Chateau La Coste lounge bars ★ 4.5
14 by the glassLe Puy-Sainte-Reparade (Aix)
The lounge bars of Chateau La Coste, a vast Aix biodynamic estate with Tadao Ando architecture, contemporary art and estate wines by the glass.
The list: The lounges of Chateau La Coste, the vast Aix biodynamic estate that pairs a Tadao Ando-designed pavilion with a contemporary-art trail; the wine bar pours estate Cotes de Provence rose, white and red into the evening
Tip: Combine the art trail walk in the afternoon with an evening glass at the Tadao Ando pavilion; the rose is the natural pair for the summer terraces.
Muscat du Cap Corse pours at Maison des Vins de Bandol ★ 4.0
10 by the glassLe Castellet (Bandol)
The Bandol consortium's oenotheque at Le Castellet, with fortified Muscat pours alongside the appellation's Mourvedre roster.
The list: The Maison des Vins de Bandol oenotheque pours Muscat du Cap Corse and Beaumes-de-Venise fortified wines alongside the Bandol roster, the easiest place in Provence to taste the regional vins doux naturels
Tip: Ask the staff for the comparative pour: Beaumes-de-Venise Muscat (Rhone) alongside Muscat du Cap Corse (Corsica), the two southern French sweet-wine references.
Marc de Provence and eau-de-vie at Chateau Pradeaux ★ 4.1
8 by the glassSaint-Cyr-sur-Mer (Bandol)
Chateau Pradeaux at Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, where the family's Bandol range includes Ratafia and an estate eau-de-vie de marc.
The list: Chateau Pradeaux's range extends beyond Bandol rouge and rose to a Ratafia and an estate-distilled Eau de vie de marc, tastable at the cellar alongside the AOC bottles
Tip: The Pradeaux Marc is the regional after-dinner pour; ask the cellar for the Ratafia tasting to compare the sweet aperitif with the dry marc.
Pastis flights at Maison du Pastis Marseille ★ 4.2
20 by the glassVieux-Port (Marseille 2e)
A Vieux-Port specialist with more than 80 pastis bottlings, the canonical place in Marseille to taste the regional aperitif side by side.
The list: A specialist Vieux-Port shop and bar with a roster of more than 80 pastis bottlings from artisanal Provençal distillers, the canonical place to taste the regional aperitif
Tip: Order the comparative three-pastis flight to taste the difference between Henri Bardouin, Ferroni and the local micro-distillers; the local rule is five-to-one cold water.
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise pours, southern Rhone ★ 4.0
8 by the glassBeaumes-de-Venise (day trip)
The southern Rhone fortified-wine village two appellations north of Provence, with the Maison des Vins as the main tasting access for Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.
The list: The southern Rhone sweet-Muscat AOC's home village, a 90-minute drive from Aix; cellars and the village Maison des Vins pour Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise as an aperitif and digestif fortified wine
Tip: Pair the Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise tasting with a stop at Gigondas the same day; the two southern Rhone villages sit minutes apart.
Maison des Vins de Bandol oenotheque ★ 4.5
15 by the glassLe Castellet (Bandol)
The Bandol consortium's tasting house at Le Castellet, with comparison flights from across the AOC's 51 producers.
The list: The Bandol consortium's tasting house at Le Castellet pours from the 51 producers of the AOC, the one-stop place to taste a comparison flight from Domaine Tempier, Pibarnon, Bunan, Suffrene, La Begude and Pradeaux in one sitting
Tip: The Castellet oenotheque is the best starting point for any Bandol trip; staff can suggest the producers whose cellars to visit next based on what you respond to in the flight.