Châteauneuf-du-Pape became officially an appellation in 1936. The vineyard covers a surface of 3 140 ha, on five towns or villages : Châteauneuf du Pape, Courthézon, Orange, Bédarrides and Sorgues. The production is essentially concerned in reds, less tha 10% as white, no rosé.
The traditional wine training is « gobelet » pruning : a short pruning keeping 2 spurs. « Guyot » pruning is applied to Syrah to maintain the fragile branches upright and in order to improve ventilation. concerned Maximum yielding : 35 hl/ha.The content of alcohol must at least of 12°5.
Reds : Handpicking harvest with sorting out of the bad bunch of grape in the vineyard is mandatory. Light crush in order to respect the crop. Fermentations lasting 2 to 3 week in inert vats (concrete, stainless steel) Wine is pumped over frequently, mastering temperatures. Systematic malo-lactic fermentations. Wine are matured in foudres (re-used big oak vats) or new or re-used barrels. Wine is embottled the second year after harvest, or later in order to mature at the cellar.
Whites : Handpicking harvest with sorting out of the bunch of grape is mandatory, conveyed in 50 kg small boxes in order to avoid oxydation. Immediate pressing. Controlled temperature fermentations (18-20°C or 64,4°- 68 °F). Non systematic malo-lactic fermentations. Immediate bottling, 3month after the harvest. Exceptional maturation in oak.
Two new trends in wine making : Desteming tends to develop in the recent generation of winemaker to get rid of the stalks. Punching the cap (during the fermentation) grows kickly to get more colour and stuff in wines.
Grounds
-Alluvial rocky terrasses with boulders, more or less shallow. Undergroung made of sandy-clayous heath, rusty grit, sand, and the mixture of the 3 kinds on slopes covrerd with boulders. `
-20% of the surface is covered with white limestone slabs.
-A few is sandy-clayous.
Climat
The strong Mistral (from the north, cold and dry) is dominating, bring sun (2800 hours / year), the dryest part of the southern Rhône valley. Stone are giving back during the night, the accumulated temperature in the day, enabling a perfect maturation of phenols.
Grape varieties
Whites : Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache blanc, Roussanne et Picardan, ce dernier n’étant plus à ce jour multiplié.
Reds : Counoise, Muscardin, Piquepoul, Terret et Vaccarèse peu multiplés ; Cinsaut, Grenache noir, Mourvèdre et Syrah.
In the 19ème century, Joseph Ducos organised these Châteauneuf du Pape varieties in 4 types : liquor – strength – vinosity – finesse :
*“providing liquor, heat and mellowness” : Grenache et Cinsault.
* “providing strength, ability to age, coulour and quenchable taste” : Mourvèdre, Syrah, Muscardin, Camarèse.
* “providing vinosity, pleasure, freshness and a specific style” : Counoise et Picpoul.
* “providing finesse, fire, brilliant” : Clairette et Bourboulenc.
Have Châteauneuf white, 2 years old, 6 - 8° C (42,8 – 46,4 °F), 10 et 12° C (50 – 53,6°F) if it’s a matured white of 5 to 6 years. Drink Châteauneuf red, as soon as the third year, after 10 years according to vintages and the way to keep it, between 16 and 18° C (60,8 to 64,4°F).
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