surroundings have plenty of other surprises in store for you. Situated between the lower Rhone valley and the Languedoc plain, the Nîmes district enjoys a Mediterranean climate that is ideal for vine-growing, offering a wide choice of places to taste fine local wines.
From Costières-de-Nîmes to AOC Languedoc, Côtes-du-Rhône and Vins de Pays, you’ll find all the diversity of Gard terroirs and the quality of wines made with passion and tradition. Discover a region brimming with treasures, and treat yourself to one of the many wine tastings to sample the different grape varieties planted in the region!
Whether you’re a regular wine-tourist or simply want to learn or improve your skills, you’ve come to the right region. Follow us to find the best place for wine tasting around Nîmes!
Nîmes
Photo Credit: Instagram – anne.clouvel
Château de la Tuilerie, a pioneer in sustainable agriculture and considered a benchmark in the Costières de Nîmes appellation, is located just a few kilometers south of downtown Nîmes. In other words, this 59-hectare vineyard is ideal for a wine tasting while in town! Perched on one of the hills surrounding Nîmes, this family-run estate offers unique and profound red, white and local wines.
The Costières de Nîmes plateau
Photo Credit: Instagram – domaine_cabanis
On this same plateau of the Costières natural region, south of Nîmes in the Rhône Valley, there are numerous vineyards. Costières-de-Nîmes wines, which only became an appellation in 1989, are characterized by their freshness, modernity and elegance.
Fancy a wine tasting around Nîmes? Meet the winemakers at Château Mourgues du Grès in Beaucaire, Domaine Cabanis (organic farming) in Vauvert, Domaine Kreydenweiss or Les Grimaudes in Manduel, or the Vignerons Créateurs de Saint Gilles tasting cellar.
Bellegarde
Photo credit: Facebook – Ville de Bellegarde
A neighbor of Costières-de-Nîmes, the 8-hectare Clairette de Bellegarde vineyard is less than 20 kilometers from the center of Nîmes. The vineyards’ stony soils on a bed of clay give this white wine its distinctive flavor. A Clairette de Bellegarde wine tasting session will appeal to all lovers of young wines, looking for a confidential production!
Sommières
Photo Credit: Facebook – Costes-Cirgues
Between olive trees, forest and garrigue lies the Sommières vineyard, the only AOC Languedoc zone in the Gard department.
Domaine Costes-Cirgues, whose vines are organically farmed and treated according to biodynamic principles, will welcome you for a high-quality wine tasting. In 2019, their Château 2015 won the silver medal at the Challenge Millésime Bio. Whether white, rosé or red, the wines here are vinified and bottled without added sulfites!
South of the Pays Cévennes
Photo Credit: Facebook – Domaine DES LUCES
Where to go for a wine tasting around Nîmes? In the south of the Pays Cévennes, northwest of the city, where the climate is favorable to grape quality. Visit Mazet l’Irréelle de Brignon, where wines from the Pays d’Oc and Pays des Cévennes are produced using traditional techniques and bottled on the estate.
Unless you prefer Vignoble Céven Cep, Domaine des Luces or Domaine des Vignes Rouges, which are located in Saint Césaire de Gauzignan, a village surrounded by vineyards.
The Côtes du Rhône wine route
Photo Credit: Facebook – AOC Lirac
This tourist route runs right through the heart of the southern Gard vineyards, from Remoulins, 25 kilometers from Nîmes, to Roquemaure, 20 kilometers from Avignon. Along the way, you’ll come across several crus, such as Lirac and Tavel, France’s leading rosé, as well as superb natural and heritage sites. Wine tasting is also available in the villages of Estézargues (Cave des vignerons…) and Théziers (Domaine des Merles…).
Sernhac
Photo Credit: Facebook – Domaine de Poulvarel
A 30-minute drive away, in Sernhac north of Nîmes, Domaine de Poulvarel welcomes you to its family vineyard for a tasting of rosé, white and red Costières de Nîmes appellation and Vins de Pays wines. Take the opportunity to visit their unique contemporary cellar, built with Pont du Gard stone and modern, insulating cladding, to ensure optimum temperature for maturing and preserving the wine.
The Vaunage Valley
Photo Credit: Facebook – Domaine de l’Anglade
Situated between the towns of Sommières and Nîmes, the Vaunage region is home to the villages of Calvisson (Domaine de L’Escattes, Les Vignerons de Calvisson…), Langlade (Domaine du Château Langlade, Elisabeth Van Der Bent…) and Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols (Domaine de Foltodon, Domaine Mouressipe…), home to a number of passionate winemakers who respect their terroir. All three colors are produced in this vineyard of limestone hills and cliffs, which enjoys exceptional sunshine and sea breezes.
Offering a wide range of Vins de Pays (d’Oc, du Gard…), all palates will be satisfied. So think again if you’re looking for a wine tasting venue in the Nîmes area!