Which bottle to serve as a Christmas appetizer?

Among all the Christmas meal ideas, many include a refined appetizer. Foie gras is one of the classic staples. Whether cooked or semi-cooked, it forms a superb pairing with the Clos de Beauvenir 2023 from Château La Nerthe. This blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation is distinguished by its exceptional, infinitely elegant and deep personality. Its freshness and nectarine-like sweetness create a wonderfully balanced contrast with the richness and creaminess of foie gras. For a pan-fried version, opt for a fruity and supple red wine, such as the Le Perréon 2022 from Château de Corcelles.
Another festive classic is scallops, for example, enhanced by a topinambour cream with hazelnuts. To accompany this with style while surprising your guests, turn to a wine from Beaujolais, such as the Chardonnay 2023 from Château de Corcelles. Behind its pale golden hue, this white wine blends the minerality of its grape variety with the delicately wooded influence of barrel aging—perfect to complement the scallops.

What food and wine pairing to favor for the main course of a Christmas meal?

Christmas main courses, often generous and flavorful, call for wines that will magnify their intensity. For bold meats in sauce, such as game, the Cuvée des Cadettes 2020 from Château La Nerthe is the ideal companion. This Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine, dominated by Grenache Noir and complemented by Syrah and Mourvèdre, is both powerful, complex, and refined.
The Les Tours 2022 from Château des Tours, in the Brouilly appellation, also ensures a remarkable pairing. This 100% Gamay from Beaujolais is made from old vines perched on an amphitheater around the estate, releasing all their richness and concentration. With aromas of cassis and cherry, accented by subtle spicy notes, it combines complexity, balance, and indulgence.
However, if you prefer to serve a white meat to your guests, such as a roasted turkey with a butternut-hazelnut-parmesan crumble, let yourself be seduced by the Brouilly Les Roches 2021 from Château de Corcelles. This 100% Gamay boasts smooth tannins, nourished by a refined and persistent style. The Les Clavelles 2021 from Château La Nerthe, from an extraordinary plot of pure Grenache, is also a delightfully harmonious choice with its elegant density and the purity of its fruit.

Which wine to choose for Christmas at the cheese course ?

The cheese platter remains one of the most anticipated parts of the festive meal. Choosing the right wine for this key moment deserves special attention.

For white wine, opt for the Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe 2023, a Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc blending Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne. This wine, reflecting its vineyard between Mediterranean forests and garrigue, is seduced by aromas of apricot, fresh pear, and white peach. Its citrusy mouth offers the ideal liveliness for enjoying fresh goat cheese. It also pairs beautifully with a young comté, whose firm texture and delicate aromas complement the wine’s freshness.
For a red wine and cheese pairing, head to Beaujolais with the Fleurie Poncié 2022 from Château de Corcelles, which invites you to a moment suspended between strength and finesse. Its mineral and undergrowth notes, along with dark fruit, elegantly unfold throughout a powerful yet refined mouthfeel. This wine pairs perfectly with a creamy brie, whose smooth texture and softness complement the richness of the Fleurie. You could also opt for a mild blue cheese like blue de Gex, whose creamy texture and slightly tangy flavor pair wonderfully with the fruity and mineral notes of the Fleurie.

Finally, which wine with a festive dessert?

The grand finale of the meal, dessert, adds a touch of indulgence to the Christmas dinner or Christmas Day lunch. And the chocolate Yule log often seems like an obvious choice. In this instance, the Château La Nerthe 2021 cuvée makes a lasting impression. This blend of Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault perfectly embodies the terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its notes of ripe cherries and strawberries, enhanced by spicy touches, pair well with the richness of the chocolate, while its freshness and the subtlety of its tannins add a pleasant lightness.
In AOP Brouilly, the Combiaty 2020 from Château des Tours is also an excellent choice with its enticing concentration, expressive fruit, and the typical minerality of its appellation. For spirits enthusiasts, the Fine du Château La Nerthe (only available at the estate’s cellar) is a vintage eau-de-vie perfect for a chocolate Yule log, with its ample mouthfeel, dried fruit aromas, and a long, balanced finish.

From appetizers to desserts, you now know which wine to choose for Christmas. And if, after finalizing your menu, you still need to complete your gift list, our gift ideas for wine lovers are here to inspire you. Merry Christmas to you!

1. A selection of exceptional wines to place under your Christmas tree

Giving wine is a must for those who love oenology. But which wines should you choose for Christmas to make a difference?
The freshness and refinement of our Château La Nerthe’s organic-certified vintages stand out. These beautiful Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, available in both red and white, can be ordered with just a few clicks from our online shop. Among them, some particularly prestigious bottles will delight even the most discerning wine lovers: our moving Cuvée des Cadettes, our iconic Clos de Beauvenir, and our rarest cuvée, Les Clavelles.

To round out your wine gift set, consider adding AOP Côtes-du-Rhône Villages and Côtes-du-Rhône wines, like Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe. The Beaujolais wines from our Château de Corcelles and Château des Tours offer more accessible options, with beautifully crafted expressions. These wines reveal different facets of the Beaujolais region, whether in Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon, Beaujolais-Villages, or Beaujolais AOC. Their beautiful vineyard-specific selections invite you to travel through the great Beaujolais estates.

