2023 Moulin de Saints

In my house growing up, my dad bought a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for every holiday. My parents didn’t drink wine often, but when the special occasions arrived, so did the Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Mom and Dad lived in France for the first two years of their marriage, while he completed his ROTC obligation in Fontainebleau — and I was the “surprise” halfway through his tour. Though I have no memories of that time, they made sure I had a connection to where I was born, with lots of pictures and stories, and a little French sprinkled into everyday life — I grew up hearing “allez” and “tout de suite” often. Money was tight in those early years, but Dad loved his Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and on special occasions he’d buy a bottle for dinner, making sure everyone — children included — had a sip, telling us that French children were already drinking wine and regaling us with stories of their time there.

So, in the tradition of my parents, I open a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for every holiday — and I am privileged to share the wines I’ve discovered on my trips to the little village at the heart of this storied region with you. Châteauneuf-du-Pape was France’s very first AOC, established in 1936, and remains one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world. Drawing on as many as thirteen permitted grape varieties, five distinct terroirs, and a sun-soaked climate swept by the famous mistral wind, it produces wines of remarkable richness and complexity. The 2023 Moulin de Saints is a beautiful expression of that heritage — and one we are proud to bring to your holiday table.