The Pope's wine disappeared in 48 Hours: the story of the cuvée everyone wanted to taste

When people think of a papal visit, they think of ceremonies, official speeches, and waiting crowds. In the Moselle region, however, someone also thought of a keepsake to uncork or save. The man behind this is Arnaud Stapurewicz, owner of Domaine La Joyeuse, who decided to create a special cuvée in honor of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Metz.

The idea came about during a conversation with Archpriest Cédric Triponez. At first, they had even considered a beer, partly because the winemaker had recently started a brewing business. Then wine almost naturally became the obvious choice: because of its connection to Christian tradition, the symbolic value of the vine, and the desire to showcase the region through something more distinctive.

The result? A limited production of 500 bottles, sold through the bishop’s boutique, which attracted attention far beyond expectations. In just two days, the cuvée was already sold out.

The answer lies in a highly effective combination: a limited edition, a rare event, strong symbolic value, and deep local roots. A bottle linked to a papal visit isn’t simply a wine to bring to dinner; it becomes a memento, something to keep in the cellar, give as a gift, or share stories about with friends.

The factors that have sparked curiosity are clear:

• a very limited production run, making it hard to find;
• a direct link to Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Metz;
• a custom label featuring references to the city and the pope;
• a local grape variety, Auxerrois, little known to the general public;
• an affordable price, set at 18 euros, which made the bottle appealing even as a souvenir.

In short: it wasn’t just a bottle. It was a story ready to take home.

The cuvée created for Pope Leo XIV’s visit is the result of a unique blend, conceived on a very tight schedule. The winemaker used an older cuvée with woody aromas, which had been stored in tanks and was originally intended for crémant. From there, a blend was created using vintages from 2022 and 2025; a practical yet intriguing choice: the domaine’s recent past meets the present moment of an exceptional event.

The grape variety highlighted here is Auxerrois, a white variety found in certain areas of eastern France, often overlooked but capable of producing soft, pleasant, and food-friendly wines. In this case, rather than relying on a famous name, the cuvée showcases a local identity.

What is Auxerrois?
It is a white grape variety primarily associated with certain cool regions of Central and Northeastern Europe. It can produce round, delicate wines that pair well with food.

The bottle was priced at 18 euros, a price that likely contributed to its immediate success. It wasn’t an impossibly high investment, but it wasn’t just any old purchase either: affordable enough to pique curiosity, special enough to seem like a souvenir not to be missed.

The sale was linked to the Metz Bishopric’s boutique, as part of the initiatives organized for the papal visit. The proceeds also served a practical purpose: to help finance the event, which involved significant organizational costs.

Can you still buy the Pope’s wine?
According to available information, the initial run of 500 bottles sold out in two days. Barring new stock or private resales, the bottle has quickly become hard to find.

A significant part of this bottle’s appeal lies in its label. Created specifically for the occasion, it depicts Metz Cathedral and the pope, transforming the cuvée into a commemorative item. In cases like this, the label serves not only to identify the wine—it becomes the cover of the story.

The project came at a rather hectic time for a producer: the height of the harvest. Between grapes to monitor, a bustling winery, and extremely tight deadlines, creating the cuvée required a small team: the diocese, communications, graphic design, printing, and, of course, the domaine.

Why is a commemorative bottle so appealing?
Because it combines two very human desires: to taste something delicious and to preserve a memory. A bottle can remain unopened for years, end up in a display case, be opened with family, or given as a gift.

The La Joyeuse estate takes its name from a spring located in the vineyard, marked by a stone dated 1714 and bearing an inscription evoking peace and joy. It’s a poetic detail, but also very helpful in understanding the essence of the project: this cuvée comes from a specific place, not from a marketing office far from the vineyard.

The producer, who has taken over the family estate, is seeking to develop new ventures: craft beer, seminar spaces, hospitality, and wine tourism. In a wine-growing region that receives less media attention than Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Champagne, a story like this can shine a spotlight on a more understated territory.

The interesting point, for those who love wine and food, is precisely this: a special bottle can serve as a gateway to a grape variety, a region, and a different way of experiencing wine.

This story says a lot about how we view wine in 2026. We’re not just looking for technically sound bottles, but for credible stories, roots, limited editions, faces, and places. The Pope’s wine made headlines not just for its taste, but for everything surrounding it: the visit of Leo XIV, Metz, the Moselle, the Auxerrois grape, the work during the harvest, and the speed with which the bottles disappeared.

Of course, one simple recommendation remains: wine should be enjoyed with curiosity and moderation. But this cuvée clearly demonstrates just how a bottle can become much more than a drink . It can be a souvenir, a culinary tidbit, a gesture of regional identity, and even a small cultural phenomenon.

And in the end, the most intriguing question remains: what did this much-coveted wine actually taste like?Those who managed to buy it hold the answer in their hands. Everyone else, at the very least, has a perfect story to tell at the next toast.