Hello All,<BR><BR>A friend and I are planning on taking a ten day vacation to the Rhone Valley in early March 2003. Our primary purpose in going is to go wine tasting. We're both huge fans of the chateaux in the Rhone (most especially the Northern Rhone).<BR><BR>I'm hoping for some help and input from those who might have spent time there. What is a good location to begin this sort of trip? Does anyone have a suggested itinerary? Also, is it best to explore the region in a rental car or can one make do with trains and buses? Finally, are reseravtions needed to taste (as is the case in Bordeaux).<BR><BR>Thanks in advance for any help available. I do appeciate it!<BR><BR>Steve

Steve,<BR><BR>What area of the Rhone?<BR><BR>I do have some experience in Provence, chateauneuf du Pape area<BR><BR>US

US,<BR><BR>Sorry, that's probably useful information to have. We were thinking of starting off in the south. Perhaps going to Chateauneud-du-Pape, then Gigondas and working our way north. Perhaps our final destination might be St. Joseph. <BR><BR>Of course these opinions are dictated more by wine than by actual geography. I wonder if it's easy or even possible to do this sort of trip in 10 days.<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR>Steve

Steve,<BR><BR>We started in Provence and tasted in Chateauneuf (CDP). It is a very little town and it must have 50 or so caves. <BR><BR>We took a section from the Wine Spectator on CDP where they rated the top 100 for the year we were tasting. I think that it was 1999.<BR><BR>Most of the caves in the city are on one or two streets and you can taste each of their selections. There is little or no pressure to buy. OTOH, why not....CDP is my absolute favorite!<BR><BR>The center of town has a visitors center and they provide a map. You can follow it out in virtually any direction and find a vineyeard. Some require appointments, but many do not.<BR><BR>Chateau Mont Redon and Vieuxe Telegraphe, two of my favorites, for example are out of town.<BR><BR><BR>We enjoyed our tasting and there is a very nice restaurant, cannot remember the name, near the statue in the ceter of the main street. Nice food, great view back toward Avignon and a whole wine list of CDP's!<BR><BR>We went from Provence to Beaune, heart of the Burgundy region. We stayed there for two days and enjoyed the city. did some tasting in the caves in the city but did not get out into the country side. Two reasons, the wine was not CDP and we were there on 9/11...drank three bottles instead of eating dinner as our server told us the sad news at dinenr that night. Beaune is a wonderful little city and the restaurants are outstanding. We stayed at the Tulip Inn Athenor and it was reasonably priced and nice.<BR><BR>Well, hope this helps somewhat...and good tasting!<BR><BR>US

US - <BR><BR>Thanks very much for the information. Sounds like you had a wonderful time in CDP. I think it may be our very first stop of the trip. <BR><BR>I'm a subscriber to winespectator and I enjoy their periodic updates on the Rhone. But they mostly focus on the wine - which is great - and not more tourist related info.<BR><BR>Did you taste anywhere else in the Rhone. I don't think we'll have to for Burgundy too.<BR><BR>steve

Steve,<BR>If you are going to Gigondas, also go to Vacqueyras, next door.<BR>www.beyond.fr/villages/vacqueyras.html<BR>Sant&eacute;!<BR>

Jules - Thanks for the usefule website. I appreciate your suggestions!<BR><BR>Steve

My husband and I really enjoy the Rhone region. For the southern rhone we stay in Avignon and do day trips out. We have found that if it isn't harvest time you can pretty much just drop in at most places. Some of our favorites are Vieux Telegraph, Domaine de La Janesse and Beaucastel. (you do need a car to get to these). Both Gigondas and Cairanne have tasting rooms. We had a great experience at St. Cosme which is just before you enter Gigondas. To visit Cote Roti (northern rhone) we have stayed in Condriu at the Hostellerie Beau Rivage. It is right on the Rhone and has a wonderful restaurant. There is a Chapoutier tasting room and a great wine store. Have a great time.

Steve - My wife &amp; I stayed a couple of nights in Cairanne 3 yrs ago in a small hotel. Nice owners; hotel restaurant was pretty good, not fancy, but served the local wines: Auberge Castel Mireio, www.castelmireio.fr<BR><BR>Cairanne is small, about 15-20 minutes outside Avignon, but an easy drive ot there and other towns.

Cynthia and Steve:<BR><BR>Thanks very much for your posts. That's great information and just the kind of help I was hoping for. <BR><BR>Any must see sites, wineries, resturaunts?