Château de Nages: First Sparkling Wine in Costières

Château de Nages has been in the Gassier family for four generations. Each generation has added its own personal touch, helping the estate grow into one of the leading producers in the Costières de Nîmes appellation.

Château de Nages is committed to quality within the Costières de Nîmes appellation

Brice Chevalier has been working at Château de Nages for two years as the sales manager for France. “When I arrived, the estate was focused on exports. Michel and Tina wanted to bring the wines back to France, which is now our priority market,” he explains. This sales strategy is part of a broader plan implemented by Michel. When he took over the château from his father in 1992, he decided to change course. “The goal was to rise to the top tier of the Costières de Nîmes to become a leader in the appellation,” says Brice Chevalier.

The estate then began developing projects focused on quality. The wine, which had previously been sold in bulk, was bottled on the property. The labels were redesigned to be more original and modern. “Michel quickly realized that making good wine required better care of the soil and vines, as well as the elimination of chemicals. Unofficially, he began practicing organic farming very early on. Then, in 2008, he finally applied for certification. For Michel, the organic farming label reflects his respect for the land and the environment, as well as his commitment to making better wines that express the terroir—unadulterated and with complete transparency,” says Brice.

Château de Nages is now offering sulfite-free wines

Michel and Tina also decided to expand their wine lineup. “When they decided to re-enter the French market, they had to adapt their offerings,” Brice points out. The Liberty line was born out of a desire to offer a wine with fruity aromas, moderate levels of sulfites and alcohol, and produced using organic farming methods. “Our natural wine in the range came about somewhat by chance,” recalls Brice. “We had a vintage that had performed very well, and we wanted to try making it without sulfites. This is only the first year we’ve produced this bottle, but it’s been a success, and I think we’ll continue.” Still driven by this passion and enthusiasm, Michel and Tina continue to learn, experiment, and innovate. This year, they’re releasing Château de Nages’ first sparkling wine. “It’s Michel’s vision to have an organic, winemaker-crafted sparkling wine,” smiles Brice.

The terroir must be reflected in the wines of Château de Nages

For several days now, the winemakers have been harvesting the 2019 grapes and have begun fermentation for a vintage that looks very promising. “We’re on the same terroirs as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with rounded pebbles and plenty of red clay. Michel has worked hard to bring minerality to the wines, thanks to the limestone in our soils. At the same time, we’re lucky to benefit from a sea breeze that brings a touch of freshness to our very sun-drenched wines,” explains Brice Chevalier, who concludes: “Michel has a motto that I love and that makes the château what it is today: we don’t inherit the land; we borrow it from our children. And his children are lucky—they’ll be taking over a vineyard in very healthy and impeccable condition.”