Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards White, Famille Perrin

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards White, Famille Perrin is the house's white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne fermented and aged in demi-muids.

The vineyard, two and a half hectares inside the Clos du château, lies right beside one of the plots used for the red Sinards. The soils are deposits of Alpine diluvium, pebbles and clay. Châteauneuf-du-Pape makes only a small share of white wine, and these warm terroirs call for protective winemaking to keep the freshness.

Famille Perrin is based at Château de Beaucastel, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A pioneer of organic and then biodynamic growing, it belongs to Primum Familiae Vini, the circle of the world's leading wine families. Les Sinards is made by the same method as the wines of Château de Beaucastel, in the same cellar and by the same team.

Key facts

• Origin: France, Rhône Valley, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Appellation: AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Producer: Famille Perrin
• Cuvée: Les Sinards
• Grape varieties: Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne
• Terroir: Deposits of Alpine diluvium, pebbles and clay, inside the Clos du château
• Winemaking: Grapes pressed on arrival at the cellar in a pneumatic press, must chilled and settled by cold with no additive, fermentation started in tank then run into demi-muids on the first day
• Ageing: Several months in barrel with regular lees stirring, then a light fining before bottling
• Colour: White wine
• Bottle size: 75 cl

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Golden, with bright, faintly green highlights
• Nose: Subtle, a delicate bouquet of lime blossom, apricot and almond
• Palate: Fine aromas of white fleshed fruit, honey and fennel, a slightly saline finish

Serving and cellaring

Serve it at 10 °C, in tasting glasses. The whites of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are drunk either in their first three years or after five to six years in the cellar, when the honey and the fennel come back. Keep the bottle lying down, at a steady temperature and away from light.

Food pairings

White meats and dishes in cream, as the house recommends: Bresse chicken in cream, sweetbreads, blanquette. Its saline finish also works with lobster or an aged parmesan.

Read more

Read the story of Famille Perrin, the thirteen grape varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the right serving temperature for a white wine. Find the whole range in our Famille Perrin collection, the other cuvées of the appellation in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape collection, and the rest of our selection among our white wines.

Frequently asked questions

Does Châteauneuf-du-Pape make white wine?

Yes, but in small quantity: white wine accounts for a fraction of the appellation's output. The permitted white varieties include Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Picardan.

What is a demi-muid?

A demi-muid is a cask of about 600 litres, close to three times a Bordeaux barrel. The wood marks the wine less, while still allowing the slow exchanges that give whites their texture.

Why settle the must by cold with no additive?

Chilling the must makes the solids fall to the bottom of the tank on their own, with no enzyme or additive. The clear juice that comes off ferments more cleanly and keeps more aromatic finesse.

How is the bottle shipped?

Shipping within France is free on orders over 300 EUR. Every bottle is carefully packed and sent with tracked delivery.