Southern Rhone Valley Cru Villages
Discover the beauty, history, and world-class wines of Southern France on this immersive Southern Rhône wine tour, designed for travelers who want to experience the region beyond the bottle. Centered in the historic Roman city of Orange, this unforgettable journey combines intimate winery visits, charming Provençal villages, and exceptional food, making it one of the most rewarding Provence wine travel experiences available.
From the iconic vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape to the hidden gems of Cairanne, Rasteau, Séguret, Vacqueyras, and Gigondas, this Rhône Valley wine tour offers a deep dive into the appellations that define Southern Rhône winemaking. Guests will enjoy private tastings at boutique estates, explore medieval hilltop villages, and meet the winemakers behind some of France’s most celebrated wines.
A highlight of the week is attending the renowned Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the premier Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine festival, where dozens of producers gather to showcase the best wines of the appellation. Combined with curated winery visits, regional cuisine, and authentic village life, this tour offers an unmatched opportunity to experience the soul of the Southern Rhône.
Whether you are passionate about Grenache-based wines, curious about the effects of terroir, or seeking an unforgettable Southern France wine tour, this itinerary blends wine education, cultural immersion, and culinary discovery into one extraordinary journey through Provence and the Rhône Valley.
At the end of our tour, you will return to Avignon, where you can connect to other cities by train. You can extend your trip with a visit to Provence, Languedoc, or Lyon at the beginning or end of the tour.
2027 Dates
April 1-8, 2027
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1- Avignon to Orange
Your Southern Rhône adventure begins with a group pick-up at the Avignon TGV Station, just outside the medieval walls of Avignon. From here, we’ll travel north through the sun-drenched landscapes of Provence, arriving in the historic Roman city of Orange, our home for the week. After settling into our hotel, we’ll take an introductory walking tour through Orange’s historic center, including its charming squares, cafés, and remarkable Roman monuments. We will have a welcome lunch in a unique cave restaurant, carved into stone, where we’ll toast the beginning of our Rhône Valley journey. The evening is yours to wander and get acquainted with this remarkable city.
Day 2- Chateauneuf-du-Pape and the wine festival
Today we venture to the legendary village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of France’s most iconic wine appellations. Our morning begins at a winery just outside the village, where we’ll enjoy a private tasting with panoramic views over the vineyards and the Rhône Valley beyond.
Afterwards, we’ll head into the village itself, wandering its winding cobblestone streets, exploring wine shops and tasting rooms, and enjoying lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, we’ll attend the renowned Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape, an annual celebration dedicated entirely to the wines of this prestigious appellation. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to taste an extraordinary range of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines and meet the producers behind them.
Day 3- Cairanne
Today we explore Cairanne, one of the Southern Rhône’s rising stars. Unlike many wine regions, the wines here are known by the names of their villages rather than their grape varieties—a reflection of the deep connection between place and wine. We’ll begin with a morning winery visit and tasting, followed by lunch at a local restaurant highlighting Provençal flavors. Afterward, you’ll have time to stroll through the quiet village streets and soak in the relaxed rhythm of rural wine country before our second winery visit of the day. By late afternoon, we return to Orange.
Day 4- Rasteau
Sunday morning begins with Orange’s local farmers market, a wonderful chance to browse regional cheeses, fresh bread, olives, and handmade spreads. Gather a few favorites, as today we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch among the vineyards at one of our winery visits. Our destination is Rasteau, an appellation especially close to Tom’s heart, known for its powerful reds and rich vin doux naturel wines. This is a place of old friendships and deep wine connections, making our visits here particularly special and personal.
Day 5- Seguret
Known as one of the prettiest villages in France, Seguret sits on a hill overlooking the Rhone Valley. We will visit two wineries today, and you will have some free time to explore the village with its small galleries and stone walls. A Provencal lunch will be served on the terrace of the highly rated La Bastide Bleue, with stunning views of Seguret.
Day 6- Vacqueyras
Today takes us to the charming village of Vacqueyras, a hidden gem of the Southern Rhône. With its maze of narrow streets climbing toward a hilltop church, Vacqueyras offers both beauty and authenticity. You’ll have time in the morning to wander the village, enjoy a coffee and pastry at a local café, and settle into its peaceful atmosphere before we head to two of our favorite wineries for tastings. Lunch today will be at a beloved local restaurant, highly recommended to us by the very winemakers we’ll be visiting.
Day 7- Gigondas
Our final full day is spent in Gigondas, home to some of the Southern Rhône’s most celebrated wineries. Surrounded by the dramatic limestone peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail, Gigondas produces bold, structured wines with remarkable character. We’ll begin with a winery visit and tasting in the morning before heading into the village, where you’ll have time to explore the local tasting rooms, browse wine shops, and take in the beauty of this storied appellation. After lunch, we’ll stop at one final winery on our way back to Orange for a last taste of the Rhône.
For those interested in taking a piece of this journey home, several wineries offer international shipping. In the evening, we’ll gather for our farewell dinner in Orange, celebrating the friendships, wines, and memories made over the week.
Day 8- Leave Orange
This morning, our transportation returns to Avignon, with drop-off at the TGV station for those continuing south or west through Provence or beyond. Alternatively, guests may depart directly from Orange by train, with convenient connections north to Lyon and other destinations. Whether your journey ends here or continues onward, we hope you leave with a deeper appreciation for the wines, villages, and traditions of the Southern Rhône.
***Pickup/Dropoff in Avignon, France.
What’s included:
- Hotel for 7 nights
- 6 lunches
- Orange city tour
- Ticket to Les Printemps Wine Festival in Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Visit 6 Rhone villages
- wine and picnic at a winery
- Tasting fees are included at 10 wineries
- Transportation to/from Orange
- Pick-up/Drop-off at Avignon TGV station
What’s not included:
- Flight to/from Marseille, Nice or Paris airports
- Train to/from Avignon before or after the trip
- Any lunches or dinners not mentioned above
- Any shopping, souvenirs, wine, etc, that you buy on your own.
Cost of the Tour
- This is a small group tour of 8 people max.
- The cost of this week-long tour is USD $4800 / EUR $4150 per person based on double occupancy.
- Single supplement is an additional USD $750 / EUR $650.
- A deposit of $600 USD/EUR per person is due to secure your spot on the tour. The deadline for the first deposit is due by December 1, 2026 to secure your spot.
The remaining balance can be paid in monthly payments. Final payment due February 1, 2027.
Payment will be made through Zelle (USA) or PayPal. Fill out the contact form below, and we will email you the payment details.
Check out our FAQ page for culture and cancellation policies.
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