From the Sun to Nuns to Popes to You!

Château Mourgues Du Grès is located in Beaucaire, in the southernmost part of France, in the storied wine region of Costières de Nîmes, right up next to the Mediterranean.

In the ancient southern French dialect of Provençal, “Mourgues du Grès” means “nuns of the stones.” You see, in the 1300s, when the popes resided in Avignon, Nîmes produced their wines — specifically the Ursulines nuns of Beaucaire. Nuns of the time were often identified by where they resided (nuns of the river, of the hills, etc.). These particular wine nuns got their name because, in their area, there are so many galets – perfectly round stones formed by glacier runoff and fluvial action. These nuns, though, are now winemakers of the distant past, and today, for years now, their former estate has been owned by the Collard family.

After being away, François Collard returned to the estate in 1990, and in 1993 bottled his first wine. Co-run by Collard’s wife, Anne, under a sundial in the courtyard with the Latin motto “SINE SOLE NIHIL” (Without Sun, Nothing), Mourgues du Grès grows grapes following biodynamic practices. They only lightly filter their wines and use little sulfur.

Join us this Wednesday for this free walk-up tasting with Julie from Plant Wines and Olivier Maurice, Export Manager for Château Mourgues du Grès.

Wine, sun, and ancient stoned nuns — who could ask for anything more?