Traveling through the south of France we have encountered
lots of vineyards. However, the most
impressive collection of vineyards and wineries that we have seen was in
Chateauneuf-du-pape. The ruins of the
pope’s summer residence (from the period of the Avignon popes) are quite
impressive. The chateau sits atop a
hill, with cooling breezes blasting through the windows this time of year.
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| Approaching the chateau from the north |
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| Looking south at the ruins |
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| The view from a chateau window |
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| The chateau from the south |
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| The entrance to the papal caves is to the left of the barrel |
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| Inside the cave, the big vat to the right was for crushing, and the smaller vat collected the juice. The wine was stored in amphorae. |
The vineyards are extensive in virtually every
direction. To capture the sun’s warmth,
and improve the microclimate of the vineyards, stones cover the vineyard floors.
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| Stones on the vineyard |
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| View to the west |
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| View to the south, towards Avignon |
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| View to the east |
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