Châteauneuf-du-Pape – A Fine Village and Fine Wine At the final roundabout, take the 3rd exit, the D92, pass through Couthézon, and after 4km, you will arrive in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. At the roundabout, take the first exit for 8.5 km, and at the next roundabout, take the D950 for about 3km. From Cairanne, take the D8 south for 7.5 km. No driving tour of the Côte du Rhône villages would be complete without a visit to the town where perhaps the best known of all these splendid, fruity and robust wines are produced. Like many fortified villages in the area, it was helped by the French Government to restore its historic buildings during the 1960s, and the ruined church of St Martin was rebuilt at this time. Its medieval heritage is evident in the Chemin de St Roch, which offers a pleasant walk around the old ramparts, including the Autanne Gate. The wine village of Cairanne in the Rhône Valley. The local inhabitants were known as leis afrontaires de Cairana, ‘the cheeky ones from Cairanne.’ We can only guess why today – the reason is lost in the mists of time! This unpretentious wine village in the Comtat Venaissin has a long history dating back to 739 AD when it was called Queroana and later Cairana in Provençal. Now it’s time to meet the cheeky ones! Leave Rasteau on the D69 and continue 5km to, an unpretentious village whose inhabitants, known as ‘the cheeky ones,’ nevertheless produce wine of the very highest status. Here you can purchase some of the excellent local beverage to take home! Ideal for some shade and refreshments on a hot day!ĭon’t forget to stop at the wine co-operative at the edge of the village. After exploring these upper parts of the village head for the typically Provençal square – Place de l’Apparent. Rasteau is a pleasant village 200m/656ft above sea level with its old houses clustered together at the foot of a ruined 12th-century chateau and a 12th-century church. The wine village of Rasteau in the Rhône Valley However, status derives from producing a classic red to rank with Cairanne and Séguret, and this has now happened – the first Rasteau AOC dry red went on sale in 2010. It has, for many years, boasted two appellations – a sweet AOP wine and dry AOP red Cotes-du-Rhone Villages variety. Rasteau used to be merely one town among many Côtes-du-Rhone villages. At the next roundabout, take the 4th exit (D975), and after 3km, you will arrive at Rasteau where the red wine only gained ‘Appellation’ status in 2010. After 4.5km at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the D7 passing through Rouix. Leave Séguret and turn right onto the D88. However, its fame comes from the wine-making tradition which today manifests itself in the splendid AOP Séguret red wine produced in the locality. Séguret is typically Provençal with the 10th-century church (St-Denis) and all the usual features of a medieval village. In the main square, you will find the 17th-century Fontaine des Mascarons and a charming belltower. The charming old streets, like the rue des Poternes, are lined with ancient stone houses sporting splendid facades. Laid out below the ruins of a feudal château, you enter the village by the Porte Reynier. However, it has the additional cachet of being one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, and it certainly deserves to be so-called. The picturesque perched wine village of Séguret There was a settlement here even before Roman times, but Carpentras did not come into its own until the Pope moved to Avignon in 1309. Perhaps this says something about the Avignon Pope’s interest in, and enjoyment of, the excellent robust red wines of the region and who could blame them? Carpentras the Old Capital of the Comtat Venaissin In fact, many of the world-famous wine villages on this itinerary are in the Comtat. Carpentras, an important centre for wine, used to be the capital of the Comtat Venaissin, the Avignon Popes’ own territory within France. After 7.5km, at le Pontet, take the D942 in the direction of Carpentras for 18.5km. There are actually 21 such villages – feel free to add your own to the itinerary if you have time! Appellation d’Origine Protégée, previously A.O.C.) status guaranteeing that the wine comes from a particular village or region. All are on the left bank of the Southern Rhône and have A.O.P (i.e. I have chosen seven of my favourite wine villages which can be easily be visited in a day. The city was once the seat of the Catholic Church and home of several Popes during the Middle Ages. In my view, there is no better place to begin this wine village itinerary than historic Avignon. Popes and Red Wine Villages in Provence’s Rhone Valley
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