What grape is Chateauneuf du Pape?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic village between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhône Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wine, largely made from the classic southern Rhône grape trio of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

What type of red wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

What Type of Wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape? Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a French wine appellation known for its bold Grenache-based red blends. Officially, the region makes both red and white wines with up to 13 different grapes. (Unofficially, there are 20 varieties used in the region!).

What makes a wine a Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape winemaking styles

Wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape commonly have a high alcohol content, typically 13-15 percent, and must have a minimum alcohol content of 12.5 percent without chaptalization to comply with the appellation rules.

Is Châteauneuf-du-Pape a Burgundy?

Chateauneuf du Pape - Burgundy Wine Company.

What grape is Cote du Rhone?

Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes form the core of most red Côtes du Rhône wines. The three work so well together that the blend has been keenly welcomed in other warm climate wine regions around the world (see GSM).

Everything You Need to Know about Châteauneuf du Pape Wine

What grape is Burgundy made from?

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the most common grape varieties in Burgundy. In Burgundy, four main grape varieties are grown. The "red" grape varieties are Pinot Noir and Gamay.

Is Beaujolais a Burgundy?

Beaujolais is the name of a little area in France just south of Burgundy that makes wine with Gamay grapes. It's one of the few wine regions of France that doesn't take itself too seriously.

What is special about Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape's Special Blends

Each wine growing region in France has its “thing” when it comes to winemaking. The “thing” in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is that each wine must be a blend from grapes grown in the actual commune of Châteauneuf or in one of four specific adjoining communes.

Why is it called Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

The name means “the pope's new castle" but the name does not allude to the papal palace. The town was probably already called Châteauneuf when the popes arrived. In 1893 the villagers, realizing the marketing potential of the name, added “du-Pape”. Only one tower remains intact of the summer palace.

Is Côtes du Rhône similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Try the Réserve des Hospitaliers Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône Villages from a vineyard located in the same area as Châteauneuf-du-Pape that also exhibits delicious rich, ripe and spicy flavours.

Is Châteauneuf-du-Pape aged in oak?

Often only a specific selected part of the wine is aged in oak barrels (e.g. Mourvèdre and Syrah and Roussanne). More recently, the winemakers of Chateauneuf-du-Pape use the bigger 600 liters oak barrels (demi-muid) who offer a more gradual and smooth wood contact to the wine.

Is Châteauneuf-du-Pape Syrah?

Though Syrah is the only red wine grape of the Northern Rhone and is the second most-planted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, its position in the latter region is fairly recent. 60 years ago, Syrah acreage there was negligible. The key to Syrah in Chateauneuf-du-Pape is location.

Is Châteauneuf-du-Pape full-bodied?

While there are traditionally 13 grape varieties approved in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region, it is the powerful, full-bodied red wines made predominantly from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre that have brought international acclaim.

What does Chateauneuf mean in English?

The current French name of "Châteauneuf" (English: "New Castle") is derived from this early Latin name and not from the ruined 14th-century castle that towers above the village.

What is the most famous Burgundy wine?

Should you decant Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

For young wines (less than 15 years old) from great terroirs or vintages, decanting for one to three hours will be sufficient; one hour is the optimal period of time. For older wines, such as a Chateauneuf-du-Pape or great Hermitage, decanting for 30 minutes is sufficient.

How long does Châteauneuf-du-Pape last once opened?

They can keep up to five days. Fuller bodied whites last a little less, maybe up to three days. Red wines, kept away from bright light and heat (that's important) can be fine up to five days. I tried a glass of châteauneuf-du-pape last night, opened for seven days.

How long can you keep a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Keep in mind, most wines from Chateauneuf du Pape are at their best during their first 8 to 12 years of life. While some wines, especially in the top years can age longer, it's still nice to know which years were and are the best for Chateauneuf du Pape wine.

Are all Châteauneuf-du-Pape the same?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape traditionally has had thirteen grape varieties, but the 2009 version of the AOC rules changed that list to eighteen varieties, since blanc (white), rose (pink) and noir (black) versions of some grapes are now explicitly listed as separate varieties.

How much does a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape cost?

Investing in Chateauneauf du Pape Wine

And when it comes to price appreciation, the region never fails to impress. A bottle of the 2001 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve appreciated 73% from $731 to $1267 in one year (2020 - 2021.)

How do you store Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Keep the Temperature Even

The WORST thing for your prized Chateauneuf-du-Pape is to be stored in a room that's hot, then cold, then hot, etc. If you live in a corner of the world with a continental, 4-season climate and no central air, you may want to invest in a wine fridge.

Why was Gamay outlawed?

In July 1395, the Duke of Burgundy Philippe the Bold outlawed the cultivation of the grape, referring to it as the "disloyal Gaamez" that in spite of its ability to grow in abundance was full of "very great and horrible harshness", due in part to the variety's occupation of land that could be used for the more "elegant ...

Is Beaujolais the same as Pinot Noir?

Gamay, found most notably in Beaujolais, is a light-bodied red wine that's similar in taste to Pinot Noir. In fact, this variety is a cousin of Pinot Noir and it grows primarily next to Burgundy, France (Pinot motherland) in a region called Beaujolais.

Is Chablis a burgundy wine?

The influence of geology in the case of Chablis is so powerful that it may even overcome the characteristics of the chardonnay grape. Consider that Chablis, though it is classified as part of Burgundy, is in fact nearer to Sancerre than it is to the Côte de Beaune, where most other great white Burgundies come from.