IGP Vaucluse - Principauté d'Orange wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

The Principauté d'Orange geographical designation applies to the Vaucluse Protected Geographical Indication across 36 communes in the northern part of the department, within the Rhône corridor, on the former territory of the Principality of Orange. The zone borders the Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône Villages vineyards, between Orange, Vaison-la-Romaine and Valréas. The vines grow on recent and older alluvial soils laid down by the Rhône and its tributaries, the Aigues and the Ouvèze. A Mediterranean climate, marked by strong sunshine and the mistral wind, ensures steady ripening of the grapes and protects the vineyard from fungal disease. The grape varieties combine traditional southern varieties — grenache, syrah, cinsault, mourvèdre, carignan, clairette, bourboulenc and ugni blanc — with more recently introduced varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon and viognier, giving the wines a broad aromatic range.

Grape varieties: Vins rouges, rosés :  carignan, grenache, counoise, syrah, mourvèdre, cinsaut. Vins blancs secs : ugni blanc, clairette