Tavel AOC, Lirac AOCGrenache, Clairette, Cinsault, Picpoul, Mourvedre, BourboulencFounded 1920Tavel
Tavel reference estate producing one of the most consistent and elegant Tavel roses, farming the galets plateau.
Tasting: Tasting room open at the chateau in Tavel; Monday to Saturday
Signature wines: aqueria-tavel, aqueria-lirac-rouge
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC, Cotes du Rhone Villages Beaumes-de-Venise AOCMuscat a Petits Grains, Grenache, SyrahFounded 1976Beaumes-de-Venise
Hillside Beaumes-de-Venise domaine producing the classic Muscat VDN and a dry Grenache-Syrah red.
Tasting: Tasting room open at the domaine; weekdays and Saturday
Signature wines: coyeux-muscat-beaumes-de-venise
Tip: The Muscat VDN is luscious and aromatic, best served as an aperitif or with foie gras and tarte tatin.
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOCMuscat a Petits Grains, GrenacheFounded 1920Beaumes-de-Venise
Traditional Beaumes-de-Venise estate long regarded as the benchmark for Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise VDN, with old Muscat a Petits Grains vines.
Tasting: Tasting room in Beaumes-de-Venise; open daily in season
Signature wines: bernardins-muscat-beaumes-de-venise
Vacqueyras AOCGrenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultFounded 1993Biodynamic PracticingECOCERTVacqueyras
The most celebrated Vacqueyras estate, producing intense, mineral-driven Grenache reds that rank among the best value serious wines in the Southern Rhone.
Tasting: By appointment at the domaine
Signature wines: sang-des-cailloux-vacqueyras-rouge
Tip: The Vacqueyras frequently outperforms wines twice its price; production is small and it sells quickly.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOCGrenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Counoise, Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache BlancFounded 1560ECOCERTChateauneuf-du-Pape
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.
Gigondas AOCGrenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultFounded 1960Gigondas
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