Clairette de Bellegarde is a small Dry white wine appellation located in the southernmost Part of the Rhone Valley in France. The wines are produced from the Clairette grape only in the parish of Bellegarde. It is located halfway between the cities of Arles and Nîmes and only 30 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. The appellation has only about 40 hectares of vines.
However, Bellegarde also produces wines sold under the Costières de Nîmes appellation. Created in June 1949, the Clairette de Bellegarde appellation was intended to distinguish the more usual style of southern French wines from the unique style of Bellegarde's Clairette production. Clairette de Bellegarde wines are intended for early drinking - although the French name Bellegarde suggests "belle garde". They are produced exclusively from the Clairette grape and can be compared to similar wines from the Coteaux de Die appellation of the Eastern Rhône.
