Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a bold, dry red from the Southern Rhône Valley in France, usually led by Grenache alongside grapes such as Syrah and Mourvèdre. Expect ripe cherry, blackberry and plum with herbs, pepper and warming spice. Rich and powerful, it’s brilliant with roast lamb, steak, beef stew, BBQ food and slow-cooked meat.

Taste:

Big fruit, warming spice and a name that makes any dinner table look immediately more impressive.

Red Châteauneuf-du-Pape is typically dry and full-bodied, with moderate to firm tannins and plenty of ripe fruit. Expect red cherry, raspberry, blackberry and plum, sometimes moving towards dried fruit in richer styles.

You’ll often find black pepper, liquorice and warming spice too, alongside fragrant herbal flavours such as rosemary, thyme and lavender.

As the wine ages, the fresh fruit can develop into more complex flavours of leather, tobacco, earth and dried herbs.

There’s plenty of power here, but the best bottles balance that richness with freshness, spice and complexity.

Food Pairings:

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made for rich, flavour-packed food.

Lamb is one of its best matches. Try roast lamb, lamb chops, lamb shank, slow-cooked lamb shoulder or lamb kebabs, particularly with rosemary, thyme or garlic.

For beef, pair it with steak, ribeye, roast beef, beef short ribs, beef stew or slow-cooked beef.

It’s also brilliant with BBQ food, including BBQ ribs, burgers, grilled steak, smoky sausages and barbecued lamb.

Mediterranean dishes work beautifully with the wine’s herbal character, so try moussaka, lamb tagine, grilled aubergine, roasted peppers, tomato and lentil stew or herb-roasted vegetables.

Mushroom stew and mushroom pie are great meat-free options, while mature Cheddar, Comté and Gruyère all work well on the cheese board.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras are essential exploring for more rich, spicy reds from the Southern Rhône.

Côtes du Rhône offers a more accessible introduction to the region’s classic combination of ripe fruit, herbs and spice.

You can also explore Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre individually to get to know some of the grapes behind the blend.

Enjoyed this one? Give it a heart and we'll use your favourites to recommend other wines we think you'll love.

More About Châteauneuf-du-Pape:

Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes from the Southern Rhône Valley near Avignon in southeastern France. Its name translates as “the Pope’s new castle”, a nod to the period when the papacy was based in nearby Avignon during the 14th century.

The appellation allows numerous grape varieties in its red and white wines, although Grenache is the dominant force in most reds, commonly joined by Syrah and Mourvèdre.

The vineyards are famous for their galets roulés – large, rounded stones that cover parts of the landscape and absorb heat from the sun.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape was also instrumental in the development of France’s appellation system, with local rules helping inspire what eventually became the AOC framework.

Popes, castles, ancient vines and bottles covered in embossed crests.

Subtle branding was never really the plan.