| AOC / AOP Gigondas
1937: Cotes du
Rhone.
1953: Cotes du Rhone Village Gigondas
1971: Gigondas
Until 1971 only two CRU
appellations for red wines existed in the southern Rhone: Chateauneuf du Pape (1936)
and Lirac (1947), and it was not until 19 years later in 1971
that the next CRU Gigondas was declared.
The rules for AOC Gigondas
includes red and rosé wines. You can't make white wines with
that name.
The area of the appellation
includes only vineyards in Gigondas commune.
Gigondas is situated by the feet of Dentelles de Montmirail and
a part of the vineyards are situated at the slopes.
The level of altitude in the commune varies from 87 to 698 metres.
The grapes
Primary grape: (cépage principal)
Grenache.
Secondary: (cépages complémentaires) Syrah and Mourvedre.
Other allowed grapes: (cépages accessoires) Bourboulenc, Cinsault, Clairette,
Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne, Muscardin, Piquepoul
Noir, Piquepoul Blanc, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Ugni Blanc, Vaccarese and Viognier.
Red wines
Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre must together
counts for at least 90% of the vines at a property.
Grenache must counts for 50%.
Syrah and Mourvedre must together must counts for 15%.
Rosé wines
Grenache may not exceed 80% of the vines.
Other allowed grapes (cépages complémentaires and cépages accessoires)
must not exceed 25%.
The white varieties may be used for
red wines, but is
normally used only in rosé wines
If a producer
wants to declassify a part of his production, maybe because of
young vines or if the vintages is pour it might be named Cotes du Rhone
or Vin de Pays. It's not allowed to call the wines from Gigondas
Cotes du Rhone Village.
The yield must
not exceed 36 hl./ha. and the level of alcohol must be at least 12.5%.
Producers and production
80% of the production is vinified
at private producers.
20% of the production is vinified at a co-operative.
35% of the production is sold to a negociant firm.
At least 200 private producers.
80 producers bottle the wines at the estate.
Red wine counts for 96% of the production and
4% is rosé
Area and production 2006-2010
| Vintage |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
| Hectares |
1233 |
1239 |
1236 |
1226 |
1232 |
| Hectoliter |
40345 |
41844 |
37160 |
32177 |
37007 |
| Hl./ha. |
32,7 |
33,8 |
30,1 |
26,2 |
30 |
| Source: Monaoc.com. |
Links:
Rules
for AOC / AOP Gigondas Pressbook
Gigondas The
website of the syndicat
Map of Lieux-dits Geological
map Physical map |
