The current weather pattern is driving me crazy. First it’s bitter cold, then it warms up just enough to give you hope and then it’s back into the freezer again. This up-and-down pogo-stick thermometer is enough to drive one to drink red wine. Particularly the red wines of Chateauneuf du Pape.
The Chateauneuf du Pape region is located in the southern end of the Rhone Valley and takes its name — literally “The Pope’s New Home” — from the 12th century when Pope Clement V moved the papal palace to the village of Avignon in the south of France. The relocation lasted only about 70 years, but during that time the popes of Avignon had a significant effect on the local wine industry. Even though the early popes were big fans of Burgundy wines, successive popes began to rely on the local vineyards to produce wines for the papacy. This resulted in a gradual increase in both the quality and popularity of the regional wines.
