Clos des Papes

Clos des Papes is one of the most important domaine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Avril family manages a wonderful vineyard estate and produces labels, which are among the elite of the prestigious Rhone appellation. Viticulture has been present in these lands for millennia. The Greek colonists who founded Marseille introduced vine culture to the south of France, and by the time of Roman rule, the regions of today's Provence and Rhone Valley were already famous for their wines. However, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape area became famous after the transfer of the papal seat to Avignon (1309-1377), which contributed to a rise in the quality level of wines destined for the pontiff's table. Thus was born the myth of the "Vin du Pape," which still today makes these places a world-class excellence.

The domaine Clos de Pape is managed by Vincent Avril, who for many years has taken the path of organic farming, with full respect for the environment. As is often the case at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the estate is composed of numerous parcels, which are located in different parts of the appellation, characterized by different soils: most of the property is located on classic galets roulés plateaus, consisting of expanses of pebbles several meters deep, transported by the Rhone over the millennia, but there is no shortage of more sandy and clayey soils or alluvial terraces. The vines are bush-trained, are about 80 years old and produce with very low yields of about 20 hectoliters per hectare.

The secret of the great Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, and of Clos de Pape in particular, lies in the ancient art of blending, honed over centuries and handed down from generation to generation. As many as 13 grape varieties can be used in the specification: Grenache (noir, gris, blanc), Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Clairette (blanche, rose), Vaccarèse, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Counoise, Muscardin, Picpoul (blanc, gris, noir), Picardan and Terret noir. Although in reality the red wines are made mainly from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, it is very important to know how to evaluate the characteristics of the base wines each year in order to create the harmony taste. The labels of Clos de Pape appresent the history and tradition of the area and give deep, rich and complex wines.