Cotes de Provence AOC (Cru Classe 1955)Tibouren, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre17 haFounded 1797Roux familyCotes de Provence
Cru Classe at Le Pradet between Hyeres and Toulon, the Roux family in residence for five generations since 1797. 17 hectares overlooking the bay of Toulon, dominated by Tibouren, the heritage Provence grape vinified under flor in old foudres for the estate's signature savoury rose.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: cibonne-cuvee-tradition, cibonne-cuvee-speciale, cibonne-cuvee-prestige
Tip: The Cuvee Tradition is the textbook Tibouren rose; the Cuvee Speciale is the cellar candidate.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle30 haFounded 1976Biancone familyWinemaker Sophie Courtois BianconeCotes de Provence
Family-owned estate at Taradeau dating from the late 1970s, now run by Sophie Courtois Biancone. Bottlings include the Pierre de l'Aigle range and the Alexandra cuvees, both widely cited by Decanter and Wine Spectator.
Tasting: Daily tastings at the on-site shop; cellar tours by appointment
Signature wines: rasque-pierre-de-l-aigle, rasque-alexandra, rasque-blanc
Tip: Alexandra cuvee, a barrel-fermented white from Rolle, is the estate's most under-known release.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle50 haFounded 1806Gavoty familyWinemaker Roselyne GavotyBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDCotes de Provence
The Gavoty family has been at Cabasse for more than two centuries; the current generation, led by Roselyne Gavoty, works the 50-hectare estate in organic and biodynamic agriculture. The Clarendon cuvee, taking its name from a 19th-century music critic ancestor, is the prestige tier.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: gavoty-clarendon, gavoty-grand-classique, gavoty-cuvee-tradition
Tip: Try the Clarendon white from old-vine Rolle.
Cotes de Provence AOC, Cotes de Provence La Londe AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Rolle, Semillon60 haFounded 1979Combard familyWinemaker Francois CombardORGANIC CERTIFIEDCotes de Provence La Londe
Burgundy expat Alain Combard bought Figuiere in 1992; the estate is now run by his children Delphine, Francois and Magali. Organic-certified since 1979. 60 hectares of vineyard on schist and quartz soils in the La Londe sub-denomination.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: figuiere-confidentielle, figuiere-magali, figuiere-delphine
Tip: The Confidentielle white from Rolle and Semillon is the estate's tight, mineral-driven flagship white.
Palette AOCGrenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Grenache Blanc25 haFounded 1830Rougier familyWinemaker Jean-Francois RougierPalette
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. The estate uses more than 20 grape varieties in a Provencal polyculture extending across 25 hectares.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: simone-palette-rouge, simone-palette-blanc, simone-palette-rose
Tip: Palette Blanc from this estate (Clairette-dominant, aged in old oak foudres) cellars 15 years from vintage.
Cassis AOCMarsanne, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Grenache, Cinsault12 haFounded 1920Zafiropulo and Sack familiesWinemaker Jonathan SackORGANIC CERTIFIEDCassis
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. The whites are reference Cassis bottlings.
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.
