Up on the hill, the castle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape overlooks most of the vineyards that have made this town famous. Wine was produced here, apparently, since the roman time but thanks to Jean XXII (second pope of Avignon, 1316-1334), it went to the pope’s table. It became better and more and more plots appeared. It is nowadays one of the most well-known “cru” of the southern Rhône valley, located between the Rhône river and next to the Mont Ventoux, highest peak in Provence (1911m).
Geographically, this appellation receives a strong Mistral, noteworthy wind which comes from the North bringing sun and sanitary state to the lands. Combined to this climate, there is a typical soil: the pebbles which keep heat from day and give it back at night. Next to them, you can also find limestone, sand and sandstone soil but they are the signature of this cru.
Each year, winegrowers and winemakers express the quality of this terroir in the 13 varieties allowed, in which the Grenache is the main one. First A.O.C (controlled original appellation) in France in 1936, classified as a cru of the Rhône valley, Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are powerful with a lot of tannins and delicate aromas.
