Producers from Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The red wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are the southern Rhône's calling card. While there are 13 legally allowed grapes* that can be blended into the wine of "Châteauneuf", there is no forced recipe in the region and blending is different from domaine to domaine. However, Grenache is the most important red grape of them all. The region is known for its rocky soils- particularly the galets, or "pudding stones", that are widely found in the best sites of the area- but there are also sections with more sandy and fine soils. It is this difference in soil that determines which grapes will be planted and used in the final wine. Wonderful, complex and long-lived whites (Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc), made mostly from Marsanne and Roussanne, are also produced here.
*The 13 Grapes allowed in red Chateauneuf are: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, and Counoise for the reds, and Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, and Clairette for the whites.
