Chateau Neuf Du Pape

Tavel - Lirac - Chateauneuf du Pape

Meet Us in Avignon!

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a commune in Southeastern France. A ruined medieval castle sits above the village and dominates the landscape to the south. It was built in the 14th century for Pope John XXII, the second of the popes to reside in Avignon. None of the subsequent Avignon popes stayed in Châteauneuf but after the schism of 1378 the antipope Clement VII sought the security of the castle. With the departure of the popes the castle passed to the archbishop of Avignon, but it was too large and too expensive to maintain and was used as a source of stone for building work in the village.

Almost all the cultivable land is planted with grapevines. The commune is famous for the production of rich, spicy red wine produced from grapes grown in the commune of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and in portions of four adjoining communes.

The Châteauneuf du Pape Appellation was one of 6 to be labeled as the first AOC wines of France in 1936. The vineyards planted by the Romans were extended and developed by the Popes residing in Avignonduring the 14th century. In 1314, Clement V, the first Avignon Pope discovered the special soil of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

His successor, John XXII supports him and it was during his reign that the vineyard really took off and spread fame beyond the borders of “The Comtat”. The former bishop of Avignon, Jacques Duèse was elected as Pope John XII and succeeded Clement V in 1316. He regularly drank the wines from the vineyards ‘in the north’ and did much to improve viticulture practices there. The Pope sought a place sufficiently far from the city to discourage courtiers, sycophants, and scroungers, yet close enough so that a courier could go there and back to Avignon on the same day.

In Chateauneuf du Pape it's tradition to start your day off with a morning wine tasting session. Then we'll enjoy a special tour of Chateauneuf du Pape wines in the old 14th century pope cellars. After our morning tour, it will be time for lunch of course -- eat. drink. repeat! We cannot possibly fit our group into small cafes so we will divide and conquer for this lunch adventure -- with our local guide suggesting several different options so that we don't overwhelm a small business. After lunch, we'll experience our second Chateauneuf du Pape winery tour.

Chateauneuf du Pape is famously known for its full bodied, rich, spicy red wines. The Chateauneuf iconic masterpiece blends are always made with the totally opposite grape varietals grown in the Rhone River Valley -- Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre.

When we finally relent and have explored all the Chateauneuf has to offer ...
Up 'n at 'em -- let's cross the river to see what's over there! Dirt Road Wine Club members are all intimately familiar with those two towns you see on the opposite side of the river from here -- Tavel and Lirac. Both are infamously known for their own thing -- and have spectacular wines to offer that will blow you away! They say we can get over there by bus, train or foot -- which is your preference? Let's Go!

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chateauneuf du pape