Saint-Gervais

At St-Gervais, where the vineyards were planted by the Romans, it is said that the church was built over a temple dedicated to Jupiter - and since Bacchus was born from Jupiter’s thigh - we realise the destiny of this village was a foregone conclusion. Roman remains have been found in this area – pottery, tombs, traces of buildings – but winegrowing in this part of the Gard did not really take off until after the crisis caused by phylloxera, the pest which ravaged vast swathes of European vineyards in the late 19th century. The St-Gervais vineyards were first replanted in the valley of the Cèze, then extended to cover large parts of the hillsides just thirty years ago. The winegrowers were inspired both to continue rebuilding their vineyards and to boost quality; in 1974 they were awarded Côtes du Rhône Villages with geographic name status. Today the planted area covers some 62 hectares. The wines are made from blends of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Planted in stony, gravel soils and with an east-west orientation, the vines produce mellow, easy-drinking red wines with notes of red berry fruits and spices. Rosés are full-bodied with good length of flavour, while the whites show attractive floral notes.