- First-hand insights from key French producers across the Rhône, Provence and Languedoc, highlighting latest vintages and trade opportunities.
- On-the-ground look at vineyard innovation, from amphora ageing in the Northern Rhône to organic terraces in Gigondas and Provence rosé production.
- A commercial tour of southern France’s key regions, including Château Léoube, Picpoul de Pinet and Crémant de Limoux.
By Oliver Barton, Wine Buyer for France & Fine Wine
It was an epic trip, covering almost 1,000 kilometres over five days and taking in some of France's most exciting wine regions and producers.
I flew into Lyon to begin my journey in the Northern Rhône. On the first day, I drove past the famous Côte-Rôtie vineyards before arriving at Domaine Yves Cuilleron, where I tasted the latest vintages across the estate's impressive range. From there, I visited Gilles Robin at his family-run winery. After touring the barrel room, Gilles explained how he is using amphorae to mature some of his wines, helping to soften the tannins while avoiding excessive oak influence.
The second day took me to the Southern Rhône, where I met Laurent Brusset, our organic Côtes du Rhône and Gigondas producer. Laurent showed me his remarkable Gigondas vineyard at the foot of the iconic Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. He owns 18 hectares of vineyards spread across 78 terraces, making it one of the most unique vineyard sites in the region. This is very much a passion project, and Laurent is at his happiest when working among the vines.
I then visited our two Châteauneuf-du-Pape producers, Domaine de la Janasse and Domaine de Chante Cigale, before finishing the day with Maison Sinnae. Together, we visited vineyards around Laudun, the latest village in the Rhône to achieve Cru status and one that sits right on Maison Sinnae's doorstep.
Day three was spent in Provence, with the highlight being a visit to the incredible Château Léoube. Not only is this a stunning estate with breathtaking views, but the entire project has been built around producing the very best wines possible. The vineyards were planted long before the château was renovated, and winemaker Romain Ott is a true perfectionist when it comes to vineyard planning and maintenance. The latest vintage rosés were showing exceptionally well.
Day four involved another long drive as I made my way to the Picpoul de Pinet region to meet Benjamin from Domaine de Belle Mare. He showed me some old-vine Picpoul that was in flower, and it was fascinating to hear his thoughts on Picpoul's affinity for lees ageing, much like Muscadet from his home region.
After several more visits, I finished the day at Antech, producers of our Georges Limouzy Crémant de Limoux. Baptiste Gazeau, the latest generation to run this family estate founded in 1860, was keen to show me their Clos des Moulinières vineyard. Its layered clay and limestone soils are ideally suited to growing Chardonnay as well as the local variety, Mauzac.
The trip was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with some of our key producers, gain first-hand insight into the latest vintages, and see the passion and dedication that goes into every bottle. From the steep terraces of Gigondas and the rolling vineyards of Provence to the limestone soils of Limoux, it was a reminder of the incredible diversity and character that make the wines of southern France so special.