The most celebrated Vacqueyras estate, producing intense, mineral-driven Grenache reds that rank among the best value serious wines in the Southern Rhone.
Signature wines: sang-des-cailloux-vacqueyras-rouge
Tip: The Vacqueyras frequently outperforms wines twice its price; production is small and it sells quickly.
Address: Route de Gigondas, 84190 Sarrians, France, Rhone Valley
One of the oldest estates in CdP with winemaking cited to the 16th century, producing refined GSM-led reds and whites from organic farming.
Tasting: Open tasting room and shop at the chateau; cellar tours by appointment
Signature wines: nerthe-chateauneuf-rouge, nerthe-cuvee-des-cadettes
Tip: The Cuvee des Cadettes white from very old Roussanne and Clairette vines is a rare and age-worthy white CdP.
Small traditional Gigondas domaine producing a single estate wine from old vines on the clay-limestone slopes at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Tasting: Tasting at the domaine by appointment
Signature wines: cayron-gigondas
Delas Freres, founded 1835 in Tain-l'Hermitage, is a leading Northern Rhone negociant producing benchmark Hermitage rouge, Les Bessards cuvee, and Saint-Joseph.
Tasting: By appointment at the Delas Freres cellars in Tain-l'Hermitage
Signature wines: delas-hermitage-les-bessards, delas-hermitage-domaine-des-tourettes
Tip: The Les Bessards single-parcel Hermitage is the flagship; Saint-Joseph Sainte-Epine is excellent value.
Ampuis-based negociant and domaine celebrated for the single-vineyard Cote-Rotie La La La trilogy from old Syrah vines.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at Chateau d'Ampuis by appointment
Signature wines: guigal-cote-rotie-la-mouline, guigal-cote-rotie-la-landonne, guigal-cote-rotie-la-turque
Tip: The La La La trilogy (La Mouline, La Landonne, La Turque) are allocated; the Chateau d'Ampuis Cote-Rotie is the most accessible flagship.
Tain-l'Hermitage negociant under biodynamic conversion since the 1990s, producing benchmark Hermitage Syrah and rare Marsanne whites.
Tasting: Open tasting room in Tain-l'Hermitage; cellar tours by appointment
Signature wines: chapoutier-ermitage-le-pavillon, chapoutier-ermitage-de-lore
Tip: The Braille labels on all bottles reflect the family's commitment to accessibility. The tasting room in town is walk-in friendly.
One of the Rhone's oldest negociants, producers of the iconic Hermitage La Chapelle Syrah from the hill's granite flanks in Tain.
Tasting: La Cave by appointment; wine shop open in Tain-l'Hermitage
Signature wines: jaboulet-hermitage-la-chapelle
Tip: La Chapelle from top vintages (1961, 1990, 2010) is among the most age-worthy wines in France.
