Nestled in the Rhone Valley just north of Avignon, France lies the wine region known as Chateauneuf-du-pape. This literally translates to “New Castle of the Pope”. The region is steeped in history and winemaking and produce some of France’s finest red wines. The wines are big, bold and full of flavor. The predominant grapes from the area are Grenache Noir (70%), Syrah (11%), and Mourvèdre (7%) and these grapes make up the majority of the blends in the region. Other grapes that may or may not be added to these wines include Cinsaut, Claudette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Bourboulenc. The warm climate and high sugars produce wines with typically high alcohol levels. Traditional winemaking techniques involve fermenting with the stems resulting in complex wines with higher tannins. Thus, these wines tend to be laid down in the cellar for years before they are ready for drinking. This practice has been changing in recent years as the stem tannins tend to be more bitter than from the skins. Also, as Grenache Noir is prone to oxidize, the wines are not often stored in small oak barrels but aged in large concrete tanks or larger oak barrels or tanks.
Please join us as we continue our Tour de France’s Rhone Valley with as stop at the Pope’s new digs.
The Pope’s New Castle
Chateauneuf-du-pape wine tasting
Saturday, April 9, 7:00 pm
Hosted by Kathy Neugebauer
4412 S. River Estates Way, West Fargo
Members $30, non-members $35
(note: due to the higher cost of these wines, we have a slightly higher tasting fee.)
Please RSVP by Thursday, April 7