Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the Rhône wine named for the popes' new castle north of Avignon, mostly red and led by Grenache, and the wine the papal court first made famous.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
After the papacy moved to Avignon in 1309, Clement V took an interest in the vineyards of the village then called Châteauneuf-Calcernier, and his successor John XXII chose them to supply the palace with what he called vin du pape; more than 3,000 litres were sold to the Palais des Papes between 1325 and 1334, and John XXII built the castle. Rules drawn up by the growers in 1923, led by Baron Pierre Le Roy, became the first appellation rules in France, and the appellation was created in law in 1936. Eighteen grape varieties have been allowed since 2009.
Tours, tastings and classes that match this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Day trip · 4 hours
Embark on a half-day wine tour from Avignon to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Enjoy a scenic photo stop at the ruins of the Pope's summer residence, then visit...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Join us on this fantastic food tour to taste and learn everything you've ever wanted to know about French gastronomy. Savory and sweet specialities...
Day trip · 4 hours
Discover St-Emilion on a guided village tour, followed by a guided visit and tasting of 3-4 wines with a French aperitif platter at a Grand Cru...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Immerse yourself in Nice's outstanding food culture as you savor the taste of some of its best food. Whet your appetite with some of the city's best...
Common allergens: Sulphites
Tip from the editors. Buy the Côtes du Rhône bottles from the same producer as the Châteauneuf if you can, so the tasting shows the appellation rather than the house.
Restaurant Sevin sits against the Palais des Papes in Avignon, where Guilhem Sevin cooks a seasonal menu backed by a cellar book of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
OrderThe seasonal menu; summer 2026 carried the Sur le Pont menu, built on the flavours of the south.
TipClosed 1-19 November 2026, and on Sunday evenings from December to March; a few steps lead up to the entrance.
Bar de La Mirande, in the hotel beside the Palais des Papes in Avignon, serves seasonal cocktails and single malts in a patio and a garden terrace.
DrinkCocktails built on Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines and Manguin distillery spirits
FoodHomemade pastries and loose-leaf teas from 15:00 to 18:00
TipTea room service runs from 15:00 to 18:00 without booking; the garden terrace looks onto the Palais des Papes.
Aimé is a bistro under the plane trees of Place du Cloître Saint-Pierre in Avignon, where chef Ryo Kirikura cooks locavore French food with Japanese notes.
OrderThe Franco-Japanese bistro plates; Le Fooding singled out daring duck hearts over gem lettuce.
Why locals goAimé has a tiny dining room and a shaded terrace in the Cloître Saint-Pierre, off the main tourist axis, and it is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
TipThe dining room is tiny and the terrace is the draw; the wine list is regional and organic, from Châteauneuf to Ventoux.
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