BrianV

I'm planning to visit Avignon next March and I have a question about wine tasting in the area. I see that I have a couple of options regarding visiting wineries around Avignon: rent a car, take a tour, take a bus, or hike around the area. I've never driven a car in Europe before, so I'm really hesitant about drinking and driving in a foreign country. Looking on the internet, I see there are several wine tasting tours provided out of Avignon that cost over $100. Can anyone tell me if the bus system in the area is any good so that I can get around to do any wine tasting? Is hiking even a feasible option?

Gretchen

We drove up to Chateauneuf du Pape and tasted at several caves there. You are tasting.

Underhill

Hesitating about drinking and driving in France is a very good idea. However, if you are planning just to taste (as in sip, swish, and spit), you probably wouldn't consume that much alcohol. Doing a tasting trip by bus might be difficult; is it essential that you go to actual wineries? If not, you can find wine shops in the city that offer tasting.

You could check on bus service to Gigondas, which has an excellent tasting room on the small town square. That would give you the chance to taste wines from a number of vineyards in the area.

How good a biker are you, especially in terms of climbing hills?

BrianV

Since I'm from the Bay Area, I'm use to doing wine tasting at wineries in Napa Valley. In France, does a person go to wineries to do wine tasting or does a person go to wine shops in a city to taste wine? Or is it both?

StuDudley

Beaucastel in Chateauneuf du Papes gives and excellent tour and tasting - in English. The boulders in the vineyards are very interesting. Reserve a week in advance.

The tasting room in Gigondas has no atmosphere - just a room with 30 or so wines you can taste. They do not offer any suggestions - you are required to tell them which wine you want to taste.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

PS - Beaucastel is not actually in the city of Chateauneuf du Pape - it is out in the countryside, so you probably can't take a bus there.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

I'm a Bay Area person too - 35 years. Tasting in France is a little different than tasting in Napa/Sonoma. There are tasting rooms in the villages like Chatneauneuf du Pape, and you walk in & sit down at a table (or stand at a bar) with the person pouring. He/she pours you a taste & you try it. It is a lot more structured than the Napa Valley where people usually mosey up to the bar & the person behind the counter pours a taste for you. There is a little more pressure to purchase wine, than there is in Calif. Expect the tasting rooms to be closed at lunch and don't expect much English.

At Beaucastle, the tour starts in the courtyard where they explain the vine & pruning requirements for the appelation. They tell you what is required for a wine to be called Chateauneuf du Pape and what is only Cotes du Rhone. Then you go on a tour of a winery & cellars (just like the Napa Valley) and taste whites & reds in the cellar.

Stu Dudley

richardsonsnm

I would be hesitant to drink and drive in any country.