A lush vineyard stretches into the distance under a clear blue sky in Provence, France. The vibrant green vines are neatly aligned in rows, basking in the bright sunlight. In the background, a line of trees marks the edge of the vineyard, with a mountainous landscape faintly visible against the horizon.

10 Things To Know When Booking Provence Wine Tours In 2024

By Richard Hoskisson – 12 July 2024

Three of my favourite things in the whole world to do are;

☀️ Being in Provence
🍇 Drinking (rosé) wine
🍷 Combining being in Provence and drinking rosé wine.

Therefore, I have done lots of research to write this article giving you my best tips for enjoying your own Provence wine tour.

A whimsical pink camel statue adorned with painted palm trees stands inside a wine shop. The side of the camel bears the playful slogan "Save Water, Drink Rosé" in white letters. Bottles of rosé wine are displayed on a shelf behind the camel, and more are stacked on boxes at its feet. The scene is bathed in pink lighting, creating a festive and eye-catching atmosphere.

I have been falling in love with Provence since my very first visit in 2002. Having moved here permanently two years ago, I have taken myself, family and friends on many excursions to sample the beautiful wines and vineyards of this stunning region of France.



Best Provence Wine Tour

There are so many wineries to choose from depending on where you stay in the region. You could explore deep into the Luberon starting in Avignon, explore the areas of Aix en Provence or immerse yourself in the glamour of St Tropez and its coastal vineyards. For me, living on the Côte d’Azur, I like the tours that are in the heart of the region and depart from Aix-en-Provence.

Reserve your Provence Wine Tour today!

I recommend this superb half day tour departing from Aix-en-Provence.
⭐️ Great value for money
⭐️ Choice of a morning or afternoon departure
⭐️ Take the stress out of having to drive yourself


10 Things To Know When Booking Provence Wine Tours

It can feel pretty overwhelming to plan a visit to a region as large as Provence. My top ten tips below are designed to take the stress and work out of your planning in order to have the best day in this beautiful part of the world.

A picturesque estate features a charming ivy-clad building with tall, slender cypress trees lining the facade. The cobblestone courtyard in front of the building is dotted with modern art sculptures, adding a contemporary touch to the rustic setting. A tranquil water feature runs along the side, reflecting the lush greenery surrounding the property. The bright sunlight casts clear shadows, highlighting the serene and elegant ambiance of this Provençal chateau.

1. Rosé wines from Provence are the best in the world

Rosé wine originates from Provence; the Phoceans brought grapes from Greece to Massalia (now Marseille) in the 6th century BC. They truly have had millennia to perfect the product.

As always, I have done the hard work for you by trying many wines and I can definitively confirm that the product is pure perfection. French Rosé is simply sunshine in a bottle perfect for lazy poolside afternoons.

Three rosé wine bottles by a pool, reflecting sunlight, creating a serene and luxurious atmosphere.

2. Booking a Guided Tour saves the worry of having to drive

Drink driving laws in France are strict and one can become ‘over the limit’ quickly. Booking a guided tour or a driver for the day means you can enjoy your Provence wine tour with peace of mind.

If staying in Nice/Cannes, it is possible to find tours that will pick you up, take you out to the Var/St Tropez area and bring you back. These can be quite pricey but there are some bargains to be found. Being in a larger group will help bring the price down.

💡 My Recommendation – base yourself in Aix-en-Provence for a few days and take my suggested half-day tour. Prices are reasonable and the tour guides are friendly and knowledgeable. Click here to book.

Three rows of many wine bottles are stacked and this picture shows the bottom of the bottles. The Provencal rosé wine gives a pink glow to the picture.

3. Planning lunch in advance is essential

When on a wine tour in Provence, plan your route in advance with a lunch stop either side of a winery visit. For me, a pre-packed picnic is the best way to enjoy a day out in Provence.

A chilled bottle of rosé wine is places on a white table cloth on an outdoor table next to a serving board of olive bread, sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese. It gives the impression of a perfect wine perfect for a Provence wine tour.

⚠️ It can be notoriously difficult to find somewhere to eat lunch in France after 2:30pm. Often, at peak times, a reservation is necessary wherever you end up.


4. Go familiar – visit a vineyard of wine you enjoy drinking

In the USA and UK Whispering Angel from Château d’Esclans is probably the most famous Provençal rosé. Minuty and Ultimate Provence (UP) are also well-known wines overseas.

The letters U and P are displayed out of weathered (COR-TEN) steel. The letters are three times the size of a person and displayed at the entrance of the Ultimate Provence winery.
Pink provençal rosé wine bottles are stacked in a tower display. There are three layers of bottles stacked in a pyramid style. In the distance, wine barrels are stacked against the wall of the Provence winery.

Château d’Esclans the home of Whispering Angel is always a favourite of mine – Christian and his team there are so welcoming for a wine tasting and it is popular, but never busy.

Minuty is also a great spot in a beautiful location, close to Saint Tropez. Often the staff conducting the tastings are learning all about wines themselves and keen to impart their knowledge.

Ultimate Provence is a rosé wine lifestyle resort with hotel rooms, restaurants and a spa. A luxurious treat.


