Southern France is the heart of the wine country, where age-old craftsmanship meets the latest innovations in making fine wines.
From the hills of Provence to the beautiful landscapes of Languedoc-Roussillon, every region has its own uniqueness and terroir of wines.
I am here to help you make the most of your South of France wine tour. Here, I will introduce you to each detail you need for a memorable wine-tasting experience. This includes grape varietals and special cuisines to pair with the wines.
So, letโs get started:
Key Takeaways:
A guided tour comes with inclusive transportation and a guide to walk you through the vineyards and landmarks. whereas a self-guided tour lets you explore solo and save money.
For a premier experience, take a personalized wine tour. You must research and plan the itinerary visits beforehand.
Types of South of France Wine Tours Available
Do you like to explore solo or tag along with a group? A piece of advice, always choose the wine tour based on your preference.
Guided Tours Vs. Self-Guided Tours
Take a guided tour to learn the ins and outs of wine production with inclusive transportation, wine tasting, and gourmet meals with knowledgeable guides.
Self-guided packages let you explore pre-planned itineraries for traveling on personalized routes. Transportation is on you. Some self-guided packages also offer accommodation, transportation, and winery recommendations.
Private Tours Vs. Group Tours
Private tours offer personalized visits to itineraries, wine tastings, and VIP access to boutiques. With exclusive transportation, itโs best for couples or small groups.
Or, you can enjoy wine tasting in a vast range of vineyards with like-minded individuals on group tours. Group tour packages usually come with camaraderie, discounted rates, wine festivals, and cellar tours.
Specialty Tours
Best for wine enthusiasts, specialty tours offer niche wine visits, like organic and biodynamic winemaking, culinary pairings, or historical vineyard visits.
That is, you will get to learn with guided experts about winemaking, sustainability, or regional culture. These include field workshops, vineyard walks, or visits to off-the-beaten-path wineries not typically accessible to the public.
Top South of France Wine Tours & Tastings
If you are a first-timer then knowing about the wine types and characteristics is a must. This table has it sorted for you:
Wine Tours | Wine Specialty | Flavor Profile |
Provence | Rosรฉ wine | Pale pink color, dry, crisp, strawberry, red currant, citrus |
Bandol | Red wine | Bold, structured, dark fruit, peppery spice, firm tannins |
Languedoc | Red, rose, white, sparkling, and sweet wine | Full-bodied and bold to Refreshing and unoaked styles |
Southern Rhone Valley | Red wine | Bold and powerful |
Nice | White wine | Refreshing, and aromatic with citrus and floral notes |
Cassis | White wine | Full body, herb-driven, dry, and slightly mineral taste |
Beaujolais | Red wine | Lighter-bodied, fruity, and high-acidic |
Now that you know the details about various wine types, let me take you to the actual ride. Here comes every detail you need for your tour of Southern Franceโs wineries:
Provence Wine Tour
Best time to visit: Spring and early Summer (April to June)
Notable Appellations: Cรดtes de Provence AOC | Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
Provence Wine Tour is a blend of traditional tastes, sitting in the middle of heartwarming beauty and rich history.
Grape Varietals include Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvรจdre โ carefully crafted by local winemakers who pour their hearts into every bottle.
From fresh seafood to sizzling grilled meats and those mouthwatering Provenรงal veggie dishes โ there’s a perfect pairing for every palate.
Provence rosรฉ accounts for a whopping 75% of the region’s wine production

Tips to Explore Provence Wines
- Look out for wines labeled with AOC designations like Cรดtes de Provence AOC or Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC for guaranteed quality and a taste of specific grape goodness.
- Make sure to taste the unique styles of wine from different places within Provence and learn about their fascinating histories. Such as you can visit Caveaux โ itโs one of the local wineries.ย
- Take your taste buds on a tour of Provence’s vibrant wine scene. From cozy bars to bustling bistros, there’s no shortage of sips to sample and flavors to explore.
Bandol Wine Tour
Best time to visit: Late Spring to early autumn
Notable Appellations: Bandol AOC | Palette AOC
Taste from renowned wineries like Domaine Tempier and Chรขteau de Pibarnon on your Bandol wine tour. Explore the medieval village of Le Castellet and the scenic coastal views from Cap Canaille.
