One could think that the name Chateauneuf-duPape comes from the construction ,by the Popes of Avignon , ( in particular Jean XXII ) of a castle erected on the ruins of a former castle. This , in reality , is not the case at all. Far away from the agitation of the court of Avignon , the Popes had constructed at Chateauneuf , in the XIV C , their property ; and it is firstly them who had vine planted.

La viticulture.

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

The "Terroir".

It stretches across the parish of Chateauneuf-de-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 favors sunniness to raininess.