Finally, why not complete your Christmas wine selection with Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois, or Côtes de Bourg AOC? Our Château Gantonnet, Château Victoria, Château Escalette, and Château de Barbe bottles are ideal choices.

2. A gift voucher for an unforgettable cellar tour to delight your loved ones

Among the most memorable Christmas gifts for wine lovers, a cellar tour ranks high. More than just a tasting, it’s a true immersion into a wine estate.
At Château La Nerthe, nestled in the heart of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards, our team offers three exceptional experiences: three suspended ways to taste five centuries of elegance, no matter the season, even in winter…
Each of these tours, which can be purchased as a gift voucher for Christmas, includes a discovery of the historical cellars of our château. You’ll just need to decide whether to complement this journey with a guided tasting of 5 or 7 wines, or even 8 exceptional cuvées from different vintages, in the candlelit ambiance of our secret cellar…

3. A historical wine tourism experience: a unique Christmas gift

If your loved ones plan to visit Beaujolais soon, this original gift idea will enchant them: a timeless experience at the impressive Château de Corcelles, with its distinctive 15th-century towers and expansive park.
There, they can enjoy an audio-guided tour of part of the château. You can also add to this discovery a guided tasting of 4 cuvées from our estate, with or without a delicious traditional mâchon, featuring cured meats and cheeses.
Additionally, an exclusive visit to the first floor of this historic monument, followed by a tasting of 5 wines, can be booked for those wanting to learn more about our château. The more adventurous guests can also explore our vineyards on a Segway before a well-deserved tasting…

4. A stay at the heart of the vineyard: a wine gift idea to share

For unforgettable memories with family or friends, nothing beats an oenology weekend or a prolonged wine-filled stay in a charming gîte in Beaujolais…
Our Château des Tours, located less than 50 km from Lyon and 40 km from Mâcon, is the perfect setting for such a getaway. In the Brouilly AOC, our estate offers two comfortable and elegant gîtes: our Gîte du Vigneron (open year-round) and our Gîte La Sarrasine (open from March to December). Both enjoy an idyllic location within a 12th-century architectural complex, surrounded by a sea of Beaujolais vineyards… This guarantees an extraordinary base for enjoying the wide range of oenological and cultural activities in the region!

We hope this selection of wine gift ideas will help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. For more inspiration, feel free to follow Château La Nerthe, Château de Corcelles, and Château des Tours on Instagram. Happy holidays!

In the Rhône Valley, a Harvest Rich in Challenges and Promises

At Château La Nerthe, in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes-du-Rhône appellations, our harvests involved several weeks of meticulous work. This year, more than ever, tested our teams in the vineyards as unpredictable, rainy weather demanded constant attention, especially given our commitment to organic viticulture since 1998.
Despite these challenging conditions, the 2024 vintage already stands out for its potential, both for our Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes-du-Rhône wines. Thanks to the efforts of our teams and a more favorable September, we anticipate a fine reward in the bottle, which we eagerly await following the fermentation and aging of our wines.
At the Prieuré de Montézargues in the Tavel appellation, the observation is similar: although the yield was modest, the quality of the grapes was exceptional, promising excellent prospects for our Tavel rosé, an elegant, gastronomic wine…

In the Beaujolais Region, Grapes Promise a Quality 2024 Vintage

In the heart of Beaujolais, our Château des Tours and Château de Corcelles also saw a limited harvest volume. Nevertheless, we were delighted to see outstanding quality: the berries were healthy, ripe, and balanced, marking this vintage.
Both châteaux benefited from a superb August, which saved our grapes as the sunshine allowed each grape variety to reach ideal ripeness. Furthermore, our harvest teams enjoyed ideal working conditions, free from rain and extreme heat.
This emotional viticultural journey should yield refined and delicious wines for both the Brouilly wines of Château des Tours and the Fleurie, Morgon, Brouilly, and Beaujolais-Villages wines of Château de Corcelles.

For Our Bordeaux Châteaux, a Harvest Hinting at Freshness

In our Bordeaux vineyards, including Château Gantonnet, Château Victoria, Château Escalette, and Château de Barbe, we also contended with a changing, unpredictable climate. Resilience was the watchword for our teams throughout the 2024 campaign.
We did our utmost to avoid harvesting in the rain to preserve grape quality and prevent water in our vats. To our surprise, yields were positive: despite a challenging year with disease pressure, especially in spring, the grapes remained healthy.
This vintage promises freshness, lovely fruit notes, and pleasing digestibility for the AOC Bordeaux and AOC Bordeaux Supérieur wines of Château Gantonnet, the AOC Haut-Médoc and Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois wines of Château Victoria, the AOC Côtes de Bourg cuvée from Château l’Escalette, and various Bordeaux appellations from Château de Barbe.

