Les Vignes Toquées

A travelling tasting experience

A must-do meeting for wine and gastronomy lovers, “Les Vignes Toquées” is a great opportunity to discover the treasures of the Nîmes terroir. The event is hosted by the Costières de Nîmes appellation and brings together over 3,000 participants every year. The concept? A 7-kilometre walk in the vines to discover the wines of over 35 wine estates fronted by AOC Costières de Nîmes winegrowers, together with local produce. The walk is dotted with 6 gourmet stop-offs showcasing fine food paired with wines from the estates explored. Every year, a top chef such as Christophe Ducros or Sébastien Bras takes up the gauntlet of this formidable culinary challenge. The menu for this year’s 2024 edition was curated by Michelin 2-star chef Franck Putelas and features a blend of land and sea. In short, “Les Vignes Toquées” is a foodie’s dream come true, plus a great chance to meet with local growers in a relaxed atmosphere tinted with the first notes of summer. If you’re more of a night owl, you won’t want to miss “Le Minuit Toqué” also courtesy of the Costières de Nîmes appellation: a starlit walk amid the vines steeped in a cosy musical ambience. Similarly to “Les Vignes Toquées”, this nocturnal adventure is based around a fine wining & dining itinerary, with dishes crafted by chef Michel Kayser and Vincent Croisard at each stop-off. It is also a wonderful opportunity to sample iconic wines from the Nîmes terroir, as well as exquisite older vintages.

Costières de Nîmes, a Rhône Valley terroir with a sunny southern character

Although vines have been part of the Nîmes terroir since Roman times, the wines produced there remained relatively little-known until the 1950s. Originally referred to as “Costière du Gard”, the terroir – extending from the north-east of Nîmes to the north-west of Petite Camargue – was awarded the AOC label and renamed “Costières de Nîmes” in 1989. Today, more than 250 winegrowers, men and women alike, have carved the renown of this appellation anchored in the iconic Vallée du Rhône wine family. The Costières de Nîmes terroir displays a typical Rhône Valley environment, with large pebbles that keep the chalk and clay soil warm, coupled with cool sea air. The very-unique Mediterranean personality of the “Costières de Nîmes” wines stems from the encounter between this sea breeze and the hot soil, which airs the vines and preserves their fruit. Produced in red, white and rosé, the “Costières de Nîmes” wines are characterized by their delicate, fruity notes. They pair equally well with both simple fare and refined gastronomic dishes.

Epicurean experiences in the vines of Provence

Located to the west of the Costières de Nîmes terroir, Provence hosts a plethora of regional wine fairs where you can get up-close-and personal with local growers. In May 2024, “La Fête de la Vigne et du Vin” is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Vaucluse, where this wine fair was born in 1994: a wonderful chance to discover the wines of the Vaucluse terroir and meet with producers, experts and fellow wine buffs at the “Village Vigneron” wine village in Avignon. Also in Vaucluse, the AOP Vaison-la-Romaine winegrowers offer a warm welcome  to the “Vaison V(B)oît Rouge” festival taking place in summer, where you can discover and sample the appellation’s excellent elixirs. Music lovers won’t want to miss the “Musicales dans les Vignes de Provence” – a delightful festival offering a unique blend of wine and music, with jazz, classical and world music alike lighting up the vineyards of Vaucluse, the Var area and Bouches-du-Rhône. On a similar note, if jazz is your thing, Château de Brégançon hosts “Apérosé Jazz” jazz aperitifs, where you can sample the chateau’s delicious organic rosé wines and make the most of exceptional discounts. Romantics will adore the “Sunsets Vignerons” sunset walks in the vines in the heart of the Luberon. On the programme: chats with local winegrowers, vineyard and cellar tours, wine tasting and delicious fare courtesy of local delicatessens. Last but not least, bookworms will love the “Polar Pinard” festival in Bédoin, where you can enjoy getting to know passionate local winegrowers and inspired authors alike, each with a fascinating story to tell.

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Une publication partagée par PAYS D’APT LUBERON TOURISME (@paysaptluberon)