Nice: Half-day organic wine tasting tour of Provence

The jewel of the Côte d'Azur, Nice attracts millions of visitors every year. This city in the heart of Provence fascinates visitors with its Promenade des Anglais, picturesque narrow streets, pretty beaches and museums. But this region hides other treasures besides its emblematic sites, its vineyards and its quality wines. To make your next seaside holiday unforgettable, opt for our half-day organic wine tasting excursion in Provence. Enjoy an experience rich in aromas and flavours with your family or friends under the southern sun.

In the heart of the cradle of vine-growing in France, it's time to discover the setting of the Var. This town is one of the top destinations for tourists and wine lovers from all over the world. Between the Mediterranean and the Alps, the vineyards of Provence produce bottles of quality wine thanks to its sunny, warm and dry climate. The wine route awaits you in Provence through its magnificent landscapes, its shops, its beautiful beaches and the French Riviera sunshine. The wineries open their doors to you for a memorable wine tasting! So make a note of this activity in your programme for your next stay in Nice!

Preparing your trip to Provence

Before embarking on this 10-hour tour, it is advisable to prepare your journey carefully. Note that the ideal time to go Provence is in July and August. During these months, temperatures are pleasant and the sun shines generously, allowing you to enjoy this unforgettable experience.

There are several options for getting there: train, bus, car pooling and even plane. On site, you'll be picked up from your accommodation in Nice in the morning. A comfortable, air-conditioned van will take you on your tour with ease and safety guaranteed.

As far as accommodation is concerned, the Provence is full of beautiful hotels and comfortable bed and breakfasts at a range of prices. You'll have a wide choice of accommodation, from youth hostels to hotel boats and even chalets. Whether you're coming with your family or a group of friends, for a short or long stay, there's room for everyone, as long as you book in advance, as accommodation tends to fill up quickly in high season.

Biot

Your tour begins with a visit to the exceptional glassworks in Biot. The language of the visit is French, but English is also available if required. From the outset, you should be aware that the quality of its manufacture is recognised the world over. Each glass is unique, thanks to the team of master glassmakers and their expert hands. They will offer you a breathtaking spectacle with their prodigious breath. Thanks to their expertise, the molten glass is transformed into photophores, glass, beautiful jugs and carafes. This will also be an opportunity for you to give yourself or others bubbled glass as gifts.

Created in 1956, the signature of this glassworks was born of the bubble. This element was considered an impurity at the time, but turned out to be a key part of the glassmaking tradition in the end. Of all shapes and colours, the many works of the master glassmakers know no bounds and bear witness to infinite originality. Located in the heart of the French Riviera, the Biot glassworks and its glassmakers magnify glass to create a number of works of art that will adorn your home with originality and elegance.

Opio

Your next stop is Opio. This Provençal hillside village of Opio is nestled among olive groves, pine trees, cork oaks and arbutus. Here you'll discover a rare 15th-century mill renowned for its production ofolive oil of quality. You'll have the opportunity to discover these olive oils of exceptional quality. Combined with tasty regional dishes, olive oil offers a light, fruity flavour on the palate.

Olive trees are everywhere in Provence. When it comes to making olive oil, the people of Provence do it locally on their own estates, using traditional methods handed down from generation to generation. This authenticity and practice enable them to producevirgin olive oil because there are no additives. When it comes to tasty dishes, you'll be delighted to savour fish recipes in olive oil at lunchtime. Examples include bouillabaisse and brandade de morue. For meat and poultry, opt for daube provençale or chicken with olives.

Gourdon

Your route continues to the hilltop village of Gourdon. An exceptional view awaits you at the Côte d'AzurThis is the kind of experience you won't soon forget. You'll discover a splendid 9th-century castle, listed as a Historic Monumentsand its sumptuous gardens designed by the Versailles landscape gardener André Le Nôtre. It's a place that has nothing to envy of the other châteaux in the region, and its uninterrupted view is its indelible signature, worthy of the greatest landscape paintings.

In ancient times, this castle on a rocky peak had a military vocation. It was not until the seventeenth century that the lord of the manor at the time, Louis Le Lombard, decided to develop ceremonial gardens. You'll have the honour of admiring the region and all the botanical species that still adorn it today. You'll be captivated by the view and won't be able to resist the idea of immortalising what you see to get the best photo of the place.

