Chateau Miraval ★ 4.5
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle30 haFounded 1500Brad Pitt (Mondo Bongo), Stoli Group (Tenute del Mondo) and Famille Perrin joint ventureWinemaker Marc PerrinORGANIC CERTIFIEDCotes de Provence
Sprawling 500-hectare estate at Correns north of Brignoles, with a 30-hectare working vineyard farmed organically. The wines are produced in a joint venture between Famille Perrin of Chateau de Beaucastel, Brad Pitt (Mondo Bongo) and the Stoli Group, which acquired Angelina Jolie's former 50 percent stake in 2021.
Tasting: The estate does not generally receive visitors at the property; wines widely available at Cotes de Provence retailers
Signature wines: miraval-rose, miraval-coeur-de-grain, miraval-muse-de-miraval
Tip: Muse de Miraval, the top-of-range rose released in tiny allocation each year, is the estate's prestige cuvee.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Rolle, Syrah, Tibouren45 haFounded 1201Moet Hennessy (LVMH) and Sacha LichineCotes de Provence
Sacha Lichine acquired Chateau d'Esclans at La Motte in 2006 and launched the Whispering Angel programme; LVMH's Moet Hennessy took majority control in 2019. The estate runs 45 hectares of vineyards within a 270-hectare property and has been a major commercial driver of the premium Provence rose category.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment Monday to Saturday; multiple flight options
Signature wines: whispering-angel, esclans-les-clans, esclans-garrus, esclans-rock-angel
Tip: Garrus, the top-of-range rose vinified in 600-litre oak demi-muids, is the estate's prestige cuvee.
Cotes de Provence AOC (Cru Classe 1955)Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Tibouren, Rolle200 haFounded 1936Matton family and Moet Hennessy (LVMH)Cotes de Provence
Cru Classe Cotes de Provence estate at Gassin on the Saint-Tropez peninsula, in the Matton family for four generations. Around 200 hectares of vineyard with annual rose production approaching 9 million bottles; LVMH took a majority stake in 2023.
Tasting: Monday to Friday 9am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 6pm; Saturday 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm
Signature wines: minuty-prestige-rose, minuty-281, minuty-rose-et-or, minuty-m
Tip: Minuty 281, named after the property's elevation, is the flagship prestige rose; the M de Minuty is the everyday entry point.
Cotes de Provence AOC (Cru Classe 1955)Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Rolle100 haFounded 1955Teillaud familyCotes de Provence
Historic Cru Classe estate at Les Arcs-sur-Argens, a former abbey of the Catholic Order of Premontre where the bishops of Frejus once kept residence. Bernard Teillaud restored the property in the 1990s and the wines were elevated to international acclaim from the early 2000s.
Tasting: Daily cellar visits and tastings; on-site chapel and the medieval cloister open to visitors
Signature wines: sainte-roseline-cru-classe-rose, sainte-roseline-lampe-de-meduse, sainte-roseline-prieure
Tip: Lampe de Meduse, a barrel-fermented rose, is the prestige bottling; the chapel and Marc Chagall mosaic are part of the visitor tour.
Cotes de Provence AOC (Cru Classe 1955)Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Rolle50 haFounded 1768Roger ZannierCotes de Provence
A Cru Classe of Provence, set in the Massif des Maures at Cogolin in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The estate runs 100 hectares of vineyard across three parcels (Saint-Maur, Clos Saint-Vincent, Clos de Capelune) and is in conversion to organic agriculture from 2021. Roger Zannier acquired the property in 2010.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: saint-maur-clos-de-capelune, saint-maur-l-excellence, saint-maur-saint-m
Tip: Clos de Capelune, single-vineyard from a north-facing parcel, is the estate's age-worthy white and rose.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Rolle160 haFounded 1750Vins & Vignobles de BerneORGANIC CERTIFIEDCotes de Provence
1,272-acre private estate in the Var between Lorgues and Flayosc, dating to the 18th century and recast in the 2000s as a Relais & Chateaux hotel, restaurant and wine tourism destination alongside the producing vineyard. Organic-certified.
Tasting: Daily cellar visits and tastings; on-site five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel and restaurant
Signature wines: berne-grand-cru, berne-impatience, berne-romance
Tip: The on-site cooking school and the wine library at the Bistrot de Berne are good complements to the cellar tasting.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Rolle60 haFounded 1999Michel ReybierORGANIC CERTIFIEDCotes de Provence
Owned since 2020 by Michel Reybier (also owner of Chateau Cos d'Estournel in Saint-Estephe), La Mascaronne works 60 hectares of certified organic vineyard at Le Luc in a natural amphitheatre, producing rose, white and red Cotes de Provence.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: mascaronne-rose, mascaronne-quat-saisons, mascaronne-aurore
Tip: Quat Saisons rose, the everyday cuvee, sits inside many of Saint-Tropez's restaurant programmes.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Rolle50 haFounded 1996Maitres Vignerons de Saint-TropezCotes de Provence
Saint-Tropez peninsula estate created in 1996 from blended parcels across Ramatuelle, Gassin and La Croix Valmer. Linked to the Maitres Vignerons de Saint-Tropez cooperative.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings at the property; on-site beach club Pampelonne
Signature wines: tropez-rose, tropez-cuvee-saint-tropez, tropez-art
Tip: The wines pair with the on-site beach club Pampelonne in season.
Cotes de Provence AOC (Cru Classe 1955)Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Tibouren, Rolle60 haFounded 1882Wemyss familyCotes de Provence
Cru Classe estate at Pignans, replanted after phylloxera by Augustin Isnard in 1882 and now in Scottish ownership (the Wemyss family) since 1988. 60 hectares of vineyard on the southern foothills of the Massif des Maures.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; check estate website for current hours
Signature wines: rimauresq-r-cru-classe, rimauresq-quintessence
Tip: The R Cru Classe range is the entry point; the small-lot Quintessence is the cellar pick.
Cotes de Provence AOC (Cru Classe 1955)Tibouren, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre17 haFounded 1797Roux familyCotes de Provence
Cru Classe at Le Pradet between Hyeres and Toulon, the Roux family in residence for five generations since 1797. 17 hectares overlooking the bay of Toulon, dominated by Tibouren, the heritage Provence grape vinified under flor in old foudres for the estate's signature savoury rose.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: cibonne-cuvee-tradition, cibonne-cuvee-speciale, cibonne-cuvee-prestige
Tip: The Cuvee Tradition is the textbook Tibouren rose; the Cuvee Speciale is the cellar candidate.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle30 haFounded 1976Biancone familyWinemaker Sophie Courtois BianconeCotes de Provence
Family-owned estate at Taradeau dating from the late 1970s, now run by Sophie Courtois Biancone. Bottlings include the Pierre de l'Aigle range and the Alexandra cuvees, both widely cited by Decanter and Wine Spectator.
Tasting: Daily tastings at the on-site shop; cellar tours by appointment
Signature wines: rasque-pierre-de-l-aigle, rasque-alexandra, rasque-blanc
Tip: Alexandra cuvee, a barrel-fermented white from Rolle, is the estate's most under-known release.
Cotes de Provence AOCGrenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle50 haFounded 1806Gavoty familyWinemaker Roselyne GavotyBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDCotes de Provence
The Gavoty family has been at Cabasse for more than two centuries; the current generation, led by Roselyne Gavoty, works the 50-hectare estate in organic and biodynamic agriculture. The Clarendon cuvee, taking its name from a 19th-century music critic ancestor, is the prestige tier.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: gavoty-clarendon, gavoty-grand-classique, gavoty-cuvee-tradition
Tip: Try the Clarendon white from old-vine Rolle.