Grape Varietals include Mourvรจdre, Grenache, and Cinsault. Bandol wines are perfect with Mediterranean cuisine, Provencal dishes, and Seafood platters.
Tips to Explore Bandol Wines:
- Taste the full-bodied Bandol wines crafted from Mourvรจdre, Grenache, and Cinsault grapes at Domaine Tempier and Chรขteau de Pibarnon.
- Enjoy vineyard tours, cellar tastings, and educational sessions on winemaking traditions, offering a glimpse into the centuries-old viticultural heritage of the area.
- Indulge in the dark fruit notes and robust tannins with hints of Provencal herbs in the middle of scenic coastal vineyards.
Languedoc Wine Tour
Best time to visit: Early summer (May to June) and early autumn (September to October).
Notable Appellations: Costiรจres de Nรฎmes AOC | Sรจte – Languedoc-Picpoul AOC | Saint-Guilhem-le-Dรฉsert – Languedoc-Pรฉzenas AOC
Tour to the Languedoc is a combination of wine tasting and visiting historical places like Cathรฉdrale Saint-Just et Saint-Pasteur. Treat your soul to the exquisite varietals from reds, roses and whites.
Grape Varietals for Red Wines include full-bodied and bold, made from grapes like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvรจdre, and Carignan.
For Rose Wines beautiful pink color and dry style, made with similar grapes as the reds (Grenache, Cinsault).
For White Wines – Refreshing and unoaked styles made from grapes like Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and Roussanne.
For Sparkling Wines – Made from the traditional method similar to Champagne. Known as Crรฉmant de Limoux, a delightful alternative to Champagne.
For Sweet Wines – Fortified sweet wines (Banyuls and Maury), made basically from Grenache grapes. Similar to Port and offers concentrated sweetness and complexity.
For Food Pairing, try Mediterranean cuisineโs savory dishes and varieties of the best cheeses.
Tips to Explore Languedoc Wines
- Minervois are strong red wines made of ripe fruit flavors, robust tannins, and a lingering finish. Corbiรจres have a variety of styles, including reds, whites, and rosรฉs.
- Take a self-guided tour of the wineries, like Domaine de la Vougeraie and Chรขteau de Meursault.ย
- Stroll through the charming Beaune village. Observe the traditional winemaking at the Hospices de Beaune and treat yourself to the bustling Les Halles market.
Southern Rhรดne Valley Wine Tour
Best time to visit: Late spring to early summer (May to June) and early autumn (September to October).
Notable Appellations: Cรดtes du Ventoux AOC | Chรขteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Southern Rhรดne Valley is globally acclaimed for its wines among both wine enthusiasts and casual drinkers. Lose yourself in the midst of sun-drenched vineyards and ancient villages in the Southern Rhรดne Valley. Sample the bold red blends and rich terroir of Gigondas and Vacqueyras in wineries like Chรขteauneuf-du-Pap.
Grape Varietals include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvรจdre, Cinsault, Carignan. Pair with Provencal cuisines like Ratatouille, Bouillabaisse, Duck confit, and grilled lamb chops.
Tips to Explore Southern Rhรดne Valleyโs Wines
- This is your tour to the heart of wine country. Explore renowned appellations like Chรขteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Vacqueyras.
- Wander through Avignon City and visit the majestic Palais des Papes and the medieval streets of Gigondas. Explore the scenic villages and Roman ruins, and stare awestruck at the vine-covered hills.
- The quaint wine bars scattered across the Southern Rhรดne Valley are perfect settings for experiencing wine tasting like a native. Some are in the historic villages, and others are peeping over the rolling vineyards.
Nice Wine Tour
Best time to visit: Spring and early autumn.
Notable Appellations: Bellet AOC
Nice – where the coastline meets the vineyard, is surrounded by hills. Explore the wineries like Chรขteau de Bellet and lose yourself in the baroque interior of Palais Lascaris.
Grape Varieties include Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre that are best paired with Provenรงal cuisine, Seafood platters, Mediterranean-inspired dishes, and Cheese boards.
