Provence Wine Region with Grape Tours – Nice, France

July 2024

Provence Wine Region with Grape Tours – Nice, France

We could not visit France without exploring a wine region and while in the French Riviera, the famous Provence wine region is just next door. For this trip, we wanted to go with a tour company versus a do-it-yourself option and when looking for a tour company, it was an easy decision. We used Grape Tours multiple times in Tuscany and knew they expanded to include this wine trip from Nice. The day of our trip there was only one other couple so we had a semi-private experience with our guide, Cedric. 

It is about an hour ride to the start of the Provence wine region from Nice and over that ride, we learned some of the basics of Provence wine. Almost 90% of the wine production is dedicated to making Rosé. But this is not just any Rosé, there is a Provence specific process that makes Provence Rosé, Provence Rosé. Surprisingly, it is the oldest wine producing region in France and is the only place dedicated to the art of Rosé wine. The Rosé is made with a specific temperature control process that allows for an elegant, dry, fresh, and fruity Rosé, and has a unique color that is markets Provence Rosé.

We learned that there is also a small area in Provence that has volcanic soil from volcanoes that existed centuries ago while the rest of the soil is primarily granite. And while Rosé reigns supreme, there are over 36 varieties that are permitted in Provence that allow for some creativity in the wine making process that expands beyong rosé. Grapes you will find include: Rolle (Vermentino equivalent), Clairette, Roussane, Syrah, Mouvedre, Grenache, Carignan, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Finally, there are nine main AOP regions that make up the Provence wine region.

On our day with Grape Tours, we visited three wineries and also had a stop for lunch. Even though Rosé is the traditional style, we tasted white and red wines as well at each of our three tastings.

Chateau Paquette

Located in the Côtes de Provence Fréjus appellation, Chateau Paquette is a family owned for over 60 years. With thirty hectares dedicated to wine production, the catalog ranges from traditional to creative. The property is very nice with a new terrace that overlooks the vines. While we tasted Rosé, white, and red wines, our favorite was a oaked Rosé – it was so unique and it just worked so well. I am pretty sure this was also our favorite wine of the day. I wish we could have brought this bottle home as I knew we would never tasted something like this.

Domaine de Jale

Our second wine stop was Domaine de Jale in Côtes de Provence AOP. Family owned, Jale has a beautiful property nestled in the Maures forest, which is now protected so there will not be another winery in this location. Here we got to walk through the wine making room with all the fermentation tanks where we saw the temperature controlling units that are so critical to making Provence Rosé. The tasting area outside is covered by an enormous tree and we had the opportunity to walk along the lush vines. Our tasting concluded in the barrel room where we tasted red wine right out of the barrel! We also got to meet the wine maker, Anne. This was such a great winery stop!

Chateau Font du Broc

Our last winery was the newest and most elaborate at Chateau Font du Broc. This estate primarily breeds horses and it feels like the owner went, what the heck, let’s make some wine too. Located in Côtes de Provence AOP on 28 hectares, Font du Broc only sold its first bottle in the early 90s. And because this is more of a passion project, they are doing some new and creative things with the wine. But the highlight of this winery was a visit to the barrel room. When Cedric opened the door and we stared at the ominous stairs, I thought he was kidding. But no, we descend down two flights of stairs into the most grand barrel room we have ever seen. On the website, it highlights that the aging cellar was “designed according to the standards of the very old Thoronet Abbey, dating from the 12th century” – except it was built in the 90s. Just a transportive experience.

La Bohéme

Mixed into our winery stops was lunch at La Bohème in the town of La Motte. La Bohéme is the dreamiest backyard restaurant serving up some incredible food! Along with Rosé, we ordered zucchini flowers, duck breast, and dessert – everything was exceptional. This lunch was such a great location on this tour that I am certain we would have never found without it. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough if you are in the area or wine tasting on your own.

Overall, we had a wonderful day wine tasting through Provence with Grape Tours which was as we expected based on our previous experience in Tuscany with the company. I will say, this experience is not cheap and I found it to be quite expensive in a way that I hesitated the value. Per person, the price of the tour is 225 euro which I found extremely steep. That being said, we did get a semi private experience with only one couple alongside us who happened to be wonderful. The quality of the wines and the wineries selected for this tour were all fantastic. Without the wine, the lunch was 30 euro a person. And the drive from Nice is quite far. We were picked up at 9:15AM and returned to Nice close to 6:30PM so it is a very full day. So for our experience, I did feel it was worth the price especially when comparing what this would have been like to do ourselves. I think this is a great day trip from Nice that allows for a taste of Provence life as I certainly hope to return to Provence for a proper trip in the future.

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