From a family-run vineyard producing award-winning biodynamic wines to ultra-luxe domaines in the Var, here are five of the best vineyards to visit within an hour or two’s drive from Monaco.
Côtes de Provence, a term recognised and loved by wine drinkers the world over, conjures up images of quaint bastides surrounded by lavender, olive groves and, of course, vines. The region, which extends over an area of than 200 square kilometres, is undoubtably one of the world’s most beautiful and most productive.
Did you know that an estimated 116 million bottles of wine – an impressive 47% of them organic – are produced here every year, and around 92% of these are the signature rosé of the region?
Many of the vineyards have onsite shops and tasting rooms, but some take the vineyard experience a step further. Here are a few of our favourites…
Fine dining and luxury
Château de Berne is a stunning 18th century property set amidst 515 hectares of wild and landscaped gardens. The history of wine-making at this picturesque address goes back way further, though, and traces of vine cultivation that have been found here date back to 200BC. The name Berne was established during the 18th century.
In 2021, the estate’s 370 acres of vines gained official organic certification, making it part of the growing community of wine makers in the region to move in this direction.
Château de Berne stands out, however, for its incredible setting and top-notch facilities. The château itself can cater for 20 guests, but there are also villas with private swimming pools on the estate for those looking for even more privacy. There’s a Cinq Mondes and Vinésime Spa, numerous fitness classes, a place for cooking masterclasses and 100 kilometres of hiking trails.
The domaine even has a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Jardin de Berne led by Chef Louis Rameau, as well as several other fantastic eateries. If you’re going with a group, be sure to try L’Olivier de Berne beneath the olive trees.
A place for couples
Ultimate Provence, or UP for short, is a thoroughly modern endeavour that styles itself as an eco-aware wine estate “set amid magnificent wild, mineral scenery”. Its 114 acres of vines are found in the heart of France’s largest nature reserve in La Garde-Freinet and can be visited by appointment. If you’re here to enjoy the luxurious amenities of UP, then the 15-minute tasting of the estate’s wines will give you enough insight into which bottles you’d like to take home.
There are lots of different accommodation options available and while we’ve picked UP as our choice for a romantic weekend away, the domaine is very family-friendly and even runs a kids club at its flagship restaurant for parents who want to enjoy their meal in peace.
Regarding fun and relaxation, the onsite Vinésime and Voya Spa is open seven days a week and there’s a beach club down on the coast near Saint Tropez that bears UP’s name.
Where to take family
If you’re looking for a place to entertain the young and the old, then Château Saint Roux in Le Cannet-des-Maures should be right at the top of your list. It’s a very active vineyard, with 99 acres that produce five different wines. Although its bottles aren’t yet certified organic, Château Saint Roux is embracing all the principles of organic farming and is well on its way to converting.
There are several different types of accommodation here, from apartments and lofts to a bastide and a gîte, as well as an excellent eponymous restaurant, La Table Saint Roux led by Chef Chef Guillaume Rigaudias, that uses seasonal ingredients grown on the estate.
Its real family appeal comes from the vast range of activities on offer. Children will absolutely love the farm with its goats, rabbits, hens and even the resident miniature donkey, Idaho. There’s a stylish tasting cellar, a dairy making the most delicious fresh produce, wine discovery sessions, and even a breadmaking class.
Biodynamic and natural wines
You would be hard pressed to find a vineyard more dedicated to organic wine production than Fondugues-Pradugues. This family-owned, single-estate domaine near Ramatuelle takes an encompassingly holistic approach to its vines, without a single drop of pesticides, herbicides or allergens being used in its methods to simply “let nature do its thing”.
To make the most of the Fondugues-Pradugues experience, we highly recommend trying out Le Chai, which offers a range of tastings and gourmet meals. You can even have a picnic amongst the vines with a selection of the estate’s 2020 vintages.
Closest to Monaco
The final stop of our list of top vineyards to try out this summer is more of a collection of vineyards than one single address. The Bellet region on the outskirts of Nice is one of the oldest “appellation contrôlée” in France – its history of vine cultivation dates back to an incredible 600BC – and is unique in its proximity to such an urban area. Bellet covers an area of around 650 hectares, but only 50 hectares of vines are in operation today.
Although many of the vineyards here are open to the public, the best way to experience Bellet is with a tour and there’s no one better than Julia Glibova of the VinoLove Club, who runs walking tours and wine tastings.
Another way of getting to know more about the Bellet appellation is to take the Vignobles de Bellet navette bus service from the Magnan stop in Nice. The bus departs the city between 10am and 4.40pm, and stops off right outside each of the vineyards affiliated with the scheme.
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Credit for featured photo of Fondugues-Pradugues: Caroline Sans