Cassis AOC, Cotes de Provence AOC, Bandol AOCMarsanne, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, Cinsault22 haFounded 1928Santini familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDCassis
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: paternel-cassis-blanc, paternel-cassis-blanc-de-blancs, 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.
Cassis AOCMarsanne, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Sauvignon Blanc30 haFounded 1714Paret familyWinemaker Philippe GarnierORGANIC CERTIFIEDCassis
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: ferme-blanche-cassis-blanc, ferme-blanche-excellence-blanc, ferme-blanche-cassis-rose
Tip: The Cassis Blanc Excellence cuvee, aged briefly in old oak, is the cellar candidate.
Bellet AOCFolle Noire, Braquet, Grenache, Rolle, Chardonnay8 haFounded 1993Sicardi and Sergi familiesWinemaker Joseph SergiBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDBellet
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.
Bellet AOCFolle Noire, Braquet, Rolle, Chardonnay, Grenache11 haFounded 1898Groupement Foncier ViticoleBellet
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-rouge, chateau-de-bellet-blanc, chateau-de-bellet-rose
Tip: The Folle Noire-led red has notable wild-herb and pepper notes typical of Bellet's mountain-meets-sea climate.
Bellet AOCFolle Noire, Braquet, Rolle, Chardonnay14 haFounded 1906Cornelia and Christophe LavardeBellet
Neo-Tuscan-style chateau built in 1906 in the hills of Nice on the Crematt, Saint-Sauveur and Saquier slopes. Fourteen hectares of vineyard across the appellation. Currently in private ownership after the Bagnis family sold in the mid-1990s.
Tasting: Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5:30pm; tastings and guided tours available
Signature wines: cremat-bellet-rouge, cremat-bellet-rose, cremat-bellet-blanc
Tip: Easiest of the Bellet estates to visit: the chateau is open six days a week with regular guided tours.
Domaine de Trevallon ★ 4.9
IGP AlpillesCabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne17 haFounded 1973Durrbach familyWinemaker Antoine Durrbach (with Floriane Durrbach)Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDLes Baux-de-Provence
Eloi Durrbach planted Trevallon in the Alpilles foothills in 1973 and bottled the first vintage in 1976. The wine declassified to vin de pays in 1994 after the AOC required a maximum 20 percent Cabernet (the Trevallon blend is 50-50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah). Now bottled as IGP Alpilles and considered an IGP Alpilles cult red.
Tasting: No regular public visits; wines sold on allocation through importers
Signature wines: trevallon-rouge, trevallon-blanc
Tip: The Blanc, a Marsanne-Roussanne blend in small quantity, is even harder to source than the rouge.
