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.
Cassis AOCMarsanne, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Grenache, Cinsault6 haFounded 1997Genovesi familyWinemaker Sebastien GenovesiORGANIC CERTIFIEDCassis
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: bagnol-cassis-blanc, bagnol-cassis-rose
Tip: Sebastien and Lisa Genovesi do open the tasting room when on-site; book in advance.
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.
