Rhone Valley Vineyards

[masha]

I'd appreciate recommendations and advice as to visiting wineries in the Rhone Valley. We will be traveling there for a week -- splitting our time between Grignan and Le Thor -- and would like to stop in at a few. Which wineries are open to the public? Do we need to make advance bookings?
Also any recommendations for lunches in the area (our breakfasts and dinners are covered). Thanks all.

[masha]

Thank you all for your responses. Keep your suggestions for wine tastings and lunches coming. (I promise to report back.)

[Delucacheesemonger]

IMHO, the best rose , Tavel,comes from that area. About 10 years ago they stopped tasting at each property, now in the center of town, is a small shop that allows you to taste some 20-25 of the local Tavels. It is just off the A9 between Orange and Nimes. Have one for me, great picnic area.

[Busk]

Also, people have told me that the best wines in Tavel actually aren't the rose that everyone associates with this appellation, but the reds. Try the reds and get back to us. I like Tavel Rose, but did not taste the reds when I stayed in Tavel a couple of years ago.

Also, I tasted and purchased at Lucien Barrot in CdP. Excellent wine and experience.

[Pammel]

Tavel is the only AOC in France that produces only rose wines. They don't have the legal right to label any red wines as Tavel. It may be that some of the wineries in Tavel make a red wine but it won't be labeled Tavel; it will be labeled Vin du Pays, maybe Cote du Rhone, but not even sure about that. Definitely not Tavel, that is why you didn't taste any Tavel roses when you stayed in Tavel.

[Busk]

If there is no red AOC from Tavel, it must be reds from Tavel, non-AOC reds.

I don't think I even tasted any Tavel AOC while I was in Tavel...

[sunshine842]

We believe you ... but as Pammel is saying, it won't say Tavel Rouge on the lable -- it will say Vin du Pays or something similar, as only roses carry the AOC.

[BN1]

I believe one could drown in wine in CdP. On a cold day in winter, some guy came along and put a glass in my hand, then filled it with wine while my wife was taking my picture on the steps up to the ruins. I plan to sleep in town the next time I try to taste there to avoid driving. There are caves (tasting rooms) and open wineries all along the Côtes du Rhône Wine Trail, which goes for miles. I usually limit myself to Côtes du Rhône Villages red wine, which is one step up. That said, I am currently drinking Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône (regular grade) because it is so darn good.

[sunshine842]

while you're driving, keep a look out for signs saying "vin a vendre" (wine for sale) or "degustation" (tasting) --- that's a pretty good sign that they're open for visits -- you might interrupt Grandma while she does the family's ironing, but she'll be happy to call her kids in from the barn/fields to tell you about their wines and to have a taste.

[ChefJune]

You might get more responses to your question if you post it in the Wine Forum.

There are few wineries that are open to the public without an advance appointment, but many that are available when you've planned ahead. In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, there are many, many tasting rooms in the town square, that makes for a fun day of wine tasting and sight seeing. If you are going that far South.

[masha]

Thanks CJ, I thought I'd hear from you. Le Thor is not far from C-d-P so we will definitely try the tasting rooms in the town square.