3 Best Sights in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Provence

Put yourself in the hands of an expert under the arched ceilings of this state-of-the-art tasting room—part of the Vinadéa–Maison des Vins—set in an ancient wine cave. Sample five of the region's majestic reds or dazzling whites side by side (€25 for regular tasting, €40 for prestige bottles), or custom-design your own flight from the 250 wines offered by the 150 estates represented here. All of the wines can be purchased at the Vinadéa boutique, just above the Vinothèque.

If you're disinclined to spend your vacation sniffing and sipping, climb the hill to the ruins of the château. Though it was destroyed in the Wars of Religion (1562–98) between Catholics and Huguenots and its remaining donjon (keep) blasted by the Germans in World War II, it still commands a magnificent position. From this rise in the rolling vineyards, you can enjoy wraparound views of Avignon, the Luberon, and Mont Ventoux.

There's no better way to learn about the local wine production than to spend an hour at the Musée du Vin Maison Brotte, a private collection of wine-making equipment displayed in the caveau (wine cellar) of the Brotte family.