Situated beside the hillsides, Bellet AOC has a rich cultural heritage from ancient times.
Here, the wines come in uncountable varieties, including crisp whites, full-bodied reds, and delicate rosรฉs.
Tips to Explore Nice Wines
- Winery Visits: Visit the wineries near Nice and observe first-hand wine-making.
- Wine Bars and Tapas: As you enter the bars and tapas, chatters of natives add a cozy feeling of being at home in the Nice countryside. Each sip of wine paired with each layer of Tapas โ a brand-new feeling of culinary bliss.
Cassis Wine Tour
Best time to visit: Spring to Summer (April to September)
Notable Appellations: Cassis AOC
Next up, taste the Cassis rose wines in the middle of the Mediterranean landscapes. Enjoy a walk through the charming port, and treat your eyes to the view of limestone cliffs and vibrant waterfront.
Grape Varietals include Marsanne. Clairette, Ugni Blanc and are best paired with the regional
Bouillabaisse, Grilled seafood, and Ratatouille. Cassis wines are regionally famous for vibrant fruit flavors, crisp acidity, and elegant minerality.

Tips to Explore Cassis Wines
- Treat yourself to the coastal wines of Cassis. Taste the signature Blanc de Blancs at Chรขteau de Fontcreuse, famous for its Mediterranean terroir.
- Take a guided winery tour at Domaine du Paternel or Chรขteau de Fontcreuse, and learn about renowned rosรฉ wines, famous for their delicate floral notes and crisp acidity, and how they are characterized by the special Cassis appellation.
- Discover the history of Cassis wines at Clos Sainte Magdeleine, and sample the white wines crafted from Marsanne, Clairette, and Ugni Blanc grapes.
Beaujolais Wine Tour
Best time to visit: Autumn.
Notable Appellations: Brouilly AOC | Cรดte de Brouilly AOC
Explore renowned wineries like Domaine de la Madone and Chรขteau des Jacque in your Beaujolais Wine Tour and sample the exquisite Gamay wines. Visit the medieval village of Oingt and take a stroll around the Beaujolais countryside.
Grape Varietals for
Gamay Noir – Primary grape famous for light-bodied fresh and fruity characteristics.
For Chardonnay – White grape with crisp and refreshing flavors.
For Aligotรฉ – Other white grape, usually blended for a vibrant aroma.
Pair the Beaujolais Wines with Classic French dishes and Brie, Comtรฉ, or Gouda cheese.
The release of Beaujolais Nouveau creates a sensation among wine lovers each November. The Beaujolais Cru wines are an outcome of the placeโs diverse terroirs.
Tips to Explore Beaujolais Wines
- Beaujolais family wineries are some of the best wineries in the south of France. Here, the vibrant fruit flavorsโcherry, raspberryโand traditional wine-making process bring you the signature quality.
- Visit the cellar doors, vineyards, and wine villages to firsthand experience the age-old process.
- You can go for casual tastings on family-owned estates or guided tours for terroir exploration and food pairing.
Activities and Experiences on a South of France Wine Tour
Here are some basics of wine-tasting, culinary practices, and visiting landmarks:

Vineyard Tours and Wine Tastings
The common practices and etiquette during your vineyard visits are:
- Make reservations in advance.
- Swirl the glass gently, smell the aroma, and observe the color and clarity of the wine.
- Take sips slowly to feel the flavors and textures.
- Greet the host with “Bonjour” (good morning) or “Bonsoir” (good evening).
- Listen to the guide and communicate with the people in the vineyards.
- Avoid strong perfumes.
- Spit or pour out the extra wine to avoid intoxication.
Wine Pairing Experiences
Here’s a wine-tasting timeline for beginners.
- Start with lighter wines like Provence rosรฉs or Beaujolais and pair them with salads, light pasta dishes, or seafood.
- Bandol reds or Languedoc blends are medium-bodied, and it is best to compliment them with heartier meals like rich cheese, stews, or grilled meats.
- Robust wines like the ones from the Southern Rhรดne Valley complement the main.
