Château La Nerthe Winery Guide

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The gorgeous historic property of Château La Nerthe has been making exceptional Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines since the 16th century. Yet, today it symbolizes a thoroughly modern approach to winemaking and organic viticulture; this passion for quality allied with a dedication to terroir results in an impressive, small wine selection produced with exceptional skill and prowess. We must largely thank Christian Voeux, who has recently taken over from the former winemaker Alain Dugas and continues to take Château La Nerthe to new heights.

Château La Nethe owes its origins to the aristocratic Tulle family of Villefranche, who acquired the Rhône Château in 1560. Under their stewardship, the Château soon developed an enviable reputation for quality, helping to put the region on the fine wine map. European royalty showed an interest in la Nerthe, and the wine was served in Royal Courts in London, Rome, Versailles, and beyond. The estate remained in the Tulle family for generations until the outbreak of phylloxera in the 19th century, which wiped out most of Europe’s vineyards. Tulle sold the estate to the commander Josep Drucos. It remained in his possession until 1985, when it came under the control of the Richard family. Trusting the legendary vineyard manager Alain Dugas with his wines, Château La Nerthe went from strength to strength until Dugas retired in 2008.

Today, Christian Voeux continues to respect Dugas’ vision of 21st-century winemaking paired with the utmost dedication to nurturing the delicate terroir of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. A modern, sophisticated approach to vinification has produced magnificent results throughout the small range, with judicious use of barriques for both reds and whites. The reds are dense, deeply colored, supple, and impeccably balanced, whereas the whites show exactly what Châteauneuf-du-Pape is capable of – Clos de Beauvenir is on a par with top white Burgundy. This is unquestionably one of the finest sources of Châteauneuf-du-Pape available today in both red and white.