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What Does 500 Years of Wine History Taste Like? With Roman Aujoulat from Chateau La Nerthe
Description
In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast, we sit down with Roman Aujoulat from Château La Nerthe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. One of the Rhône Valley’s most historic estates to unpack what tradition really means when you’re the next generation helping carry it forward.
Roman grew up in the Rhône surrounded by wine at the dinner table, but stepping into a role representing one of the region’s benchmark estates still came with challenge and trepidation. From that first emotional Loire Valley Chardonnay moment that pulled him into wine, to travelling the world pouring Châteauneuf-du-Pape in places like Sydney, this conversation moves between personal story and deep regional insight in the best possible way.
Along the way we explore why Châteauneuf-du-Pape allows up to 18 grape varieties, how blending gives growers freedom in a changing climate, and why Grenache still quietly shapes the identity of the region. Roman also shares the lesser-known history behind Château La Nerthe itself, including Roman amphitheatre stones hidden in the cellar walls and sealed wartime cellars rediscovered decades later.
We taste through Rhône whites, Beaujolais Gamay, Châteauneuf-du-Pape whites and mature Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds while talking about ageing windows, vintage expression, and what it means to evolve a historic estate without losing its soul.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – “You don’t need to be a pro to enjoy wine”
00:00:18 – Ice Breaker
00:04:00 – What Châteauneuf-du-Pape pairs best with at the table
00:05:42 – First tasting: Rhône white blend from La Nerthe
00:08:02 – Growing up with wine in the Rhône Valley
00:10:00 – Getting the call to represent La Nerthe
00:10:36 – What makes Rhône… Rhône?
00:12:39 – Robert Parker and global fame for Châteauneuf-du-Pape
00:13:00 – Why Châteauneuf-du-Pape allows 13 (or 18) grapes
00:16:27 – Why vintage variation matters more than consistency here
00:17:03 – The Richard family story: wine in Paris 140 years ago
00:20:25 – Second tasting: Beaujolais Gamay surprise
00:23:59 – How Château La Nerthe survived five centuries
00:26:21 – Phylloxera, rootstocks and saving the vineyards
00:29:22 – Hidden Roman stones and sealed WWII cellar stories
00:34:54 – What goes into white Châteauneuf-du-Pape
00:36:18 – How white Rhône wines age (and when to drink them)
00:48:58 – Modern vs old-school La Nerthe winemaking styles
00:49:06 – Mature Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds and ageing windows
00:57:22 – Final reflections + visiting Château La Nerthe
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Go check out Chateau Le Nerthe https://www.domainesrichard.fr/chateau-la-nerthe/en/
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