Les Vignerons de l'Enclave des Papes

History of Les Vignerons de l'Enclave des Papes (The Vintners of the Enclave)

Legend has it that Pope John XXII, after his election in Lyon in 1317, tasted a wine from Valréas on a stage on his way to Avignon. His health was somewhat failing at the time, and so it is said that after a few sips he said, "He found himself very refreshed." So he came to the conclusion that this wine was a miracle. So the church leaders decided to stock this wine for the Pope, they later bought the town of Valréas from the Dauphin du Viennois, then the neighbouring villages of Richerenches, Visan and Grillon in the following years. The enclave of winegrowers was born!
When the French departments were created after the Revolution, the inhabitants of Valréas, Visan, Richerenches and Grillon decided by referendum to remain in Vaucluse. Thus they perpetuated the enclave that still exists today as an enclave of the department of Vaucluse in the Drôme.

Les Vignerons de l'Enclave des Papes geographical location

One of the legendary peculiarities is its geographical originality. Indeed, the four towns of the enclave represent a unique geographical and geological characteristic. It is the northernmost vineyard of the southern Côtes du Rhône with a higher than average altitude. The soils are mostly stony clay-limestone and benefit from a Provençal climate with cool nights, very sunny days cleansed by the mistral. The vineyards are bordered on 3 sides by the first foothills of the Southern Pre-Alps, thus this terroir opens to the west towards the Rhone Valley. It is truly a micro-terroir, a distinct geographical entity that history has always clearly differentiated.

Les Vignerons de l'Enclave des Papes wines

Located in the heart of the southern Côtes du Rhône region, the signature of the Vignerons de l'Enclave offers a wide range of Rhône Valley wines that meet the specific expectations of today's consumers. It is mainly vines of the wines that thrive here:

• Carignan
• Cinsault
• Grenache
• Mourvèdre
• Syrah