Good Morning!

Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the wine appellation that surrounds the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, in the Southern Rhone region in France. It is located between Avignon and Orange. The name Chateauneuf-du-Pape means “new castle of the pope” and it refers to the summer palace built for the Pope in the 1300’s.

Quick facts:

Southern Rhone’s most dominate grape is Grenache.

Minimum alcohol level of Chateauneuf-du-Pape is 12.5%

Chateauneuf-du-Pape allows up to 13 grape varieties both red and white.

Red wine makes up 97% of all wines from this appellation.

It’s a very warm area and the soil is stony.

The wines can age from 5-30 years.

The red grapes used are Grenache, Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvedre, Muscardine, Syrah, Terret Noir and Vaccarese.

Permitted white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picardan, Roussanne and Piquepoul.

In modern practice most Chateauneuf-du-Pape reds come for 3-4 basic red varieties:
Grenache 50-70%
Syrah 10-30%
Mourvedre makes up the balance. But any of the above the reds listed can and are used.

Only a handful of producers make a Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc and it is 7% of the entire appellation’s wine production.

These are the six grape varieties that can be used in making the white wine blend.

Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Picpoul Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne.

The Chateaueuf-du-Pape Blanc is a dry, full-bodied white and is known for the mineral and fruity flavors.

Here is just some of the fun facts I learned while researching Southern Rhone.

Have a great weekend and I hope you have a few great wines while you are relaxing!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi