AOC Duché d'Uzès

Climate: Mediterrannean

Soils: Limestone / Rocky

Altitude: 250 metres

Website appellation : https://www.vinsducheduzes.com/

Production surface area in 2023:  338 HA

Total production in 2023: 10 473 HL

Average annual yeld: 31 HL/HA

Export:  7%

Recognition in AOC by the I.N.A.O.: 2013

Communes : The area of Duché d’Uzès lies between Nîmes and Alès

• Grenache blanc, 
• Grenache noir, 
• Syrah, 
• Viognier

• Marsanne, 
• Roussanne, 
• Rolle (Vermentino)

• Carignan, 
• Cinsault, 
• Clairette, 
• Mourvèdre, 
• Ugni blanc

Specifications for the appellation

The history of Duché d’Uzès wines goes back 2,000 years. Vines have grown in this area since the 6th century BC, but winegrowing began to escalate in the Middle Ages, driven by religious communities. In Louis XIV’s time, so-called “royal vines” were grown in the Pays d’Uzège, in the village of Arpaillargues-et-Aureilhac, and the king had the wines shipped back to his court in Paris.
One of the greatest champions of Duché d’Uzès was writer Jean Racine. While staying in Uzès in 1661, he wrote to a friend in Paris describing the wines as “the best in the kingdom,” famously stating that “we have nights more beautiful than your days.”
At one time, the Promenade des Maronniers and the parklands were the property of the Diocese, and were planted with vines. The Bishop was very proud of his vines, and around 1400, he looked for a way he could share his pride and joy with his people. He made it known that on the first of January, he would give a carafe of his finest white wine to every couple who had made it through the first year of marriage without arguing.
Unfortunately, there are no records to show how many carafes of wine were given away! In 1989 Duché d’Uzès began the process of earning AOC
recognition. It was a long road, but the rewards came in July 2013, when it was officially granted AOC status.

The climate here is Mediterranean, tempered somewhat by the distance from the coast and the hills curbing the maritime influence. Daytime and night-time temperatures vary widely, giving the wines vivacity and freshness – particularly the whites.

The geology of the area shows a variety of formations, including sandstone, marl, cobbles, scree, alluvium and hard limestone. These repeat across the landscape, giving the diversity of soils that makes Duché d’Uzès unique.

Duché d’Uzès lies between Nîmes and Alès; the town of Uzès is in the east of this area. It is bordered to the west by the foothills of the Cévennes, to the north by the Lussan limestone massif with Mont Bouquet (630m) as its highest peak, and to the east and south by the vast limestone plateaus and woodlands separating Nîmes, Sommières, and the Rhône Valley.

Red wines are a blend of Syrah (minimum 40%) and Grenache noir (minimum 20%), sometimes supplemented with Carignan, Mourvèdre and/or Cinsault. They have a deep colour, are aromatic, spicy and fruity, often with a touch of liquorice, pepper and scented herbs evoking the surrounding garrige.
The rosés, produced from Grenache noir (minimum 50%), Syrah (minimum 20%) and sometimes Cinsault, are fabulously easy-drinking wines. Rose-petal pink in colour, with notes of white flowers and red berries, they are well-balanced, mouth-wateringly fresh and lively.
White wines are made from Viognier (minimum 40%), Grenache blanc (minimum 30%), complemented with Marsanne, Roussanne and/or Rolle (minimum 20% of the blend, either together or separately). These golden, intensely rich wines show flavours of almonds, dried fruits and flowers, combined with the ripe apricot, peach and tropical fruit aromas of Viognier.