A colleague of mine once advised that, should I be the one ordering wine at a business dinner, I should always order Châteauneuf-du-Pape, because it is reliably good and everyone will be impressed that I could pronounce it.
At the time, I didn’t know the difference between red and white Zinfandel, so it was great advice.
And it turns out to be a really interesting wine. The name translates literally as “Pope’s new castle,” so named because the Catholic Papacy had moved to nearby Avignon, in southeastern France, in the 1400s. The town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is in the Rhône wine region and is known for its interesting terroir: Vineyards are covered in large, round pebbles that absorb heat during the day and radiate it back to the vines at night.
The wine is also notable because its quality is regulated by local wine growers. Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are permitted to use a maximum of 13 grape varietals, but are mostly dominated by Grenache, often supported with Syrah. A white version of the wine is also available, but in very limited quantities.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are also noted for their distinct bottles, which can only be used by wineries that meet the local requirements. Those bottles typically have a papal crest embossed onto the glass.
The wine itself is rich and bold, with notes of red fruits and earthy undertones reflecting the unusual terroir. It also usually has a relatively high alcohol content. Reasonably good bottles of the wine can be found in the $30-$50 price range.
Some wine snobs simply refer to it as “CDP” to avoid the matter of pronunciation. My advice is the same advice I received all those years ago: Go for it, and enjoy.
Cheers!
-Submitted by Bill Good
(Image credit: Pixabay.com and Vinepair.com)