Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The planting of vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape dates back to Roman times. In those days, the area was called Châteauneuf. The Pope suffix was added after the Pope moved to Avignon following his conflict with the King of France in 1309. 8 Popes subsequently stayed in this commune and planted vines. The region wasn't officially named " Châteauneuf-du-Pape " until 1893, while the institution of this 1st French wine AOC dates back to 1937. Here's a look at the terroir of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation and the best producers in the area

History and terroir of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation

This wine-growing region in the Rhône Valley, in the Vaucluse département, covers some 3200 ha. The town of Orange and its Roman ruins mark the northern boundary. To the south, it is defined by the town of Sorgues, to the east by the A7 main road and to the west by the Rhône River. In 2014, there were 320 active estate owners in this appellation. around 250 of them bottle and sell their own wines. The rest sell their harvest to négociants or cooperatives. 93% of vineyards produce red wines. Most estates are small, with a few exceptions such as Mont Redon, which has 100 ha of vineyards. The number of winegrowers with 30-hectare vineyards is just 24. The appellation, created in 1937, is divided into 5 communes: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is the largest, Orange, Courthezon, Sorgues and Bédarrides. Each of these 5 communes is divided into 134 different lieux-dits.
The terroirs of AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape are made up of galets roulets, limestone, red sandstone, red clay, sand and saffron. Variations in soil drainage capacity, mineral composition and differing winemaking principles produce different accents in the wines. 13 grape varieties make up this appellation, including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Terret Noir

Our selection of the best wine producers in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation