Châteauneuf du Pape AOC is a region of the Southern Rhône Valley in France, on the left bank of the river, 8 miles (15km) north of Avignon, and covering wines of all three colours. The AOC, France’s first to be delimited, dates from 1931.

Production zone: This covers the five communes, most of Châteauneuf du Pape itself, and on similar terrains in the neighbouring communes of Orange, Courtézon, Bédarrides and Sorgues. The production zone is bounded by the Rhône on one side and the Autoroute du Soleil (A7) on the other.

Terroir: The region is noted for its pudding stones or ‘galets‘.

Vineyard area & wine production: 2002 3,178ha of vines produced 82,687hl in total. Of this 5,994hl was white (Guide Hachette des Vins: 2004, p.1052).

Wines

Châteauneuf du Pape AOC Blanc

Châteauneuf du Pape AOC Rosé

Châteauneuf du Pape AOC Rouge

Wineries

Certified organic: Château de Beaucastel (Courthezon). | Château de Manissy (Tavel). | Clos des Papes Châteauneuf du Pape). | Domaine de la Cabotte (Mondragon). | Domaine LePlan Vermeersch (Tulette).

No Certification: Gabriel Meffre.

Bibliography

Roger Voss, ‘Going Steady,’ Wine Magazine, November 1996, p.24-25.

Roger Voss, ‘The Powers that be’, Wine Magazine, November 1996, p.24-26.