Chateau la Nerthe

Records at Château la Nerthe date back to at least 1560, when the property was founded by the Tulle de Villefranche family. It has been in the Richard family since 1985, headed up today by Corinne Richard.

The 92-hectare vineyard is a patchwork of 57 different plots, representing each of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s soil types, including the signature galet stones. All 13 of the appellation’s permitted grape varieties are grown here, with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre dominating.

The Richard family have invested heavily in both the vineyard and the winery. For now, around half of the red-wine volume is vinified at the individual parcel level. The introduction of more small vats is planned to accommodate ever-more-precise vinification.

Ch. la Nerthe has been farmed organically since 1998. Biodiversity is a key focus: there are woodlands around the vineyard, and the team encourage birds and bats as a natural way to defend against insects, reducing the need for treatments.