Your Guide to Southern Rhône Wineries

Top 20 Wineries in Southern Rhône Valley / Provence

Explore Provence’s renowned wine regions with our top picks for wine estates. Taste the exceptional wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Ventoux.

Updated August 19, 2026Blog

A large part of Provence lies within the Southern Rhône wine area, which is a true gem. In this region, red Grenache is king, complemented by other varietals that enhance the traditional blends for red wines: Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault.

I must admit, I am not entirely objective—I am completely in love with Southern Rhône wines—but these red wines are real crowd-pleasers. They have low acidity (unlike Burgundy wines) and low tannins (unlike Bordeaux wines), resulting in very fruity and silky red wines with just enough freshness to make you want to pour another glass.

There are also excellent white wines produced here, made from Clairette or a blend of White Grenache and Roussanne, with a bit of Viognier also being produced.

If you just want a wine shop with great choices, you must go to “Le Marché de la Gare” where you will find excellent recommendations (from Arnaud & Isabelle) and bottles…

Wine Regions in Southern Rhône

In the Southern Rhône, the main wine regions are as follows:

Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Known for full-bodied red wines made from Grenache blended with other grape types such as Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Terret Noir, and more. Traditionally, fermentation is done with the stems to add tannins. The wines are very fruity, silky, and slightly oaked (depending on the producer), with a pleasant game and herbal taste. Prices usually start at 30€ a bottle.
Gigondas and Vacqueyras: Using the same grape types, these wines have a full-bodied profile, are very fruity, earthy, and silky. Prices typically start at 20€ a bottle.
Cairanne and Rasteau: These wines have similar blends and are very fruity with a slightly fuller body than the previous ones because the vines are grown on the hotter plains. Prices generally start at 18€ a bottle.
Ventoux: This region offers the best bargain as the wines (from the great producers listed below) present the same characteristics as Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape but at a fraction of the price. Prices usually start at 15€ a bottle.

Wine Tastings in France

In France (and Europe more generally), wine tasting experiences differ from those in New World countries such as the US or Australia. Wineries in France are typically much smaller and do not necessarily employ a salesperson dedicated to wine tastings. Instead, you are usually welcomed by the owner (or their family), the winemaker, or whoever is on duty that day.

Given their limited time, wine tastings generally consist of sampling the property’s wines and typically conclude with a sale (they expect you to purchase at least one or two bottles). While wine tastings in France are often free, you will not usually receive a comprehensive tour of the vineyard or extensive explanations about the area and property.

It’s better to book in advance via phone or email; we can, of course, help you with that. However, the most famous and larger wine estates often employ a salesperson, and these estates may offer a (paid) wine tour that is closer to the service you would get in the New World.