For wine lovers who have not already done so, now is the time to enjoy the produce of Chateauneuf du Pape, it has been claimed.

The region's 2006 vintage is a very accessible, drinkable wine, while the 2007 has been hailed as the best Rhone vintage in decades, according to the Huddersfield Examiner.

Choice bottles from the region include the Chateauneuf du Pape Terroir Gres Rouge 2007, as well as Vieux Donjon 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape, the newspaper suggests.

Chateauneuf du Pape's quality is rooted - literally - in its soil. The Examiner suggests that the region's sandy soils are hidden by large, flat stones that soak up the heat during the day and radiate it to the vines at night.

Wine producer Skalli recently announced it is opening a tourist information centre at its vineyard in Chateauneuf du Pape, where visitors can taste some selected wines and go on a tour of the cellars.