The Rougier family has farmed Chateau Simone since 1830 on the south-facing limestone scree of the Palette AOC, and now produces roughly 70 percent of the entire appellation's wine.
Signature wines: Chateau Simone Palette Rouge, Chateau Simone Palette Blanc, Chateau Simone Palette Rose
Tip: Palette Blanc from this estate (Clairette-dominant, aged in old oak foudres) cellars 15 years from vintage.
Address: Chemin de la Simone, 13590 Meyreuil, France, Provence
Twelve hectares of vineyard on terraced limestone-and-sandstone cliffs of Cap Canaille above the Mediterranean at Cassis, in the Zafiropulo family since 1920 and now managed by Jonathan Sack. Organic-certified.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Blanc, Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose
Tip: The basic Cassis Blanc Marsanne-Clairette is consistently among the appellation's best wines.
Genovesi family estate at the foot of the Cap Canaille cliffs at Cassis, bought from Clair Lefevre in 1997 and organic-certified since 2011. Six hectares of vineyard producing roughly equal red, white and rose, with the Marsanne-dominant white as the flagship.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Blanc, Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rose
Tip: Sebastien and Lisa Genovesi do open the tasting room when on-site; book in advance.
Santini family estate at Cassis, four generations on the property since 1928, working organic vineyard across three appellations (Cassis, Cotes de Provence and Bandol). The Cassis Blanc de Blancs is the estate's flagship white.
Tasting: Open Monday to Sunday, 9:30am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm
Signature wines: Domaine du Paternel Cassis Blanc, Domaine du Paternel Cassis Blanc de Blancs, Domaine du Paternel Cotes de Provence Rose
Tip: Tasting room open without appointment most days; pair the Cassis Blanc with bourride at one of the harbourside restaurants.
The same family has owned La Ferme Blanche at Cassis since 1714 (Francois Paret with his daughter Jeromine). Thirty hectares of organic-certified vineyard on the seaside hillsides facing the bay, with chalky and clay-limestone soils.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: Domaine de la Ferme Blanche Cassis Blanc, Domaine de la Ferme Blanche Cassis Excellence Blanc, Domaine de la Ferme Blanche Cassis Rose
Tip: The Cassis Blanc Excellence cuvee, aged briefly in old oak, is the cellar candidate.
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.
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 Bellet Rouge, Chateau de Bellet Bellet Blanc, Chateau de Bellet Bellet Rose
Tip: The Folle Noire-led red has notable wild-herb and pepper notes typical of Bellet's mountain-meets-sea climate.
Experience the exquisite Côtes de Provence wines on a scenic countryside tour through beautiful vineyards. Discover grape varieties and local wines at two distinct wineries.
Discover the beautiful village of Cassis and its seaside port on this full-day tour. Take a guided boat tour to the Calanques and taste delicious Provence rosé, red, a...
Take part in a specific tasting of 4 Provence wines accompanied by tasting commentary in the center of Aix-en-Provence.
Wine tastings and winery visits in Provence (29) · Wine tours and day trips in Provence (70) · Wine tours with a boat trip in Provence (5)
