The Côtes du Rhône is an extensive wine-producing area yielding a wide range of wine qualities and styles.

Generally, the better wines come from the “villages” on the hillsides of the Valley – such as Vacqueyras, Gigondas and Beaumes-de-Venise, a collection of attractive, Provencal wine villages. There are many excellent small producers, of which our favourite has to be Domaine la Fourmone just north of Vacqueyras.

With tree-lined shaded streets, Vacqueyras has a number of hotels and café/restaurants, a village with an ancient centre which is interesting to explore. Nearby Beaumes-de-Venise is also fascinating to explore with its narrow alleyways leading up to the top of the hill around which the village clusters.

Both villages host good “caves- cooperatives” – Vacqueyras  Beaumes-de-Venise, where you can taste the range of wines on offer, and at keen prices. A recent innovation in both villages has been the addition of a restaurant linked to the Co-op, offering a local menu designed to complement the local wines.

Beaumes-de-Venise produces red, white and rosé wines, but is best known for its delightful dessert Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, whereas the dominant wines in Vacqueyras are rich, smooth reds.

The area is north of Avignon (84 Vaucluse, Provence PACA), and close to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, where you can stay at Chateau des Fines Roches

A bit further north in Seguret is the Domaine de Cabasse – a family-run wine estate with a hotel and tasting caveau

An excellent hotel just outside the village of Gigondas is the Hotel Montmirail a handsome 17th century edifice tucked away in the wilds between vines and olive trees at the foot of the lace-like Dentelles peaks.

and the B&B Chateau le Martinet at Violès

See all hotels and other accommodation (B&B and self-catering) in and around Vacqueyras

Vacqueyras is about 25 miles/37 km from the city of Avignon

 Airport: Marseille Provence MRS (60 miles/100 km)

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The power of balance! Full, delicate, and complex, the wines from this appellation are the result of assemblies that harmoniously combine the qualities of different terroirs…

Tucked at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail on the left-bank of the Ouvèze, this AOC is planted in Vacqueyras and Sarrians, between the prestigious Gigondas and Beaumes-de-Venise vineyards. The red wines will develop aromas of small red fruits and violet when young, and then grow into fragrances of liquorice, woodland, pepper, and spices as it ages. The rare white wines are bright and refined, and the rosés – even rarer – are full-bodied and flexible, with aromas of flowers and wild strawberries.

This wine’s beauty resides in its balance and personality. In Vacqueyras, the assembly results in strong wines with definite character, but always with a specific freshness and finesse. Indeed, Vacqueyras has been the official Cru of the Avignon festival since 1998. rhone-wines.com