Château de Valcombe

The story of Château de Valcombe begins in 1740 when the Ricome de Surville family acquired what was then just bare land and a hunting lodge near Générac, in the southern reaches of the Rhône Valley. Over generations, the property transformed into a working agricultural estate. The château itself was completed in 1860. The estate sits at the highest point of the Costières de Nîmes appellation, over 100 meters above sea level, yet remains remarkably close to the Mediterranean Sea. This unique position shapes everything about the wines here.

The terroir is defined by deep layers of rolled pebbles, typical galets from the Rhône Valley, stretching 4 to 15 meters down into limestone-rich soils. These poor, slightly acidic soils force the vines to dig deep. The vineyards face south, overlooking the Camargue wetlands, and benefit from regular marine winds that sweep across the property during the entire ripening period. This combination of altitude, Mediterranean proximity, and limestone concentration gives the wines their distinctive freshness and minerality. The estate now spans 88 hectares of vines, with parcels planted to Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, and Cinsault for reds, plus Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and Vermentino for whites.

After World War II, Charles Ricome inherited the estate and made history by becoming the first vigneron in the region to plant Syrah vines in 1955. His vision was clear: prioritize quality over quantity. His son Dominique continued this path from 1975 onward, expanding the vineyard and helping to establish what is now the AOP Costières de Nîmes. Today, the 10th generation leads the estate, brothers Basile and Nicolas Ricome, who joined in 2000 and 2005 respectively. In 2009, they converted the entire property to organic farming, earning certification in 2012. They didn't stop there. In 2018, the estate achieved High Environmental Value certification, and in 2021, they began the journey toward biodynamic viticulture, now working toward Demeter certification. They've planted nearly 9 hectares of trees for agroforestry and introduced sheep to naturally manage the vineyard floor.

The estate produces a diverse range of wines under the Costières de Nîmes appellation, with increasing focus on whites since plantings began in 2005. The entry-level Tradition range showcases classic red blends of Syrah and Grenache, fresh rosés, and elegant whites from Roussanne and Marsanne. The No Sex for Butterfly line, launched in 2012, was their first fully organic range and uses natural pheromones to manage pests without chemical intervention. The flagship Basile & Nicolas Ricome cuvées represent the pinnacle of the estate, with refined whites from Roussanne and Viognier and structured reds that show remarkable aging potential. Some parcels of Carignan and Grenache planted in 1936 still produce fruit today, contributing depth and concentration to the top wines.