Famille Perrin

Dating back to 1549, Château de Beaucastel may or may not be the oldest estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. What is not in doubt is its status as a benchmark property not just in Châteauneuf but in the whole of the Rhône. Owned and managed by the Perrin family’s fifth generation, Beaucastel was an early adopter of organic and biodynamic viticulture (from around the 1950s and officially biodynamic since 1974) and today has roughly 100ha under vine - mostly within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, as well as a portion just outside, producing wines under the Côtes-du-Rhône label.

Beaucastel is particularly known for using all 13 grape varieties permitted under the Châteauneuf appellation – relatively rare – and for favouring Mourvèdre, lending structure, depth and ageing potential. The famous “galets roulés” that retain heat by day and release it by night combine with exposure to the Mistral wind to deliver a fine balance of ripeness and freshness here; each grape variety is vinified separately before blending while ageing is largely in large old oak foudres, with minimal use of new oak. As well as red and white Châteauneuf, the estate produces a Vieilles Vignes Blanc from Roussanne and the extremely rare cuvée, Hommage à Jacques Perrin. The estate has recently undergone substantial renovation via a new cellar incorporating sustainable building techniques, water-management with rainwater harvesting, and cooling systems that lean on passive environmental features. As well as red and white Châteauneuf, the estate produces a Vieilles Vignes Blanc from Roussanne and the extremely rare cuvée, Hommage à Jacques Perrin.