IGP Mediterranee, IGP VarCinsault, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Chardonnay47 haFounded 1990Seysses, de Villaine and Macaux familiesORGANIC CERTIFIEDCoteaux Varois en Provence
Burgundy expat project founded in 1990 by Jacques Seysses (Domaine Dujac), Aubert de Villaine (Domaine de la Romanee-Conti) and Michel Macaux. Organic since 2011. Wines bottled as IGP Mediterranee and IGP Var rather than Coteaux Varois AOC because Cabernet Sauvignon is used in some cuvees.
Tasting: Open Monday to Friday 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 6pm; Saturday 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm; closed Sundays
Signature wines: triennes-rose, triennes-saint-auguste, triennes-les-aureliens
Tip: Saint Auguste is the Bordeaux-inflected red flagship; Les Aureliens (Cinsault-Syrah) is the everyday Provence drinking wine.
Bellet AOCFolle Noire, Braquet, Grenache, Rolle, Chardonnay8 haFounded 1993Sicardi and Sergi familiesWinemaker Joseph SergiBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDBellet
The Sicardi-Sergi families acquired this AOC Bellet estate in 1993 in the hills above Nice. Eight hectares of certified organic and biodynamic vineyard with the three heritage Bellet grapes (Folle Noire, Braquet, Rolle).
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: clos-saint-vincent-le-clos-rouge, clos-saint-vincent-le-clos-blanc, clos-saint-vincent-vino-di-gio
Tip: Vino di Gio is a small-lot Folle Noire bottling, the prestige cuvee from the appellation.
Bellet AOCFolle Noire, Braquet, Rolle, Chardonnay, Grenache11 haFounded 1898Groupement Foncier ViticoleBellet
Founded in 1898 and historically run by Ghislain de Charnace from 1970, the estate was sold in 2012 to a viticultural investment group. Eleven hectares of vineyard in the Saquier hills inside the Nice city limits, with the three heritage grapes of the Bellet AOC.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings throughout the year
Signature wines: chateau-de-bellet-rouge, chateau-de-bellet-blanc, chateau-de-bellet-rose
Tip: The Folle Noire-led red has notable wild-herb and pepper notes typical of Bellet's mountain-meets-sea climate.
Bellet AOCFolle Noire, Braquet, Rolle, Chardonnay14 haFounded 1906Cornelia and Christophe LavardeBellet
Neo-Tuscan-style chateau built in 1906 in the hills of Nice on the Crematt, Saint-Sauveur and Saquier slopes. Fourteen hectares of vineyard across the appellation. Currently in private ownership after the Bagnis family sold in the mid-1990s.
Tasting: Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5:30pm; tastings and guided tours available
Signature wines: cremat-bellet-rouge, cremat-bellet-rose, cremat-bellet-blanc
Tip: Easiest of the Bellet estates to visit: the chateau is open six days a week with regular guided tours.
Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle, Chardonnay200 haFounded 2002Patrick McKillenBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDCoteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
Patrick McKillen restored the 200-hectare Chateau La Coste estate from 2002 with biodynamic certification across the entire vineyard. The property doubles as an open-air sculpture park with works by Tadao Ando, Jean Nouvel, Oscar Niemeyer and Frank Gehry.
Tasting: Daily tastings at the Tadao Ando-designed pavilion; guided cellar tours plus walking art and architecture loop
Signature wines: la-coste-grand-vin-rouge, la-coste-grand-vin-blanc, la-coste-rose
Tip: Combine cellar tasting with the 2-km outdoor art and architecture loop; lunch at the on-site restaurant by Argentine chef Francis Mallmann.
Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Rolle, ChardonnayWalk-ins welcomeLe Puy-Sainte-Reparade, Aix-en-Provence
Tadao Ando-designed glass tasting pavilion at Chateau La Coste, pouring estate Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence rose, red and white from the biodynamic vines.
IGP AlpillesCabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne, ChardonnayFounded 1973Durrbach familyBiodynamic PracticingAlpilles (Les Baux-de-Provence)
An Alpilles estate planted by Eloi Durrbach in 1973 on Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Bottled as IGP Alpilles because the Les Baux AOC excludes the blend; a long-standing reference for southern French red.
Tip: Trevallon is the textbook case of a great wine outside its AOC; the IGP Alpilles tag costs the estate nothing in critic-score terms and the cellar list is fanatically loyal.