Weekly Tasting: The Satellites of Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Weekly Tasting: The Satellites of Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Weekly Tasting: The Satellites of Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Friday January 24 and Saturday January 25, 3:30-6:30pm

We all know the feeling. A friend pours you a glass of wine, and it's love at first sip! 

A Chateauneuf-du-Pape was one of those wines for me, just a few months into my career at Farmstead. Unfortunately, Chateauneuf-du-Pape (CdP for short) is usually something most of us only enjoy on special occasions, but did you know that it's only one of many regions in Southern Rhone? This week, we're featuring one CdP and many of its cousins from surrounding AOCs like Gigondas, Lirac, and more!

Like all French wine, every wine-growing appellation is heavily regulated, including which grapes can be grown, and how much of each must/can be used in a blend. Wines from the Southern Rhone made the "GSM" blend famous, which stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, though a few other varietals like Cinsaut and Carignan may be allowed.  And Chateauneuf was famous for its 13-variety standard, though that's been recently changed. 

But another factor in shaping the distinctive wines of this region are the "soils", put in quotes here because, as you can see in this image, the vineyards consist mostly of river rocks deposite here eons ago when the region was under water!

Imagine walking on these stones all day as you harvest these vines!

Details aside, come by for some rich French reds to start your weekend right, Friday and Saturday, January 24 & 25, 3:30-6:30pm in Alameda and Montclair, $10 for 5 wines (list below).

Com de Montine 2020 CdR "Caprices"
Domaine Lavau 2019 Rasteau
Lirac, La Fermade Rouge
La Bastide St Vincent 2021 Gigondas
Domaine Juliette Avril CdP 2022

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