Wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Here, it was the Pope himself. No monks, no immigrants—Pope John XXII personally ordered the creation of a vineyard around 1350 in the city of his summer residence, built on limestone quarries (this order, however, was made by his predecessor, Pope Clement V, after whom Château Pape-Clement is named). Before the Popes arrived, Châteauneuf was called Calcernier due to its soil. The town, now home to 2,100 inhabitants, only became part of France in 1791; until then, it was part of the independent and powerful territory of the Bishops and Archbishops of Avignon. Reflecting the significance of the place, the papal symbols—the crossed keys of Peter and the Tiara—now adorn every bottle neck of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The AOC, covering 3,100 hectares, was granted protected origin status in 1936 (developed since 1923).

The early appellation owes much to the influential winemaker legend Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié, who played an active role in the development of the AOC system in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The fact that 13 grape varieties are allowed to make up the blend in red wines may be a reflection of the customs of the time. Today, only about 10% of the total production consists of white wines. Wine lovers from around the world know and appreciate the famous appellation for its rich, incredibly complex red wines. Some of the great names in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that must be known and tasted include Château de Beaucastel, Henri Bonneau, Clos des Papes, Clos Saint Jean, Domaine du Pegau, Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Domaine de la Janasse, and Rayas.