- Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Appellation d'Origine
Contrôlée since 1936
The story
It was the Popes who revealed the terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape when they settled in Avignon in the 14th century. Under the reign of John XXII, the village became the papacy's summer residence. The precious nectar produced here became known as the "Pope's Wine". This consecration opened the door to the great courts of Europe. By Gallo-Roman times, vines were already growing in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. However, the first written evidence of its existence dates back to 1157.
Sons of the earth and the sun.
A nectar appreciated by the Popes: in the 14th century, the Popes settled in Avignon, and it was John XXII who developed the vineyards, ensuring their renown and building the château on top of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape hill.
The father of AOCs
In 1923, on the initiative of Baron le Roy de Boiseaumarié, the first syndicate for the defense of the appellation was created. Delimitation based on geology and local, loyal and constant usage was completed in 1933. Even today, these rules, enacted before the creation of the Appellation Contrôlée system (in 1935), remain among the most draconian of all French appellations.
Strict rules for excellence
✅ Maximum planting density of 3,000 to 3,500 vines/ha.
✅ Maximum authorized yield is fixed at 35 hl/ha.
✅ Mandatory manual harvesting
✅ Selective sorting of the harvest
✅ 13 authorized grape varieties
✅ Natural degree of wine: 12.5°minimum
✅ Authorized vine sizes: gobelet, cordon de Royat, and Guyot
The coat-of-arms bottle is the showcase for Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.
In a ruling handed down on September 21, 2004, the French Supreme Court confirmed the validity of the rights attached to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape embossed bottle. It ruled that: "the emblazoned bottle does indeed constitute a protected artistic work, with an original and distinctive character. The author of such a work is therefore entitled to protect it by registering a trademark. An appellation of origin can be validly - incorporated into a complex trademark, the figurative elements of which are original and distinctive. Created in 1937, it contributes to the promotion and recognition of these products. It is also a collective brand. Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines deserve an outfit to match!
From 1776, the famous Château La Nerthe began shipping its wines in bottles, gradually abandoning the barrel. Once again, this first step boosted the reputation of the wines. Even then, the local winegrowers had a pioneering spirit. Recognition of quality "The wine of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is recognized as being of superior quality in all seasons" (departmental decree published in 1793). The winegrowers were allowed to sell their production for one third more than the maximum price in use.
An exceptional terroir
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape terroir boasts a wide variety of soils, in particular large rounded pebbles (alpine diluvium) resting on red clay, which enable the grapes to reach a very high degree of ripeness. Aware of the value of their heritage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape winegrowers have in recent years taken steps to define and reinforce the identity of their appellation, notably through its different terroirs and the diversity of its grape varieties.
