Châteauneuf-du-Pape: the jewel of the southern Rhône Valley

What amateur has never heard of Châteauneuf-du-Pape? This appellation resonates in history and its papal origins are as much engraved in its name as on its prestigious bottle.

Why is it "the wine of the Popes"? What grape varieties are used? What to expect in tasting? What is the long history of the appellation? Presentation.

History of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Today the flagship of the wine-growing heritage of the southern Rhône Valley and of France, the history of the region's vineyards dates back to Antiquity, when vines were very probably already present.

Nevertheless, real recognition of local wines only began in the 14th century, when Avignon officially became the residence of the Popes. It was indeed in 1314 that Clement V left Rome and its geopolitical instability to settle in France. Avignon was chosen for its strategic location, the city being at the crossroads of major roads and having river access linking northern Europe to southern Europe.

Although Clement V was the first pope of Avignon, it was his successor, Jean XXII, who allowed the region's wines to shine at the famous table of the Palais des Papes as well as in major European courts. From this moment, the rise of Châteauneuf wines will continue through the centuries, passing through difficult periods such as that of the wars of religion in the 16th century and regaining their splendor during the 18th century.

The other major turning point took place at the beginning of the 20th century, when local winegrowers, wishing to protect their wines (sometimes mixed with those of other regions), decided in 1923 to put in place stricter regulations, unique of its kind for the time. With the help of Pierre Baron Le Roy, renowned winemaker of the appellation and jurist, they gave birth to the modern concept of the AOC. A few years later in 1936, the appellation decree would be officially published and Châteauneuf-du-Pape would become the very first wine AOC in France, alongside Monbazillac , Tavel, Arbois and Cassis.

Geography and terroir

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard is entirely planted on the left bank of the Rhône. It now covers around 3,200 hectares and is located in 5 communes: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bédarrides, Courthézon, Orange and Sorgues. Around 95% of the harvest is vinified in red and 5% in white.

The Mediterranean microclimate of the region is particularly hot and the annual sunshine very high: 3,400 hours (compared to 1,700 hours in Paris…). As for the vine, it is very generally pruned in a goblet to protect the bunches from the wind and sunburn.

Goblet pruned vines on rolled pebble soils

Talking about Châteauneuf-du-Pape also means talking about its famous, iconic terroir of rolled pebbles. These stones restore during the night all the heat they store during the day, thus favoring a high maturity of the grapes. However, Châteauneuf is not limited to this type of soil. The appellation indeed has a very varied geological millefeuille: red clay, limestone shards, sandstone and even sands are also very present. The latter would even represent 30% of the soils of the appellation! Beware of shortcuts. Finally, one of the essential characteristics of the AOC is the frequency of the Mistral. This cold, dry wind from the north dries out the vineyard, thus limiting the spread of fungal diseases due to humidity.

Châteauneuf is also known for its great variety of grape varieties: 13, or 18 if we count the color variations by type of grape (black picpoul/white picpoul, white clairette/pink clairette etc. .) While a few rare cuvées are made with all the available varieties (such as the wine of the iconic Château de Beaucastel), most of the production comes from 3 main grape varieties: grenache noir (60% of the vineyard), Mourvèdre and the Syrah. On the white side, Roussanne, Grenache blanc and Clairette represent the major part of the grape variety.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape: what types of wines?

It is impossible to reduce Châteauneuf-du-Pape to a unique style! If under the same sun, the wines will have as a common denominator concentrated berries which will produce generous and fleshy wines with intense aromas, we find within the AOC very opulent vintages as models of refinement. Many factors can indeed differentiate the wines produced: the philosophy of the winemaker, the soils, the composition of the blends or even the cultural practices multiply the field of possibilities.

If we were to generalize anyway, we would describe red wines as powerful, intense, full-bodied and presenting a wide aromatic palette ranging from ripe black fruits to warm spicy notes. The whites are generally low in acidity and have a nice roundness. Like the reds , they are able to evolve very positively in the bottle over several years or even decades.

Conclusion

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is therefore one of the most beautiful appellations in France and is capable of producing wines worthily representing the world elite.

If you absolutely have to try the reds, be curious and also dare the whites which could surprise you very positively! If you want excellent Châteauneuf in both red and white with top quality-price ratios, turn to the domain Pierre Usseglio which will delight you! Finally, for serious wine lovers, the Château de Beaucastel is a must try at least once in your life.

Cheers! 🍷

Anecdote: The first written traces of the village of Châteauneuf date back to 1094. At the time, the village was called "Castro novo" (New fortified village). In the 13th century, it would become Châteauneuf-Calcernier and it was only in 1893, at the request of the mayor at the time, Joseph Ducos, that the town took its current name, thus referring to the holiday resort. of the Popes. As for the bottle proudly bearing the coat of arms of the city, it was created in 1937 (1 year after the official creation of the AOC) in order to promote the appellation internationally and is a guarantee of the authenticity of the wines. The latter represents a papal tiara placed above the keys of Saint Peter.