Hi everyone, we are staying in Merindol, a small village in Provence near Aix-en-Provence for the last two weeks of June and first week in July. Any recommendations for local wines to sample while we are there.

Cassis, Bandol and Palette, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux Varois, Coteaux des Baux, Côtes de Lubéron, Côtes de Provence, Côtes-du-Rhône, Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The traditional Provençal apéritif is Pastis, a licorice-flavored liquor made from the fruit of the herb anise (similar to the Greek ouzo), diluted with water until cloudy white...
My favorite drink!
My favorite rosé is Domaine Tempier.

dwilliams, I was not familiar with Meridol so looked it up....very interesting. I'll look forward to your impressions.
http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/vaucluse...l/merindol.htm

cigalechanta, thanks for the quick response on the wines. sounds like lots of choices. I heard about Pastis and am looking forward to trying it. If you have any favourite vineyards or local farms to buy the wine, I would love to hear about it. We are hopeful about Merindol. We found it by chance on the web called www.homelidays.com. After we booked it, we found a really nice travel journal on www.igougo.com written by a fellow named Jay Broek. He really enjoys staying there and has been there a few times. Also, on this site, ozgirl spent a week there last year. Said it was sleepy and quiet but for a first timer to Provence thought it was really great. I will let you know about it when we get back.

There's a wonderful place to lunch at the Chateauneuf-du-pape, the "chateau des Fines Roches."
For a desert wine, try the Beaume de Venise, wonderful poured over the famous Cavaillon mellon.
Rasteau is another wine that's good as an apertif.

Hi--

We have spent quite a bit of time in the Luberon, including recently living 6+ months on the other side of the mountain from where you will be. We are familiar with Merindol and have hiked a couple of times around the Gorges de Regelon, a very interesting hike if you are into walking.

http://www.slowtrav.com/france/hikin...es_regalon.htm

But back to wine... if you are interested in visiting some local wineries and sampling the wine from the local area, I've got two suggestions that aren't that far from where you will be:

Chateau la Verrerie, which is near Lauris. My husband and I visted this beautiful winery just this past March and enjoyed our tasting. We brought a bottle of red home and also a bottle of their olive oil. It's a beautiful spot.

Chateau Val Joanis (www.val-joanis.com) near Pertuis. This is a very large winery that has a big tasting room and a beautiful garden. It's worth visiting for more than the wine.

On the north side of the Luberon, there are several wineries between Bonnieux (where we have based) and Apt. Chateau la Canorgue's wine is very highly regarded and is also organic. The upcoming film release A Good Year (based on Peter Mayle's book) was partially filmed here.

Other wineries in this area to visit include Chateau de l"Isolette, Domaine de Mayol (just a tasting room, but friendly and good wine), and Chateau de Mille (you can only buy a case at the winery, but a beautiful setting).

Enjoy!!

Kathy

I fell in love with white Chateau-neuf-du Pape & brought home 4 bottles. Can't get it here in the States.