Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical zone is characterised by a base of marine Miocene molasse resting on formations of massive Urgonian limestone that form a plateau at around one hundred metres in altitude.
• The plateau is covered by coarse Rhône alluvial deposits laid down at the end of the Pliocene, known as the Villafranchian Terraces, composed of large, often thick, rolled pebbles of Alpine origin.
• These terraces yield more or less deep, stony soils with numerous rounded galets mixed into a reddish clay matrix, while the molasse outcropping to the north-east produces sandy soils, safres, and the roux sandstones of the Comtat.
• The Mediterranean climate is under the influence of the Mistral, a cold, dry wind from the north, which promotes sunshine and reduces annual rainfall to below 650 millimetres, making this one of the driest sectors of the Rhône Valley.
• Sunshine totals approximately 2,800 hours per year, particularly during the summer period, which is highly conducive to berry ripening.
• The geographical zone covers the territory of five communes in the Vaucluse département: Bédarrides, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Courthézon, Orange, and Sorgues.

• The establishment of the Holy See in Avignon in the fourteenth century, notably under the reign of John XXII (1316–1334), who had the château built, promoted the expansion of the vineyard.
• In 1923, producers joined Baron Le Roy de Boiseaumarie in creating the first growers' defence syndicate, leading to the ruling of the Avignon tribunal of 28 June 1929 and subsequently to the recognition decree of 15 May 1936, which served as a model for other French appellations.

• The red wines of the appellation, suited to ageing, are described as powerful and structured, with great complexity and a long aromatic finish.
• The white wines, produced mainly from the grape varieties grenache blanc, clairette blanche, and roussanne blanche, are full-bodied and highly expressive, with good aromatic freshness.

• The interaction between the hot, dry Mediterranean summer climate and the stony soils causes the rounded galets to release at night the heat they have absorbed during the day, promoting full ripeness and concentration in the berries.
• The dry climate, reinforced by the action of the Mistral, limits the development of fungal diseases and promotes the healthy condition of the harvest.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 16 novembre 2011, JORF 19 novembre 2011
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Fédération des Producteurs de Châteauneuf-du-Pape