Château Grande Cassagne

The Dardés have been farming the Costières de Nîmes for five generations – since 1887. Benoît continues the family tradition today after attending viticultural school, graduating in 1991. At the time, the domaine consisted of 12 hectares planted to grapes intended for table wines. He began a wide scale replanting primarily to the classic noble varietals – of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. Over the years, they have added to the vineyard holdings and now farm 84 hectares. Benoît’s son, Paul, joined the domaine recently and the entire family works together in both the vineyards and the cellars.

Costières de Nîmes AOC designates wines that are produced in an area between the ancient city of Nîmes and the western Rhône delta, in the French department of the Gard. The region was formerly part of the Languedoc and earned a reassignment as it wines more closely resemble the character of Rhône valley wines. Wines have been produced here for more than two millennia and were consumed by the Greeks in pre-Roman times, making it one of the oldest vineyards in Europe. Chateau Grande Cassagne wines represent extraordinary values from a very well farmed domaine. The wines have a long history of success in the US market.

Farming and Land: 84 hectares of south facing vineyards. Soil is limestone and clay. Sustainably farmed.