5. Being Adventurous leads to surprises

Further to my point above, on your Provençal wine tour, do also try to go off the beaten track. Spend a little time discovering places close by to somewhere more well known – you will be pleasantly surprised.

A few years ago we wandered along one of the roads of The Var and found Domaine Château Marguï – selling spectacular wines. As we chatted to the winemaker, we discovered that the winery is owned by American, Star Wars director, George Lucas and he has developed his own wines called Skywalker Wines. We left with the force and some wonderful memories.

A counter top displays wine glasses and rosé wine. Three drawers below are half opened revealing bottles of stacked rosé wine.
A long gravel driveway stretches ahead on the Provence wine tour. Tall cypress trees frame the driveway and a lone traveller walks into the distance.

Another winery I found – Domaine des Mapliers – we contacted through Instagram and the winemaker travelled up from Nice to open up for us, allowing us to sample his wines. It was a very special day.


6. Plan your day in advance – don’t wing it if going off the beaten track

As I outlined above, I had very special treatment from a winemaker I contacted in advance. If self-planning your Provence wine tour, take some time to plot your route and contact the wineries before the day, especially if going off the beaten track.

⚠️ Do note that in France, businesses are generally not that responsive to email. Phone calls are more effective (but understandably challenging if you do not speak French).

However if the winery has a social media presence, you will find that contacting them directly (via Instagram for example) should yield a response.

Hundreds of wine barrels are laid out in rows  the wine cellar. Overhead lighting gives a mysterious glow to the enormous room.

7. There are some excellent red wines made in Provence

Provence is not all about rosé wine – well it kind of is as 89% of production is related to rosé – BUT, that does leave 11% for reds and whites and there are some super wines. Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache are predominantly grown in Provence and often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon make some hearty reds, worthy of sampling.


8. Wine tasting is usually free

In all the wineries that I have visited in Provence, the wine tasting has been free (with the exception of UP – Ultimate Provence).

However I always buy a bottle (let’s be honest it’s usually a case) to take home so as to be polite. I recommend buying at least one bottle at each vineyard to share on a special evening when back home and reminisce about your unforgettable time in Provence.

A contemporary bar displays shelves of rosé wine bottles, high up to the ceiling. A lone man stands at the bar chatting to the server about wine as a female studies across the room.

9. Don’t be afraid of the language

As an active French learner, I do try my best to speak French and the effort you make to use a few words or phrases will be greatly appreciated.

However, in most farms you will find staff that speak English, in fact we even found someone a few years ago near Vidauban, who spoke Afrikaans, much to the delight of my South African, Afrikaans speaking partner.

10. Pace Yourself

There is the potential to try a lot of wine. For those of you who watched 1990s TV in the UK, you may remember well, Patsy and Eddie in Ab Fab wine tasting in France – needless to say it did not end well.

A server holds an enormous bottle of rosé wine that is half full of wine.
Books are displayed on a counter top showing the words in pink 'Rosé revolution'

To avoid this situation, stick to a few wines, ask questions, take your time and savour the flavours whilst enjoying the experience. Don’t be afraid to use the spittoon if needed, this, after all, is the professional way to taste.


Best Time To Visit

The bigger, more well-known wineries are open year round, and are often much quieter. However the smaller vineyards have restricted opening times out of season.

I recommend a wine tour between the months of May and September. Do keep in mind that July and August can be extremely busy in the southern region of France.

An ancient chapel sits bathed in sunlight beneath a bright blue sky. Two small palm trees frame the doorway.
A wine glass with pale rosé wine is in focus and in the background out of focus the moon and a small hanging light. A branch of a tree appears to be balanced inside the glass floating on the wine.

May, June and September are the best times to visit as the weather is cooler, yet still sunny and there are less tourists. This makes the perfect atmosphere for enjoying a picnic or lunch on a terrace or town square, under the Provençal sun in between visits to wineries.

FAQs

You may still have many questions about planning your Provence Wine Tour. Do not hesitate to get in touch with me, if there are any other questions you may have.

Can you visit wineries in Provence?

Yes, there are around 430 vineyards in the whole of Provence, so there are plenty to choose from. When planning your tour, remember that the smaller wineries may require an appointment in advance.

Which wine is Provence most famous for?

There are 9 appellations in the Provençal region. The most famous are the Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence, all offering reds, whites and rosés.

Rosé wines are the most famous, yet there are some hearty reds and fruity, dry whites.

Where to stay in Provence for wine?

Aix-en-Provence is the perfect place to base yourself for a Provence Wine Tour.

How many days in Provence is enough?

Provence is a huge region of France. You could stay anywhere from 1 day to several weeks. At least 3 days would be required to really enjoy the city of Aix-en-Provence and its surrounding areas.

Come back next year and choose somewhere else to explore!

A large wine fridge displays tens of bottles of rosé wine all laying flat and being chilled.
18 wine barrels are neatly stacked against a wall. A metal frame supports the wooden barrels.

The Wrap Up

Planning a Provence Wine Tour does not have to be overwhelming. The wineries are welcoming and staff knowledgeable. For rosé wine lovers, it is the perfect place to visit. Yet there are also some beautiful reds and whites to sample.

If it is all too much to plan, simply base yourself in Aix-en-Provence for a few nights and book a half day wine tasting tour by clicking here.