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.
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.
Address: 2750 route de la Cride, 13610 Le Puy-Sainte-Reparade, France, Provence
Calissanne sits at Lancon-Provence overlooking the Etang de Berre with 110 hectares of vineyard plus 80 hectares of olive groves and farmland under organic certification.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings at the on-site shop; check website for current hours
Signature wines: calissanne-clos-victoire, calissanne-prestige, calissanne-cuvee-romain
Tip: Clos Victoire is the prestige red flagship from old-vine Cabernet and Syrah.
Pioneer of organic agriculture in the Coteaux d'Aix since the 1980s, owned by the Terrat family since 1996. 40 hectares of biodynamic vineyard at Lambesc, north-west of Aix between the Alpilles and the Luberon.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: beates-terra-d-or, beates-esprit-des-beates, beates-les-beatines
Tip: Terra d'Or red is the estate's most cellar-worthy cuvee.
Owned by the Double barons descendants since 1855, the estate at Saint-Cannat (10 kilometres west of Aix-en-Provence) farms 43 of its 130 hectares to vine. Organic-certified since Phanette Double took over the vineyard work in 2013.
Tasting: Boutique open daily 10am to 7pm including public holidays; cellar tours by appointment
Signature wines: beaupre-collection, beaupre-tradition, beaupre-blanc
Tip: The boutique is open every day with broad opening hours, unusually walkable-in for the Coteaux d'Aix.
Calissanne sits at Lancon-Provence overlooking the Etang de Berre with 110 hectares of vineyard plus 80 hectares of olive groves and farmland under organic certification.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings at the on-site shop; check website for current hours
Signature wines: calissanne-clos-victoire, calissanne-prestige, calissanne-cuvee-romain
Tip: Clos Victoire is the prestige red flagship from old-vine Cabernet and Syrah.
Pioneer of organic agriculture in the Coteaux d'Aix since the 1980s, owned by the Terrat family since 1996. 40 hectares of biodynamic vineyard at Lambesc, north-west of Aix between the Alpilles and the Luberon.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: beates-terra-d-or, beates-esprit-des-beates, beates-les-beatines
Tip: Terra d'Or red is the estate's most cellar-worthy cuvee.
Owned by the Double barons descendants since 1855, the estate at Saint-Cannat (10 kilometres west of Aix-en-Provence) farms 43 of its 130 hectares to vine. Organic-certified since Phanette Double took over the vineyard work in 2013.
Tasting: Boutique open daily 10am to 7pm including public holidays; cellar tours by appointment
Signature wines: beaupre-collection, beaupre-tradition, beaupre-blanc
Tip: The boutique is open every day with broad opening hours, unusually walkable-in for the Coteaux d'Aix.
Lanversin family estate at Saint-Maximin in the cooler inland Coteaux Varois, 15 hectares of certified organic vineyard on south-facing limestone slopes at the foot of the Sainte-Baume massif.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: deffends-clos-de-la-truffiere, deffends-rose-d-une-nuit, deffends-cuvee-rouvier
Tip: The Clos de la Truffiere, single-vineyard Cabernet-led red, is the cellar candidate.
17-hectare organic estate at Chateauvert in the heart of the Provence Verte, owned by the Famille Perrin (also of Chateau de Beaucastel and the Miraval joint venture). Ecocert-certified organic since the vines were replanted in 1999.
Tasting: Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm from April to October
Signature wines: margui-perle-de-margui, margui-rose, margui-blanc-de-blanc
Tip: Perle de Margui, the prestige red blend, is the estate's most layered wine.
The Negrel family has owned Mas de Cadenet at Trets since 1813, working 45 hectares of vineyard at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain in the Cotes de Provence sub-denomination. Currently run by Guy, Maud and Matthieu Negrel.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings at the on-site boutique
Signature wines: cadenet-arbaude, cadenet-mas-negrel, cadenet-rose
Tip: The Arbaude rose, single-vineyard from a parcel north of the property, is the cellar candidate.
