Southern Rhone
Gigondas (吉恭达斯)

Click here: Map of Gigondas.

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Gigondas has been renowned for the quality of its wines since Roman times although it was not really until Gigondas was classified as a Côtes du Rhône Villages in 1966 that it really began to realise its potential. It achieved AC status in 1971 and today produces some of the finest, most underrated and underpriced wines in the Rhône valley; although for the last two of these, probably not for long.

Gigondas’s 1200ha of rugged vineyards are located east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape below the famous rocks, Dentelles de Montmirail. It surrounds the village of the same name, which is located northeast of Chateaunuf du Pape in France’s southern Rhone region. The wines are mainly red, with a small amount of Rose.

The main grape variety is Grenache, which is blended with Cinsaut, Mourvedre, and Syrah. Gigondas wines are generally big and robust and require several years of bottle aging to soften before approaching.

Grape(s):

Soils:
This area sees red, alluvial sandy and gravely soils on slopes and big terraces.

From left to right: Rock, Sand, and Terraces.

Weather Conditions:
Mediterranean climate dominated by the mistral, a strong, cold wind from the north, which can last for several days. Very dry wine region, the driest of the Rhone area. The vineyards are filled with big round stones. During the days these stones absorb the heat to be radiated to the vines during the colder nights.

From left to right: Dry Summers, and Mediterranean.

Best Producers:
Chateau Raspail
Domaine La Bouissiere
Domaine Du Cayron
Pierre Amadieu
Domaine Du Grapillon D’Or
Gabriel Meffre
Chateau De Saint Cosme

Further Reading:
Terroir France
Wine Bow
Wine.com
Wikipedia