What is “Garrigue” in wine?

“This wine has an essence of garrigue on the nose.”

Ever seen the word “garrigue” on tasting notes and wondered what it meant? Imagine that you are walking through the countryside in Provence on a warm day, crushing sun-scorched herbs underfoot, releases a fabulous aroma of warm, minty-herbal notes with pungent, floral fragrances.

When used to describe a wine, garrigue refers to these herby aromas. It’s akin to descriptors that winemakers like to use such as brambly or forest floor, but this type of herbaceous characteristic is specifically Provencal. On the Mediterranean coast and the Southern Rhone, low-growing vegetation grow plentifully, even despite near drought conditions, such as sage, juniper, thyme, rosemary and lavender. Sound familiar? That’s because all of these make up Herbs de Provence mixture that is irreplaceable in any kitchen.

So next time you spot garrigue on a wine label, close your eyes and breath deeply, taking in that unique aroma that will transport you straight to the heart of Provence.