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.
Address: 238 Chemin de la Ferrage, 83330 Le Castellet, France, Provence
The Bandol consortium's tasting house pours a Cremant de Provence flight beside its Mourvedre roster when stocks allow.
The list: The Bandol oenotheque includes a Cremant de Provence flight when available, with traditional-method Provençal sparkling poured beside the appellation's still wines
Tip: Cremant de Provence is the least-known of the regional Cremants; ask the Maison des Vins about availability before driving up.
The Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence tasting house in central Aix, with a curated flight from the 64 member domaines of the appellation.
The list: The Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence consortium tasting house in central Aix, with a roster of estates pouring rose, red and white from the appellation's 64 member domaines
Tip: Combine the Maison des Vins tasting with a walk along the Cours Mirabeau and an evening dinner in the old quarter; the consortium tasting is the best primer before driving to the domaines.
The Coteaux Varois consortium's tasting house at the Abbaye de la Celle, with the appellation's roster across the cloister setting.
The list: The Coteaux Varois consortium's tasting house at the Abbaye de la Celle, with rose, red and white from the appellation's 51 estates pouring against the cloister
Tip: The Abbaye de la Celle restaurant next door (a Relais & Chateaux) is the natural pair for a long afternoon tasting; book lunch ahead.
The Vins de Provence consortium's flagship tasting house at Les Arcs-sur-Argens, with the broadest curated Cotes de Provence flight in the region.
The list: The Vins de Provence consortium's flagship tasting house at Les Arcs-sur-Argens, with a broad Cotes de Provence selection and a restaurant pairing the local rose roster with regional Provençal cooking
Tip: The Les Arcs Maison des Vins is the single largest Provence wine tasting house; come with at least an hour to spare and the staff will guide a tasting curated to your taste.
The Bandol consortium's tasting house pours a Cremant de Provence flight beside its Mourvedre roster when stocks allow.
The list: The Bandol oenotheque includes a Cremant de Provence flight when available, with traditional-method Provençal sparkling poured beside the appellation's still wines
Tip: Cremant de Provence is the least-known of the regional Cremants; ask the Maison des Vins about availability before driving up.
Chateau Leoube's organic Cotes de Provence cellar at Bormes-les-Mimosas, with rose and sparkling tastings in a sea-view garden.
The list: Chateau Leoube's organic-certified cellar at Bormes-les-Mimosas pours its Cotes de Provence rose alongside the estate's sparkling Provençal cuvees, with garden tastings overlooking the sea
Tip: The garden tasting at Leoube has sea views; arrive late afternoon for the best light, with bottles to take to the beach below.
Chateau Minuty's Cru Classe tasting room at Gassin, with the M de Minuty, 281 and Prestige range, plus sparkling rose where available.
The list: Chateau Minuty's tasting room at Gassin near Saint-Tropez pours the M de Minuty, 281, Rose et Or and the slate-bottle Prestige cuvee, with the estate's sparkling rose included where available
Tip: Drive the back road from Gassin to Saint-Tropez after the tasting for a direct rose-and-port-village transition.