Winemaker Notes
Cellier des Princes was founded In 1925 by a group of dedicated winegrowers. 11 years later, these visionary men were involved in the creation of the 1st AOC appellation in France, Chateauneuf du Pape. Prior to 2005, the group of Cellier des Princes sold their grapes to other wineries. In 2005 they started directly bottling their own wines to show the prestige and quality of their historic vineyards. Utilizing traditional methods and modern equipment, the winery makes wines offering the purest expression of each terroir and appellation. Today, Cellier des Princes has become a reference in Rhône Valley and Chateauneuf du Pape, under its own brand, known for its excellent quality at the best price.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties. The region also produces rich and aromatic whites and rosés.