The wines of Chateauneuf du Pape benefit from an incredibly rich terroir. What is hidden behind the notion of terroir?
The terroir is composed of three fundamental elements that characterize a wine: the soil, the climate and the human dimension. The vines of Châteauneuf du Pape take root on different types of soils: sand, saffron, pebbles, clay and limestone. Each one brings specific characteristics to the wine: finesse, power, color intensity, balance, aromas...
The Châteauneuf du Pape vineyard benefits from a Mediterranean climate with mild winters, dry summers and a lot of sunshine throughout the year. The Mistral, a dry wind coming from the north, also plays an important role in reducing the risk of diseases.
Concerning the grape varieties, Grenache is the dominant grape variety of the AOC Châteauneuf du Pape. This variety of Spanish origin flourishes in the southern Rhone Valley where it is called the "king grape". It is often accompanied by Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsaut which are emblematic grape varieties of the region.
Have you ever heard of the 13 grape varieties authorized in the blend of Châteauneuf du Pape wines? There are eighteen in reality because some of them come in pink, grey and white subvarieties. Producers are also allowed to produce wines from only one of these 18 varieties (this is called wines from single varieties).
