Provence & Rhone Wine Tours

Provence & Rhone Valley Activities

Two Cotes du Rhone

From its source in the Swiss canton of Vallais to its mouth in the Mediterranean, the Rhône Valley stretches over some 497 miles. And with it covering such a vast expanse, it helps to split it into two distinct regions: the North and the South.

Each boasts different climates, soils, terrains, grape varieties and even a different approach to making wine. These combine to produce wildly varying drinks and with such a wide array of distinctive wines, it can be difficult to know where to start. Thankfully, that’s where we come in.

The Northern Rhône covers the rough area that stretches from Vienne to Valence and the vineyards here typically contain vines planted on very steep slopes. Harvesting is therefore a tricky process and grapes are picked by hand and taken up the hillsides on trolleys. This makes production – and hence sale price – expensive. The Southern Rhône, meanwhile, spans from Montélimar to Avignon and contains some 123 communes, most of which are located on the eastern side of the Rhône.

Much more than great wine…

As well as wine tours – and tastings! – there are numerous activities and excursions that visitors can enjoy in this area of France. Given the proximity of the Alps, the more adventurous visitors could indulge in a spot of glacier trekking, while those seeking something a little less strenuous could opt instead to visit the thermal spas of Aix-les-Bains.

Further south and the Provençal coast is dotted with many beautiful towns and villages such as Gordes, with its cobbled streets and 16^th century château, or the clifftop village of Roussillon, built on one of the world’s largest ochre deposits.

Avignon, with its striking Palais de Papes, is also well worth a visit. Not to mention Aix-en-Provence, where you can visit the old studio of artist Paul Cézanne before relaxing in the shade by one of the city’s many impressive fountains.

Provence & Rhone Valley Wine Guide

The wines of the Cotes du Rhone

The best-known wines of the Rhône Valley are mainly reds and split into four groups: the regional appellation Côtes du Rhône, the Côtes du Rhône villages, 13 Crus, and finally the young Rhône Valley appellations. However of the 21 grape varieties allowed in Côtes du Rhônes wines, eight are in fact white, including Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc.

The Côtes du Rhône wines from the north of the river are generally made with Syrah grapes (or Viognier for the whites). To the south meanwhile, greater variety in climate and geology means greater diversity in grapes, with up to 13 different varieties sometimes used in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, including Grenache Noir, Muscardin, Terret Noir and Cinsaut in the reds, and Clairette Blanc, Grenache Blanc and Picardan in the whites and rosés.

A day, month or year in Provence

A little further south and you’ll find yourself in Provence. Here rosés are the main wine produced, and act as the perfect accompaniment for the fresh, sun-kissed flavours of Provençal cooking. The garrigue landscape that includes rosemary, thyme and lavender adds real zest and animation to the wines from the region, giving the rosés a wide appeal.

Provence & Rhone Valley Gourmet Guide

Cuisines of Provence

Great wine and beautiful scenery are a fine combination, but visitors to Provence and the Rhône Valley will have the added bonus of some of the tastiest cuisine in France. A trip to this region is simply not complete without sampling the signature dish of Marseille, bouillabaisse. This famed broth, which combines numerous (a minimum of three but often many more) different types of fish and shellfish with onions, tomatoes, garlic, saffron and a blend of herbs is quite simply divine.

Meat lovers will also have plenty to go at, with the traditional beef stew of daube being high on the list of must-try dishes for many a visitor. The Nice (and nice!) derivative of raviolis à la daube is also well worth tucking into: ravioli filled with daube sauce.

Of course, for every great dish in this region, there is a great wine to match, and our wine tours of Provence and the Rhône Valley will certainly expose you to some of the best of both, so join us today for the wine trip of a lifetime.

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