Autour du Ventoux is a destination that is famous for its wide range of outdoor activities. It is also home to an exceptional vineyard.

AOC Ventoux wines – whether they’re red, white or rosé – draw all their flair and delicious vivacity from the cool nights and pure air of Mont Ventoux.

The grape varieties benefit from an outstanding terroir and preserved biodiversity that helps them express themselves. Located between the Mediterranean and the Alps, Mont Ventoux is listed as a classified biosphere reserve by UNESCO. At its foot, the vineyards thrive in the heart of the garrigue, shaping the beauty of the landscape.

Don’t wait any longer: set out to meet the winemakers who create the winegrowing identity of the so-called Giant of Provence!

Come and take a refreshing break among the vineyards of southern Ardèche, where the land is unspoiled and you can enjoy local food and wines. Get ready for a real breath of fresh air!

With its Roman past, Nîmes has preserved not just its magnificent architectural inheritance but also its wine heritage, making it the capital of the Costières de Nîmes appellation.

This AOC vineyard lies to the south-east of Nîmes, close to the mythical monuments in the city centre. It stretches between the ponds  of Camargue, the Mediterranean sea and the Rhône river. The twofold influence of the climate and soil in this winegrowing region are ideal for producing wines with a fruity aroma and a delicate freshness.

To help visitors understand the unique characteritics  of Costières wines, a hundred or so estates, cellars and storehouses are happy to introduce you to the specific qualities of the terroir and the practices of the local winemakers, who are deeply committed to respecting the environment.

A wide range of activities is on offer to help you discover this AOC with its refreshing diversity!

Shiny and new, the wine and chocolate workshop at Domaine Michelas St Jemms should delight the taste buds of a gourmet connoisseur on the loose in the Côtes du Rhône.

Your experience involves one hour of tasting with a difference as you search for the perfect match between these two exceptional products, and all supervised by a wine expert from the estate. The exercise is trickier than it sounds. You will sample four wines from the Crozes-Hermitage AOC estate (one white, three reds) and eight varieties of chocolate (Manjari, Kalingo, Itakuja from Madagascar, Peru and Brazil). These special treats are produced by Valrhona, the famous and excellent chocolate producer from Tain l’Hermitage. This workshop is also the perfect excuse to take a closer look at this family wine estate, which operates on a sustainable agriculture basis. One final piece of advice: ask for a little taste of “La Chasselière”, the estate’s iconic Crozes-Hermitage blend. A real treat.

Tips nearby:

Auberge Monnet: La Roche Du Glun, 12 km from Valence. Riverside restaurant offering high-quality bistro cuisine. Exceptional local produce with short supply circuits. Simple but effective dishes: frogs’ legs with parsley, beef tataki, chicken liver gâteau, fried trout... Excellent list of local wines. Warm and friendly welcome.

Gîtes M.Chapoutier:  Tournon-sur-Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage and Tain-l'Hermitage. Five high-end gîtes in the heart of the vineyard for couples and families. Wonderful view of the valley. Excellent facilities: swimming pool, wine tasting, visit to the vineyard and option to have the wine cellar stocked before you arrive. A real find.

For a culture seeker such as yourself, the Drôme Provençale is far from an unknown quantity. But have you heard of Grignan-Les-Adhémar AOC?

This relatively new appellation (2010) does, however, cover 2,830 hectares (6,993 acres) of vines spread across 21 communes, from south of Montélimar to the foothills of Tricastin. To learn more, or top up on what you already know, simply head to the Caveau de Grignan wine cellar. Delphine Beugnon, a graduate from the Suze-la-Rousse University of Wine, offers tastings and educational wine workshops that focus on a selection of six or more crus, including one red, rosé and white. The wines you taste will follow the seasons, with a wide selection of rosés in summer and an emphasis on blends that pair well with truffles in the winter months. Because some of these wines are a perfect match for this king of mushrooms. In fact, if you are in the area in early February, be sure to pay a visit to Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and its Festival of Truffles and Wines, a fitting tribute to this famous food and wine match. Caveau de Grignan also sells over 200 wines at producer prices (between €5 and €16 a bottle). Just a word to the wise...

Tips nearby:

Auberge du Petit Bistrot Vinsobres: Vinsobres, 15 km from Vaison La Romaine. Village restaurant in a fine stone building. Fresh, relaxed, lavish and local cuisine: home-made pied pacquet (stuffed mutton tripe cooked in wine with sheep’s feet and chunks of bacon), lamb cutlets, poached pear with orange blossom... Excellent wine list. Shaded terrace. Typical welcome and excellent value for money.

Domaine des Gravennes: Suze La Rousse, 18 km from Grignan. Guest house in a bastide, or Provençal house, in the heart of the Gravennes wine estate. Provençal decoration with exposed beams and tiled floor. Optional treasure hunt among the vines. The perfect way to experience daily life on a vineyard holding over a weekend.