One could think that the name Chateauneuf-du-Pape comes from the construction ,by the Popes of Avignon, ( in particular Jean XXII ) of a castle erected on the ruins of a former castle. In reality, this is not the case at all. Far away from the agitation of the court of Avignon, the Popes constructed their property at Chateauneuf-du-Pape in the XIV century and also planted vine.

Viticulture.

It started as a production on a very small scale, then expanded with time.Its real distinction dates back to the XVIII C,it gained recognition as of 1929 with the appellation of controlled origin Chateauneuf-du-Pape which instituted strict regulations : the limits of the region to be cultivated, the thirteen authorized grape varieties, the pruning, the selective sorting of grapes during harvest, the vinification, and minimum degree.

The "Terroir".

It stretches across the parish of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, a part also extends to the parishes of Bédarrides, Courthézon, Orange and Sorgues. Presence of shingle, pebbles cover a large portion of the appellation area. Made up of levels of plateaus and terraces it benefits, thanks to the mistral, from exceptional climatic conditions which favor sunny days.