Wine-Making Workshops
Make the most of your first try at wine-making:
- Pay full attention to the grape-growing process, fermentation techniques, and blending methods.
- Take a chance and make your own custom blend.
Culinary Experiences of Local Cuisine
Tips for the right delicacy of wine and food pairing:
- Pair seafood dishes like bouillabaisse or grilled fish with a light rose.
- Pair the robust red wines with dishes like cassoulet or beef bourguignon.
- Sweet white wines should be paired with dishes with creamy cheese.
- A crisp white wine always goes with ratatouille.
- Compliment Nicoise salad with a chilled rosรฉ.
- And lastly, a full-bodied red wine with duck confit.
Cultural and Historical Sites
A guide to exploring the surrounding beauty and history:
- Walk around the vineyards and join in activities like museum visits and cultural festivals.
- Explore important landmarks like the Palais des Papes, Avignon streets, and the ancient Roman amphitheater in Nรฎmes.
- Visit beautiful villages like Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Gordes.
- Take a walk through the Calanques National Park.
Planning Your Next South of France Wine Tour
You need to pre-plan and fix some things like budgeting, accommodations, transportation, and some more stuff. Hereโs all you need to know.
Budgeting for a Wine Tour
- The budget for the South of France tour may range from โฌ50 to โฌ200 per person, depending on the service.
- To keep it budget-friendly, visit the smaller, family-owned wineries with free or inexpensive tastings. The Vins de Provence app makes self-guided tours easy and saves costs.
- Additional expenses include meals at local eateries (approximately โฌ15-โฌ30 per meal), souvenirs, and transportation.
Accommodation Options for Wine Tours
- Boutique hotels in the middle of vineyards provide an authentic native experience. Check out Booking.com or Airbnb for suitable options.
- For a luxurious stay, visit a historic chรขteau with wine tastings and on-site tours.
- For the most luxurious, authentic wine tours, you can check out vineyard estates on Vrbo.
Transportation Options
- You can rent a car to enjoy personalized visits to the wineries. For example, you can check Rentalcars.com or Europcar for affordable options with pick-up/drop-off locations throughout the south of France.
- Regional trains and buses are the most budget-friendly options for traveling between major wine regions. Hence, install and pre-discover apps like SNCF and Moovit to check the schedules and routes of public transportation.
- If you are willing to spend a bit more for an all-inclusive guided wine tour, then there is no need for transportation planning. You can choose your suitable options from the Viator or GetYourGuide websites.
Tips for Planning a South of France Wine Tour
- Book wine tastings and accommodations in advance. Visit the Wine Paths or CellarPass websites to book tastings and tours.
- Wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and a hat for a comfortable trip. Take a wine carrier to safely transport bottles.
- To keep up with the language, use Google Translate. Greet people with “Bonjour” (Good morning) and Bonsoir (Good evening). Be respectful and friendly to the hosts and others around.
- For a personalized trip, research the wine regions and plan your own itinerary. You can get all the information from Wine-Searcher and Wine Enthusiast.
- For a camaraderie experience, check out group tour packages from ToursByLocals and Withlocals.
Closing Notes
First time or not, this blog covers all the information you need to make your South of France wine tour a 100 percent success.
Hence, start by making a checklist from the given information. Research through the suggested websites for various packages, accommodations, and transportation.
Have a divine experience of wine tasting, observing the wine-making process firsthand, and making your own blend if possible. Last but not least, donโt forget to visit the landmarks, villages, and hilly areas.
Hopefully, the next one will be your once-in-a-lifetime wine tour experience.
Bon Voyage!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best wine country in southern Paris?
The Southern Rhรดne Valley is the best wine country in southern Paris, producing renowned wines like Chรขteauneuf-du-Pape.
What time of year is best for wine tours?
The harvest season, during September and October, is the best time for wine tours.
What is the best wine route in France?
The Beaujolais wine route is considered the most beautiful route for landscapes and exceptional Beaujolais Nouveau wines.
What do you wear on a wine tour in France?
Stay in style and comfort on your wine tour to the south of Paris. The common options are casual attire for men, like shirts and trousers. And a sundress or blouse paired with trousers or a skirt, for women.