Maison des Vins in Chateauneuf Du Pape

Initiated by Chateauneuf Du Pape Appellation wine producers , Vinadea , the "Maison des Vins" located in Chateauneuf Du Pape , has a selection of 90 Domaines whose bottles are available here . Acting as a showroom for the Chateauneuf Du Pape wines , it offers right in the village a huge selection of wines of great quality at the producers' price , same you would pay if you went directly at the property . And you can taste wines free of charge among a selection that changes regularly . The institution's goal is not making money selling wine , it is making the Chateauneuf Du Pape wines better known to the visitor , who can make his choice for a purchase , or just taste the wines to discover them . In one place you can reach different Chateauneuf Du Pape Domaines , wich is not always easy when you try to visit the actual Domaines . Some are understaffed to receive you , and also you have the different busy seasons where staff is streched to many tasks in the vineyards and the cellars .

The Chateauneuf Du Pape area is more geographically delimited than geologically : It lies on a plateau , but with 5 different soils underneath . On the picture on left , you can see the view from the village , on the Rhone far away .
One of the common characteristics of the vineyards' soil here is this incredible layer of rolled quartz pebbles , many orange or grapefruit sized , that cover the ground . You even wonder how something can grow on such big stones . It is said these stones store the heat at night in the ground . And of course the roots go very deep . These stones were shaped long ago in the Rhone river bed , or by the moving glaciers .
Chateauneuf du Pape was the first Appellation in France , thanks to Baron Leroy of Chateau Fortia , who saw new rules as a way to counter fraudulent practices and declining quality of wine in the region at the time . This was in 1923 . The new rules were : Minimum 12.5 ° alcohol , Hand harvest with selection on the spot , Restricted yields , And a list of grape varieties plus a delimited area ; At last , a tasting panel to check the wines . This was in 1923 and soon to follow was the "Appellation Controlée" system applied to other french wine regions .

View inside the "Maison des Vins"***Click below for more***

The incredible stones of Chateauneuf Du Pape __First we tasted Chateauneuf Du Pape Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils 2002 . 14 ° young , on the fruit .
__Then we tasted Chateauneuf Du Pape "Bosquet des Papes" 2000 . Nice nose , typical . Very supple , leather , raspberry ,truffle aromas . 13,5 ° . 18,5 Euro .
__Third we tasted Chateauneuf du Pape Domaine de la Fagotiere 1999 . Warm bark . Long tank fermentation at low temperature , no desteming . Very traditional work like it was done in the past in Chateauneuf Du Pape . Normal vats . 13,5 ° . 15,1 Euro . Right : The Chateau overlooking the village and the Rhone valley .
__Last , we tasted Chateauneuf Du Pape Domaine Saint Benoit "La Truffiere" 1998 . Parcelles de vieilles vignes . As it says , from old vines .Aromas of ripe fruits . Goes toward prune aromas . Proportion of 55% grenache and 21 % Syrah , wich is atypical . Syrah gives the color here .This machine called here (une) "chenillette" is commonly used here to work on the vineyard . The caterpillar allows working on a big stones soil . Here this man uses it to pull up a broom that grew among the vines .Website of the Maison des Vins :www.vinadea.com

Comments

[Werner and Shirley Ann]

We came here during the 2003 Tour de France. What a fun day and what fantastic wines! The drive to/from this village was beautifully dotted with different vineyards.

[Holy Land tours]

Well, the French wines are the greatest, this is a world fact, but people should really get to know more about the wines made in Israel - specially in the Galilee.

[hollywood bistro]

Amazing! Hope i can see it myself those stacks of wines.

[Jane Baker]

We will be in the area on Sunday June 26. Are you open on Sundays? If so, what are your hours?

[Michael]

Why do I nearly always feel that the taste and colour of these wines give the impression that they are gone beyond their best ?