Once again, we extend our deepest thanks to all our harvest teams, who tirelessly accomplished remarkable work despite the whims of this vintage. Whether in the Rhône, Beaujolais, or Bordeaux, their precise and attentive efforts have been crucial in ensuring the best possible quality for this 2024 harvest. Join us in a few months or years to taste these wines from our estates and châteaux…

The Wines of Tavel: A History Entwined with Kings and Popes

Between the Pont du Gard and the Pont d’Avignon, in the south of France, Tavel stands out for its rich history. The village of Gard is often considered the birthplace of the “first rosé of France.” It all began with Roman influence: this ancient people quickly chose to plant vines on these lands in the Rhône Valley. But it was in the Middle Ages that the undeniable qualities of this vineyard were truly recognized. In the early 14th century, Tavel wine became the favorite nectar of Philip the Fair, to the point where the Capetian king called it the “king of rosés.” Even the popes delighted in inviting this “rosé of kings” to their tables, reputed to be one of the best rosé wines in France.

During this time, the Prieuré de Montézargues was already thriving: the wines from our Tavel estate were the only ones officially served to the Avignon papacy, alongside the Burgundian bottles from Clos de Vougeot. A few centuries later, in 1936, the Tavel AOC was recognized by the state thanks to the unwavering commitment of its winemakers. Once again, our appellation stands out: it is the very first Rosé AOC in France…

A Great Terroir for Tavel Rosés of Remarkable Complexity

The Tavel wines have long been cited among the world’s best rosés, thanks primarily to the incredible quality of their Rhône terroir.

This terroir is built upon the alliance of three main soil types. The first, rolled pebbles, play a precious role in aiding the ripening of the grapes: from springtime, they absorb heat and release it back into the soil, while protecting the vines from moisture and disease. Limestone, on the other hand, shields the vineyard from temperature fluctuations and efficiently drains the soil. Lastly, Tavel features a particularly unique sandy soil, deposited in ancient times by the Mediterranean. Its loose structure facilitates deep vine rooting, where minerals and water await.

At Prieuré de Montézargues, our Tavel rosés benefit from these wonderful sandy soils, overseen by a thick layer of rolled pebbles. For an average of forty years, a lovely palette of grape varieties has flourished in this distinct terroir. Among the reds, you’ll find bold Syrahs, structured Mourvèdres, delightful Cinsaults, ample Grenache Noirs, and vigorous Carignans. Among the whites, there are round Clairettes, delicate Grenache Blancs, and lively Bourboulencs…

From this perfect variety of personalities emerges the unmatched imprint of our Tavel rosés: delicacy and elegance, carried by the subtle tannic nuances of our terroir. To reveal each facet as finely as possible, we cultivate our 34 hectares of vines with the utmost respect: since the 2013 vintage, our bottles have been certified organic.

Our Tavel Rosés and Their Craftsmanship Ready to Defy Time…

Hidden at the heart of the Tavel appellation, surrounded by Mediterranean forest and scrubland, Prieuré de Montézargues takes care of every detail to enhance the treasures nature offers us.

In this Provençal Eden, facing Mont Ventoux, we hand-harvest our grapes before meticulously sorting, destemming, macerating, and pressing them. Plot by plot, we favor custom vinification of our different grape varieties. The freshness, acidity, and finesse of our rosé wine depend on this.

The precision and patience of our craftsmanship are indeed rewarded by the magnificent expression of our cuvées, which gracefully embrace time. Even after 10 or 15 years, these true age-worthy wines display their full potential: brilliant color, elegant and complex nose, infinitely aromatic palate. More than just a tasting, the glass offers a unique gastronomic emotion, ideal for refined Provençal summer cuisine…

After diving into the secrets of Tavel rosés, why not set your sights on another color, this time on the left bank of the Rhône? This article invites you to discover the superb 2023 white wines of Château La Nerthe, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Our three vineyards in the Rhone Valley have had completely different harvests this year. Nevertheless, the summer heat and rain at the end of August and September meant that the berries were perfectly ripe on each property.

While the harvest at Château La Nerthe and Prieuré Montézargues were both less spread out over time than in previous years, those in our Côtes-du-Rhône vineyard “Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe” were scattered because of the rainy spells that animated this harvest season.

A hailstorm hit Château La Nerthe in the afternoon of August 14, which afflicted part of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. This event caused yield loss, which was significant depending on the plot. Fortunately, the mistral wind and hot temperatures quickly dried the affected berries, and we were able to start the harvest immediately, thanks to the early ripening from the scorching summer. The normal harvesting order was only slightly modified.

Cassagnes de La Nerthe vineyard resulted in a small and very qualitative crop. The white grape varieties developed quite early, as did the Grenache noir, whose harvest was closer than usual to that of the syrah. This year has been particularly favorable for our flagship Côtes-du-Rhône grape varieties, Grenaches blanc and noir.

In Tavel, at Prieuré de Montézargues, we have rarely had such a healthy and early harvest! We picked in the usual order, starting with the grenache blanc, then the grenache noir, cinsault, and syrah, and ending with grape varieties like clairette or bourboulenc, whose skin is more resistant to weather hazards. The berries are quite small and concentrated, and the quality is there!

The entire harvest promises exquisite wines, concentrated, fruity, and generous.