OENORANDO "LES COTEAUX DE SAINT-CHRISTOL"

This family outing allows you to discover the terroir of Saint-Christol through its hillside vineyards. This territory is a space between plains, garrigues and hillsides where the vines find the best conditions to fully develop. Saint-Christol is a wine-growing village where economic activity is intimately linked to this agriculture. The architecture of the houses of the village attests it. For six centuries until the Revolution of 1789, the village was governed by the humanitarian monastic order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who later became Knights of Malta. The latter created a place to welcome pilgrims on their way to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, Santiago de Compostela or Rome. All the professions linked to the vine were present in the commune: brokers, wine brokers and wine merchants, but also coopers, saddlers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, distillers..

You walk through the vineyard on the hillside, passing in front of the insignia of the Order of Malta, the cross pattée. On the heights you can admire the landscapes with a 360° view towards the Lozère and Aigoual mountains, the Pic Saint-Loup, sometimes the Mont Ventoux, as well as towards the Etang de l'Or and the Mediterranean, with the tower of Constance and the pyramids of the Grande Motte in your sights. During your hike, discover a unique oenotourism centre, Viavino, a pilot site in terms of sustainable architecture, dedicated to the local wines of Saint-Christol and the Muscat de Lunel. Visit its local area, take part in its taste workshops, enjoy its green theatre, its educational vineyards and its aromatic garden. Stop off at the restaurant and awaken your taste buds during an impromptu tasting in the wine shop.

To be seen: Viavino is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm (until 7pm in July and August). Groups on request on 04 67 83 45 65 or [email protected]. For more information: www.viavino.fr

To be tasted:

Château des Hospitaliers, 923 avenue Boutonnet, 04 67 86 03 50, www.chateaudeshospitaliers.fr

Domaine Bort, 154 avenue des Platanes, 04 67 86 06 03, www.domainebort.fr

Domaine Cante Vigne, 227 chemin des Cigales, 04 67 86 86 37, [email protected]

Domaine de la Coste-Moynier, Chemin du Mas de la Coste, 04 67 86 02 10, www.domainecoste-moynier.fr

Domaine Guinand, 36 rue de l'Épargne, 04 67 86 85 55, www.domaineguinand.com

Domaine Haut Courchamp, 359 avenue de la Cave Coopérative, 06 27 43 19 20, www.haut-courchamp.com

Les Coteaux de Saint-Christol, 51 B avenue de la Cave Coopérative, 04 67 86 01 11, www.cave-saint-christol.com

Namely:

Glass in Vine, wine tasting walk, every year, last weekend of May

Oenotrail, walking race, every year, first Sunday in December

Restaurant Le Via Vino, 80 chemin de Vérargues, 04 67 92 59 96

Café de l'Univers (bar-brasserie), 5 place des Chevaliers de Malte, 06 70 99 80 44

Grocery store Au Petit Marché, 1 avenue de la Bouvine