Starting in Vaison la Romaine, take the D975 which leads to the village de Rasteau, where you can taste the marvelous natural sweet wine made in Rasteau.
In Rasteau
See:
- The Vintner Museum - a museum, vinothèque, collection of old bottles, audiovisual presentation on the Côtes du Rhône wines.
Go on to Cairanne, one of the famous Côtes du Rhône Village-producing villages.
In Cairanne
See:
- The Wine Sensorial trail at the Cooperative wine cellar
Then, continue on to Visan. Also stop in Richerenches and Valréas. All three are towns in the Papal Enclave des Papes, and their wines are justly famous. The vintners in Visan continue the wine-making tradition that is several centuries old. Visan wines can be tasted in several cellars, and the Wine Festival on the 2nd Saturday in July is great fun. Continue on in the direction of Sainte Cécile les Vignes on the D976 to Orange and reach Châteauneuf du Pape on the D68.
Châteauneuf du Pape is perhaps the most prestigious vintage among the Côtes du Rhône wines. It is internationally famosu for many different reasons, including the local specifics such as the sunshine and low rainfall, the terroirs where it grows, often covered with large round river pebbles which store the sun's heat and slowly release it at night.
Many tasting cellars open to the public.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
See:
- The Père Anselme Wine Museum
- The ruins of the Château
On the way: visit Courthézon, which was a popular stopping point in the past. Great vineyards, with 368 vine growers who bring their grapes to the Courthézon cooperative cellar, called “Le Cellier des Princes”. Also 26 estates in Courthézon who propose their estate wines, internationally celebrated and a delight for the eyes and the palate. Store up the good tastes, the beautiful sunshine, and the interesting encounters that are all part of meandering the area and tasting the wine.
Then, take the D92 followed by the D950 in the direction of the Dentelles de Montmirail and Beaumes de Venise, a village well-known for its outstanding natural sweet wine known as the "Muscat” (many cellars to visit).
Beaumes de Venise
See:
- The Olive Oil Cooperative, called the "Coopérative Oléicole La Balméenne" in Beaumes. This olive-oil making cooperative presents a video on olive trees, olive harvesting and mill activity. The Cooperative is closed on Sunday.
- Notre Dame d’Aubune chapel, on the road in the direction of Vacqueyras and Gigondas, two other famous Côtes du Rhône vintages.
On the D23, go to the village of Séguret, ranked as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Séguret looks like a scene straight from a Provencal Christmas crèche. During the Christmas season, the families in Séguret prepare their own creches, and the churches in most of the villages display beautiful creche scenes.
Séguret
See:
- The village, the winding streets, the fountain, the washing well.
- The Fournier santon-making workshop in the village.
Take the D88 then the D977 to reach Vaison la Romaine.
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