Chateauneuf du Pape (CNDP)
Definition - What does Chateauneuf du Pape (CNDP) mean?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a wine village designated as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) , located in the Rhône Valley. It is a well-known appellation for its hearty red GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) wines. Its name translates as "new castle of the Pope" from its time in the 14th century when the town of Avignon was named to be the new home of the Pope's court.
WineFrog explains Chateauneuf du Pape (CNDP)
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC is located between the villages of Avignon and Orange. The appellation covers over 7,900 acres in méridional (southern) Rhône Valley. There is more wine made here than in the whole of septentrional (northern) Rhône.
The climate in this region is warm and arid and is known for its unique soil covered with a layer of galets or "pebbles". The pebbles are made up of quartzite that were left behind by Alpine glaciers and smoothed over a millenia by the Rhône River. This layer of rocks over the soil retains the heat from the day, keeping the vineyards warm at night, which allows the grapes to mature much earlier.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape allows thirteen varieties to be cultivated, including both red, pink and white grapes; Cinsault, Counoise, Mouvedre, Piquepoul noir, Grenache noir, Syrah, Vaccarese, Clairette blanche, Clairette rose, Grenache blanc, Grenache gris, Piquepoul blanc, and Roussanne.
