Provence & Côte d'Azur wine travel guide

A narrow lane through garrigue, pine forest and cork oaks brings you to an old Provençal farmhouse of local stone, farmed by the same family since 1820. Renaud de Saint-Seine, a passionate guardian of…

Ten minutes' drive from the centre of Aix-en-Provence, Château de la Gaude is tucked away in the hills of the Pinchinats district, sheltered from the mistral and overlooking the Montagne Sainte-Victoi…

Just before you drive into Saint-Tropez, take the road to the right towards Ramatuelle. That's where you'll find the wineries of Saint-Tropez, and this is one of my personal favourites. The estate mak…

As far as I'm concerned, Bandol produces the best rosés in the world. The area is stunning and well worth a visit. Domaine Bunan itself is worth visiting too, and the nice thing about Domaine Bunan is…

The name says it all. "Béguda" means "the drink" or "the place where you drink" in Provençal: the old road between Marseille and Toulon passed by here, and travellers stopped for the night and a glass…

At the foot of Ménerbes, on the northern slopes of the Luberon, the estate covers more than 40 hectares of organically farmed vineyards across four terroirs with 15 grape varieties. But the wine is ju…

Domaine du Paternel produces white wines in AOC Cassis, rosé in Côtes de Provence and an age-worthy red in AOC Bandol, all certified organic. The tasting and sales caveau is open Monday to Sunday from…

The estate covers almost 850 hectares of oak, olive trees and garrigue, with the centuries-old Château Peyrassol vineyard at its heart. The options for visitors are exceptionally varied: a guided tour…

Since 2020 the estate has had a brand-new winery and a tasting room with a permanent exhibition of costumes, props and sets from the iconic films of owner Ridley Scott: Gladiator, Blade Runner, Thelma…

On the back of the hills overlooking the bay of Bandol lie the 30 hectares of Terrebrune's vineyards, surrounded by forest. The winery is open Monday to Saturday for tastings. A guided cellar tour wit…

In a narrow lane of the historic centre of Cassis, close to the church of Saint-Michel, this small place serves pizzas that bring people from far away. Not a big wine list, but a selection of local Ca…

In the bay of Renécros, the quietest corner of Bandol, lies La Chipote. Part of Hôtel Plein Large, but fully open to anyone who wants breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner overlooking the Mediterranean. …

Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit is the restaurant of chef Christian Morisset, tucked inside the ramparts of the old town of Antibes, close to the Picasso Museum and the market. The heart of the restaurant …

UVA is where wine bar cool meets fine dining. The name says it all: uva means grape in Latin, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and the choice is no coincidence. It expresses the ambition to offer the …

In a sheltered cove on the east side of Cassis, at the foot of Cap Canaille, the highest sea cliff in France. Right next to Villa Madie is the brasserie: market produce, appealing land-and-sea combina…

Previously known mainly for organising events and supplying wine to boats, which is why this address is in the old town close to the harbour of Cannes. And now it's a wine bar too. For wine lovers, a …

Once just a wine shop, now grown into a wine bar, cheese shop and restaurant. It's in the middle of the picturesque medieval hilltop village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup in the hinterland of Nice, a village…

A seasonal boat trip (April to October) to the Benedictine monks of Lérins Abbey for a wine tasting: one of the most remarkable wine experiences on the whole Côte d'Azur. You can book the tasting thro…

Former sommelier Benoît Pioger opened this cave à vins in Le Beausset in 2009, offering almost 500 wines from every wine region in France. There's also a bistro, serving everything from fresh marinate…

The best wine bar in Cannes: excellent food, a big wine list, and group bookings for eight or more people including a guided tasting. Quille is in the centre of Cannes, within walking distance of the…

From an abbey in Chianti to a wine barrel in the Douro: ten special wineries in Europe where you can also stay the night.

Stay at a winery in Champagne, Burgundy, the Rhône, Provence, Alsace, the Loire or Bordeaux: wine hotels, guest rooms and gîtes in France.