Château de Beaucastel is not only one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s greatest wine estates, is also one of the world’s great estates. It belongs to the Famille Perrin portfolio of wines and is located on the northern end of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
According to French wine rules, the appellation’s wineries are permitted to use 13 different varieties (cépages) of grapes in their blends but unlike most other local wineries, Beaucastel uses all 13 varieties, though the major grapes are still Grenache, Syrah, and mourvedre, counoise and cinsault with small percentages of the other varieties. Their whites as well as their red wines are world famous. The estate is organic, and they are converting to bio-dynamic production.
In California the Château de Beaucastel formed a partnership with their importer, Vineyard Brands, to create Tablas Creek wines, a pioneer in the production of Rhône varietals (i.e. Grenache, syrah, mourvedre) in central California.
In Provence the Famille Perrin has entered into a partnership with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to produce the Miraval Wines in the Var region.
Visiting a top-notch wine estate and tasting the wines is always a highlight of a wine lover’s trip to Provence or the Rhône Valley. For a winery visit, write to Kirsty at [email protected].
However you will get a more extensive tasting of not only Château de Beaucastel but also a wide gamut of Perrin Family wines if you visit one of the brand new tastings rooms, where a knowledgeable, English speaking sommelier (François in Châteauneuf; Richard in Aix) will explain the wines. Look for “Famille Perrin”. You will have a great time!
In Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Famille Perrin, Place du Portail, (next to the Tourist Office in the center of the village. ) +33 (0)4 90 02 15 54
10 to 6 :30, Monday through Saturday.
In Aix-en-Provence: Famille Perrin, 1 Place Forbin (at the opposite end of the Cours Mirabeau from the very large ‘Fontaine de la Rotonde.’) 10:30 til 7:00 Tuesday-Saturday. +33 (0)4 42 27 45 20
Château de Beacastel
Chemin de Beaucastel, Courthezon, Provence
+33 (0)4 90 70 41 00
Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, Ala. 205 980-8802
Sharon Derham
