A Provence wine tour from Avignon
A Provence wine tour in this region means the southern Côtes du Rhône. Avignon is the usual base, and it is often called the capital of the Côtes du Rhône. From there you reach villages such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Séguret and Beaumes-de-Venise, each with its own cellars. Some visitors join a guided tour with a driver. Others drive themselves and arrange individual tastings.
Tastings are arranged cellar by cellar. Fees, opening hours and booking rules differ, so contact the cellar before you set out. No single route with fixed prices and fixed opening hours covers the whole region.
Our picks: wine tours from Avignon
The small-group half day and the afternoon tour suit a single free half day; the wine day with lunch is for a full one. The low-priced estate visit works if you are already in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the e-bike ride from Vaison suits anyone who wants the vineyards at their own pace.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine day with lunch
- Wine tastings
- Lunch included
- Driver and guide
Lunch is part of the day, so the tastings are not squeezed around a search for a restaurant.
Check availability →Afternoon wine tour to Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Tastings in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Eight-seat minibus
- Driver and guide
Leaves in the afternoon, which leaves the morning free for the old town or the palace.
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Small-group half-day tasting tour of the crus
- Wine tasting
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned minibus
Built around the region's crus and starting in front of the Avignon tourist office.
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Half-day vineyard tour from Avignon
- Wine tasting
- Air-conditioned minibus
- Driver and guide
Meets a minute's walk from the Avignon tourist office, so you do not need a car to join.
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Self-guided wine ride by e-bike from Vaison-la-Romaine
- E-bike hire
- Route on your phone
- Wine tasting
You ride at your own pace through the wine country around the town. The ride does not include the Roman excavations, which have their own ticket.
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate visit and tasting
- Three wines tasted
- Audio guide
A low-priced visit in the village itself, with an audio guide instead of a live guide.
Check availability →Wine tours and tastings from Avignon
Wine tastings, village visits and day trips through the Côtes du Rhône, with live prices and availability.
Rhône Valley wine tours: how a day works
Four decisions that shape the day.
Pick the villages
Two or three stops are enough for one day. Châteauneuf-du-Pape suits a first visit. Gigondas, Séguret and Beaumes-de-Venise lie together at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Gigondas →Arrange the tasting
Contact each cellar for its opening hours and booking rules. Tour descriptions state the meeting point and what is included, so read them before you book.
Wine explained →Plan the journey
With a car, park at the village and walk. Without one, take a guided tour. Châteauneuf-du-Pape can also be reached from Avignon by bus 902 to Sorgues and then bus 922. Check the current timetable before you go.
Getting there →Taste in measure
Spit or pour away what you do not want to finish, and eat something between cellars. The driver should not drink at all.
Weather and season →Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine tour
The papal castle ruin and the stony vineyards in one village.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape has been a cru of its own since 1936 and makes both red and white wine. The ruin of the papal castle above the village can be visited free of charge all year. The vineyards are known for their rounded stones, the galets roulés, although not every plot is covered with them. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape page has more on the village and the wine.
Gigondas and the villages around it make a good second day. Gigondas also produces white wine, and nearby Beaumes-de-Venise makes a sweet Muscat that is a different product from its dry red. You can read more on the Gigondas page, and the hills above the villages are covered under the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Tasting in Avignon itself
If you prefer not to drive, learn about the wines in the city.
The Maison des Vins stands at 6 rue des Trois Faucons in Avignon. In July 2026 it ran a seasonal wine bar from 3 to 25 July, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., closed on 19 July. Tasting access with a glass and a breath test cost €12. That was a festival offer and not a year-round service, so check the current dates before you plan around it.
A separate address, the Carré du Palais opposite the Palais des Papes, hosts tasting workshops. One workshop is set for 14 November 2026 from 10:30 to 12:30. For the gift voucher for these workshops, the chosen date must be confirmed at least 15 days ahead. That rule applies to this offer only and is not a general booking rule for cellars.
Ways to taste compared
Choose by who drives and how much time you have.
| Way | Good for | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Guided tour with a driver | Several villages in one day without driving | Meeting point, length and what is included |
| Own car and cellar visits | A flexible day and your own choice of villages | Cellar hours, booking, and a driver who does not drink |
| Workshop in Avignon | Learning about appellations without a car | Date and booking |
| Seasonal wine bar | A casual evening in the city | Current dates, as the 2026 offer was a July festival bar |
For most visitors a guided tour is the easiest choice: someone else drives, and you can taste at each stop. If you want to pick your own villages, hire a car and name a driver who stays sober.
Age limits and drinking and driving
The rules that apply in France.
Selling alcohol to under-18s, or giving it to them, is banned in public places. This does not close villages, museums or all wine estates to minors, and the terms of a particular cellar or tour apply on top. The driving limit is 0.5 g/l blood alcohol, or 0.2 g/l in the probation period and when accompanied driving. No number of glasses is safe, so do not count on one. Day trips by tour or taxi avoid the question.
Wine tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need to book a wine tasting?
It depends on the cellar. Tastings are arranged cellar by cellar, and there is no rule that lets you walk into every cellar. Contact the cellar first and ask about hours and any fee.
Are tastings free?
Not always. Prices differ from cellar to cellar, and some tastings are free while others are charged. There is no regional rule, so ask when you book.
Can children join a wine tour?
French law bans selling or giving alcohol to under-18s in public places. Children can still visit villages and many places, but each cellar and tour sets its own conditions. Check with the provider.
How many glasses can I drink before driving?
No safe number can be given. The limit is 0.5 g/l, or 0.2 g/l in the probation period. The safest plan is a driver who does not drink, a guided tour or a taxi.
Can I reach Châteauneuf-du-Pape without a car?
Yes, by bus from Avignon: bus 902 to Sorgues and then bus 922 to the village. Stops in the village are Pierre de Luxembourg and Louis Pasteur. Timetables change, so check the current one before you go.