The Gorges du loup and Tourrettes- Sur-Loup

Your career continues at Courmes waterfallalso known as "la pétrifiante". This 40-metre-high natural waterfall in the Gorges du Loup, one of the best in the region, will not leave you indifferent. Just the sight of this listed historic site will dazzle you. Visitors to the region enjoy a wide range of activities, including hiking, canyoning and swimming. So there's something for everyone.

The village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup which you will have the opportunity to visit, owes its fame to violets, its main crop since 1880. Visit violet has its own unique scent and taste. As a result, the flower is used both in confectionery and perfumery. The flower is so emblematic of the region that the municipality of Tourrettes inaugurated the Bastide aux Violettes on 6 March 2010 in its honour. You can also visit this museum if you feel like it.

Saint-Jeannet

Finally comes the long-awaited moment for the best wine tasting in the region. At a four-hectare wine estate in Saint-Jeannet, you can unleash the flavours of the countryside. The winemakers offer you 6 wines with options red, rosé, white and sweet with their sumptuous colour. Listen to the winemaker explain how the wine is made: it is done by harnessing the power of the sun with glass tanks. Sit back and admire the superb paintings by Rémy Rasse, who also produces wine labels. Rémy is Georges Rasse's brother and partner, and together they run the family vineyard.

The vineyards of Saint-Jeannet at Domaine des Hautes Collines is the ideal address for discovering local organic wines. The wines produced here have nothing to envy the equally delicious wines of the Pays d'Aix. From the vine to the cellar, the wines of this vineyard are produced according to biodynamic principles. The estate's philosophy, LONGO MAÏ, which means "for a long time to come", is an unforgettable way to end this excursion on a high note.

Discovering the wines of Provence

La wine tasting begins with an introduction to the art of Provençal winemaking. In Provence, the rosé wine is a local star, accounting for 89% of wine production. In fact, the vineyards of the Provence Alpes Côtes d'Azur region extend over 27,000 hectares. The vines thrive in the Mediterranean climate, with alternating mild winters and hot, dry summers. The Mistral, a vigorous wind, cools the vines and protects them from humidity-related diseases.

The landscapes of Provence, between land and sea, offer an ideal address for the vine cultivation. Hills, valleys and mountains shape the vineyards, creating a unique relief. With around 2,800 hours of sunshine a year, conditions are ideal for ripening the grapes and for easy selection.

There's no better way to discover Provence wines than to attend an organised event or to visit a wine shop. visit the wineries. Meet the winemakers on the Côte d'Azur wine route. Taste different vintages and grands crus as a a true wine lover and admire the beautiful colour of this bewitching beverage. Share the passion and know-how of the winegrowers in their wine estate. With your family or friends, enjoy a magical moment as you discover the secrets of wine-making in each terroir before going on to touring Provence.

Provence wines in all their splendour​

In this sunny southern region, there are no fewer than 9 appellationsdes Coteaux-d'Aix-en-Provence in Les Baux-de-Provenceand Coteaux-Varois PDO with Côtes-de-Provence. The region is proud to be the world's leading producer of rosé, with vineyards at the foot of the Sainte Victoire. But it's also famous for its blackcurrant white wine, made from the clairette and marsanne grapes, flavours that are noticeable when you taste the wine. Sainte Marguerite is the most precise white wine in Provence, apart from Sainte Croix. Other wine gems include theBaux de Provence appellation is distinguished by its commitment to organic and modern farming. Every sip of these wines is an unforgettable experience, as the winegrowers have dedicated their entire lives to it, particularly at the Château de Berne vineyard, where the Côtes de Provence are produced.

The main grape varieties grown in the region are Vermentino and clairette for the white and Ugni blanc for the rosé. The flagship grape varieties of the AOC Aix-en-Provence a troupe of grenacheCinsault, syrah, mourvèdreand carignan for red wines. Mourvèdre is notably present in Bandol AOC wines. The seaside resort of Bandol is ideally situated between Cassis and the Gulf of Saint Tropez. Provence's wine-growing history goes back thousands of years, to the time of the Phocaeans.