How many grape varieties are permitted in the blending of the French Rhone wine Chateauneuf du Pape?
Posted On August 9, 2020
As of 2020, the lucky number is 18. They include red grapes Cinsault, Counoise, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Muscardin, Piquepoul Noir, Syrah, Terret Noir, and Vaccarèse (Brun Argenté). White and pink varieties include Bourboulenc, Clairette Blanche, Clairette Rose, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Picardan, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Gris, and Roussanne.
In 1923, French regulators declared that 10 different varietals could be used in the making of Chatauneuf du Pape. That law was amended in 1936 to allow the use of 13 different grapes for its make up. In 2009, it was declared that 18 separate grapes could be used when the use of rose and a few new white varietals were allowed.