The productivity of the vineyards of the Cellar of the Templars arises from the variety of soil types. This variety is provided by the superb geographical situation. Situated on about 1,000 hectares in the Rhône valley,the vineyards spread into two departments, the Vaucluse, or more precisely the heart of the Enclave of the Popes, and the Provençal Drôme.
These terrains obtain their character from the stony red or brown soils, derived from ancient shallow deposits, dating from the Quaternary period, and also from recent (12,000 year-old) alluvial deposits.
This variety of soils allows the elaboration of a wide range of high quality wines having varied organoleptic characteristics.
The identity of the region was hammered out in the era of the Avignon popes. "Potion of Life" and "of Immortality" were two of the many sobriquets given by Pope John XXII to the wines of Valréas, Richerenches, Grillon and Visan. Having been cured by a course of treatment involving the wine of this region, he decided to avail himself permanently of this elixir of health. From 1317, the Pope bought the seigniorial rights of these towns and villages, thus founding the Enclave of the Popes.
Le Pape Jean XXII