Perhaps the most famous region in the world. The name means the Popes new castle. The first vines in the region were planted by the ancient Romans while Popes served their Papacy in the region of Avignon.

Grenache is the dominant variety, ripening is intensified through sun reflection off of round stones called galetes roules. Thanks to the Mistral wind blowing south from Dijon, the vines are cooled and protected from mildew, the wind is so intense it could blow the ears off a donkey. To prevent uprooting the vines are often staked down.