Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour
When visitors to the south of France ask which Châteauneuf-du-Pape wineries to visit, here’s the best Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine tour I know. The wine-growing region that covers approximately 3,200 hectares (12.4 miles) of land in the Rhone Valley is home to some of France’s most well-known… and pricey wines.
Unless you know much about wine, you might be surprised to hear that “Châteauneuf-du-Pape” is not just a wine-growing region. It’s also a historic “monument” and a town in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France.
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape “monument” is what is left of a fourteenth-century chateau built under the auspices of Pope John XXII. Towering above the fields and vineyards of the region and visible for miles around, the chateau is among the last vestiges of the Roman Popes who ruled from nearby Avignon from 1309 until the Schism of 1378. “Châteauneuf-du-Pape,” translated as “new castle of the Pope,” was built to be the summer home of the Popes.
The town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a small village with a few restaurants and lots of wine sellers. It reminds me of a wine smorgasbord. You can hop from one “degustation” to another.
Outside the town center, dozens of wine producers are devoted to making and selling their unique varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Farther out, you’ll find private and “open to the public” wine domains with acres and vineyards. Some new, some old. Some have been handed down through centuries of vignerons, with ancient stone chateaus and wine caves.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour
The Barefoot Blogger has visited Châteauneuf-du-Pape to check out the wines on several occasions. The first was to see the territory by myself, and the next was with my cousin visiting from Arizona. The last time was to treat my visitor from North Carolina to her first wine tour in France. I called on my friend, who’s considered one of the best guides in the area — Sophie Bergeron of Travel in Provence. During our half-day with Sophie, I discovered why she’d earned her excellent reputation. She knows her wine. From working in vineyards to selling wines, Sophie’s been in the business since she was a child. The no-nonsense tour guide educated and entertained us. The wine “lesson” had charts, maps, and wine tasting. Next, we were off to the wineries.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour
Sophie’s choice of wineries to visit was brilliant– including one that appeared to be “blessed” by the ancient chateau’s tower because of its proximity. How much fun to get “up close and personal” with the winemaker and his crew.
To add to the perfect day, after our Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour, Sophie introduced us to one of her favorite restaurants that overlooked the valley, Verger des Papes.
A Perfect Day, A Perfect Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour
For more information about Sophie Bergeron, visit Travel in Provence,
