The Winegrowers of Saint Dézéry

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United around their director Nuria Morales, the Vignerons de Saint Dézéry have found a generous coordination which allows them to enhance the viticultural potential of this terroir located near Uzès in the Gard to its optimal authenticity.

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Between vineyards and scrubland

The village of Saint Dézéry introduces itself as: “ a charming village nestled between vineyards and scrubland .” How could one set the scene more simply? In the Gard region, near Uzès, the village has fewer than five hundred inhabitants but is distinguished by its community of winegrowers and winemakers, mostly young and united around a cooperative: the Vignerons de Saint Dézéry (Winegrowers of Saint Dézéry ). At the head of this group is Nuria Morales, who coordinates the vineyard's stakeholders with passion and enthusiasm. Initially trained as an oenologist, her passionate approach to viticulture and winemaking has earned her the trust of the locals, who work alongside her to create wines of beautiful structure. For it takes both cohesion and conciseness to master these sun-drenched terroirs, which constantly oscillate between Mediterranean influences and the temperate climate of the Cévennes mountains.

From terroir to phenolic maturities

In Saint-Dézéry, we find ourselves in some of the easternmost terroirs of Occitanie. Garrigue scrubland and olive groves grow alongside the vineyards. Here, Mediterranean flora tends to influence the aromatic profile of the wines. They contribute to accentuating the typicity of the wines, the importance of which the winemakers of Saint-Dézéry have understood by striving for the expressive authenticity of each vintage. It is here that Nuria Morales sets her standards, prioritizing phenolic ripeness, a key guarantee of the full expression of the grape varieties and the terroir. At harvest time, a veritable orchestration takes place, engaging each winemaker in a process of patience and then action, all geared towards obtaining the best possible juice. The winemakers of Saint Dézéry work together like a team of vine technicians, perfectly coordinated around the requirements of a cooperative committed to raising their wines to the level of local potential.

From single varietal to blending

In the Saint Dézéry terroir , the varied topography and geological features give a predominant role to the plot-by-plot approach. A certain freedom in vinification and aging is also essential: this finds its full expression in the IGP Pays d'Oc, which offers the greatest scope for creativity in Occitanie, as well as the opportunity to showcase single-varietal wines. As with any cooperative, the range of wines under the unifying Saint D brand offers a wide selection. The most assertive and representative identity can be expressed in a synthesis. First and foremost is the Clos du Faon cuvée , a single-plot cuvée made from 100% Merlot, resulting in a red wine emblematic of local expertise. Also on the red wine front, L'Héritage asserts its position as the flagship wine, firmly established by a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Marselan. On the white wine side, a 100% Viognier stands out, crafted to surprise the palate with its lovely, fresh apricot notes. More complex, the Dézirée cuvée showcases a blend of Viognier, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc, brought to their fullest potential through subtle oak aging. Among the rosé wines, the Jade cuvée is a standout , sourced from the same vineyard where the complex interplay of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, and Chenançon grapes is harmoniously expressed.