Châteauneuf-du-Pape Private Wine Tour

A Papal Name

14th century

Châteauneuf-du-Pape means the Pope's new castle. In the 14th century, Pope John XXII, who lived in Avignon, regularly drank the wine of the vineyards to the north and did much to improve them; under him it became known as Vin du Pape. He also built the castle that is now the symbol of the appellation.

One of France's First Appellations

15 May 1936 · 3,200 hectares

Châteauneuf-du-Pape was one of the six first AOCs created by French law, on 15 May 1936. Its vineyards cover slightly more than 3,200 hectares around Châteauneuf and neighbouring villages, between Avignon and Orange.

Thirteen Grapes, and Grenache

Red and white varieties

The appellation has traditionally allowed thirteen grape varieties, red and white, in any proportion. Most wines are nevertheless blends dominated by Grenache, which covered 72% of the vineyard in 2004, followed by Syrah and Mourvèdre.

Galets Roulés and Foudres

Terroir and tradition

In the north and north-east of the appellation, round river stones, the famous galets roulés, cover the clay soil. Because Grenache is prone to oxidation, it is traditionally made in large concrete tanks, and the wines age in big old casks called foudres rather than in small oak barrels.

The Vineyard in Figures

Sophie's facts and figures

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard spreads out on five different cities and villages including Châteauneuf itself, Bédarrides, Sorgues, Courthézon and Orange. It covers 3200 hectares (roughly 8000 acres) with 3000 vines planted per hectare (roughly 1200 plants per acre), a 1/4 of which is organic. 95% of the wine produced is red and 5% white (rosés are not allowed in the Appellation).

There are in total around 300 producers making 97% of the total wine in this area, the remaining 3% is vinified by a cooperative. The yearly production is around 100,000 hl (2,641,720 US gallons and 2,199,692 imperial gallons) and 14 million bottles are commercialised every year.

Among the requirements of the appellation: 13 grapevines allowed (and Grenache is king!), a 12.5% minimum alcohol content, hand harvesting, grapes sorting, no watering, disbudding and green harvesting helping the low average yield of 31 hl per hectare (331 US gallons per acre and 276 imperial gallons per acre) that cannot exceed 35 hl per hectare (374 US gallons and 311 imperial gallons per acre). Such low yields ensure quality together with the specific terroir composed with limestone, the famous river rocks (galets roulés in French) and clay that bring strength and structure to the wines, but also sand giving more elegance-styled wines.