Ludovic Engelvin IGP du Gard "Celas" 2020

The Gard in southern France produces some wonderfully characterful wine once you move beyond the more famous Rhône names nearby. Ludovic Engelvin is one of the growers showing just how exciting that corner of France can become in the right hands.

Working around the village of Vic-le-Fesq, Engelvin farms organically with a low-intervention approach focused heavily on freshness and drinkability. Old vines, native yeasts and gentle extraction all play a role, but the wines avoid becoming overly “natural” in the faulty sense of the word.

Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan appear throughout the range, often blended into juicy, herb-scented reds with loads of southern French charm. There’s plenty of ripe fruit, but also freshness, spice and that wild scrubland character the south of France does so well. Garrigue herbs, black olives, cherries and soft earthy notes tend to drift around somewhere.

What makes Engelvin particularly enjoyable is the looseness of the wines. They feel relaxed without becoming careless. Bottles designed for actual drinking rather than endless analysis, though wine nerds tend to love them anyway.

The wider region helps enormously too. Warm Mediterranean climate, limestone soils and old bush vines create naturally expressive fruit, while cooler nighttime temperatures preserve acidity surprisingly well. Southern French wine at its best often feels joyful rather than polished. Ludovic Engelvin captures that atmosphere nicely.