The wine bar and salon of La Mirande hotel behind the Palais des Papes. Sommelier-led list dominated by Rhone Valley estates with regular vertical and thematic evenings; tasting events coordinated with top estates.
The list: All-Rhone and Provence list of 180 references; 20+ by the glass spanning Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Cote-Rotie and Condrieu; sommelier-selected weekly feature pours
Address: 4 place de l'Amirande, 84000 Avignon, France, Rhone Valley
Neighbourhood wine bar in a vaulted 17th-century cellar near Les Halles market. Florence Martin's selection foregrounds small growers and natural wines from across the Rhone Valley corridor.
The list: Curated natural and artisan Rhone Valley list with 200+ references; 16 by the glass rotating weekly; owner-sommelier Florence Martin trained at Inter Rhone
Pours: Natural Cotes du Rhone, Grignan-les-Adhemar, Lirac blanc
Intimate wine bar and small-plates venue in Tain-l'Hermitage village, ideally positioned near the Chapoutier and Cave de Tain cellars. Northern Rhone specialist list with bottle shop next door.
The list: Tain-centric wine list with 80 Northern Rhone references; emphasis on Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas by the glass; weekly grower-direct additions
Pours: Hermitage blanc, Crozes-Hermitage Syrah, Cornas
Wine bar with panoramic terrace at the ruins of the Papal castle in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Exclusively Chateauneuf-du-Pape producers; sommelier Stephane Bonnet presents guided appellation flights at lunch.
The list: Exclusively Chateauneuf-du-Pape list of 60 producers; 18 by the glass at any time; panoramic terrace overlooking the vines; guided tasting menus available
Pours: Chateauneuf-du-Pape rouge grand millesime, CdP blanc Roussanne, Tavel rosé
Natural wine bar on Place des Clercs in Valence with a strong Rhone Valley grower list. Standing-room counter plus pavement terrasse; wine shop doubles as a reference for natural Rhone producers.
The list: Northern and Southern Rhone-focused natural wine list; 200 bottles to eat in or take away; 12-16 by the glass at any time; emphasis on small biodynamic producers
Pours: Saint-Peray blanc, Crozes-Hermitage natural, Cotes du Rhone villages
Underground wine bar in Avignon's old town with vaulted medieval cellar setting. Hosts monthly tasting evenings with Rhone Valley domaines and maintains a strong list of Southern Rhone estates.
The list: 250 references focussed on Rhone Valley; 20 by the glass; regular evening tastings with visiting winemakers; cheese and charcuterie pairings from local producers
Pours: Vacqueyras, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Chateauneuf-du-Pape blanc
Wine bar and bistro in Vienne, gateway city to the Northern Rhone appellations. Adjacent to the Roman amphitheatre at Jazz a Vienne festival time; strong Cote-Rotie and Condrieu focus.
The list: Northern Rhone specialist list with 120 references; Cote-Rotie, Condrieu and Crozes-Hermitage verticals; 10 by the glass from grower selection
Pours: Cote-Rotie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph rouge
