Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Keys of Saint Peter

Early in my wine education journey on a budget and learning about Châteauneuf-du-Pape only from readings; I remember thinking, “Oh my, I cannot afford these prices to just randomly pay out of purse for educational tastings.” It was then I quickly came to realize that there are wines and then there are top tier fine wines.  

​Years later, we had the fortunate opportunity to “winecation” in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and it was a  #pinchmemoment. CDP is a quiet and small historical village and is about two-hour drive north from the French Riviera. Actually, this thrill was beyond a bucket list check off, it was my wine Holy Grail of experiences.

Reading the local talents’ articles and newsletters about the wines from the Rhone Valley are so enticing that I need to follow suit. Low and behold the Autumn season is here and Winter is upon us; what comes to mind? A hearty beef stew simmering in a Dutch oven and wines from around the Châteauneuf-du-Pape neighboring appellations.

---

The Southern Rhone Valley and Northern Rhone Valley have the Rhone River in common, yet, there are many differences between the two wine areas. The Southern Rhone Valley is less mountainous, flatter land, soil, climate and many other differences compared to Northern Rhone Valley. Southeast of France, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and surrounding wine appellations enjoy a warmer climate thanks to the mild Mediterranean temperatures.

---

Embossed on authentic AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottles are the Keys of St. Peter. Their rich history includes the 14thc Catholic Pope taking refuge from warring factions between Church and State. Today, you can walk around the castle ruins and learn about the local grapes, then take in lunch and wine with a panoramic view.

---

No need to separate the red grapes from the white grapes because all these thirteen to eighteen varietals are grown, mixed and made all together.

---

​One of our day trips around neighboring villages was Gigondas and locally known as Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s little brother. This appellation is known as the bonafide lineage without the very expensive wine prices that can be easily warranted from these neck of the woods. Reputable wines come with higher prices and, rightly so, this wine region has always been appreciated by refined palates and deep purses. Great value wines are found in surrounding areas such as Gigondas.

---

​We had the fortune pleasure to stay as Danièle’s quests, who is a French Master Sommelier with many international distinctions. I was completely infatuated with the photos from her past sprinkled around in le cave’s decor.

---

Danièle is also the President of Femmes Vignes Rhone. The FVR is an organization that features women winemakers up, down, and across the Rhone Valley, curated my takeaway wines. “Every winemaker’s personality, character, and spirit come through their wines”, I remember Danièle whispering as she was pulling each vintner’s wines with a story.

---

The CDP wine vibes are interesting. Relaxing in village square after day trips is wonderful, so we would return late afternoon/early evening to listen to the chatter while enjoying the local wine and food. One day, after our third glass of the same wine, the winemaker who was sitting in near observing us, walks up and says, ‘You lika my wine?’ How cool is that, the winemaker is also enjoying hanging and enjoying the scene. Years ago, when I studied Châteauneuf-du-Pape the abbreviation was CDP, so what piqued my interest in the surrounding appellations is the hipster winemaker vibe, hence CNDP the new abbrev. These wine makers are the next generation, using their artistic flow to shape artisan wines. Some of the winemakers are taking their expressive craft to another level seen in their IGP because of less government stringent regulations.

---

These winemakers grew up with traditional viniculture and have learnt their classical AOC’s and now individualize their skills. This concept translated in other subjects seen in French Cubist painters such as Georges Braque and surrealist painters Marcel Duchamp, who studied the centuries old classical painters before popularizing their subjective paintings. Obviously, these are not your fathers or grandfathers wines. Equally exciting in this wine region is when the different generations make and use the same methodology in AOC wines, yet produced with different expressions.

---

​Cave wine tasting in CNDP village? Yes Please. The centuries old building basements are today’s trendy tasting rooms showcasing this wine region’s producers.

---

A little culture between wine tastings at the museum learning about an old vintage wine and its replica new vintage.

---

References:
https://en.chateauneuf.com/
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://femmesvignesrhone.com/&prev=search
https://www.facebook.com/FemmesVignesRhone/
https://www.brotte.com/fr/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Ch%C3%A2teauneuf-du-Pape
https://winefolly.com/review/about-chateauneuf-du-pape-wine/
https://www.facebook.com/tasteoffrancemag/?mc_cid=f519414d12&mc_eid=146ed3420b
​