a wine lovers guide to st tropez
When you think of St Tropez you don’t immediately think vineyards. Designer shops, celebrities and Pampelonne Beach perhaps but not vineyards.
Yes, Provence is famous for its pale pink rosè but St Tropez specifically doesn’t spring to mind the way that Boudreaux, Champagne and St.Emillion does.
But ellas, this famous harbour town has some of the finest wine producers in the country ~ including my personal favourite, Minuty.
More on them later…
Gulf of St Tropez
Getting here
The vinyards are only accessible by car unless you are on a guided tour. Most of the vineyards are in pretty rural locations but conveniently, very close together!
St Tropez is a holiday destination within its self. So if your lucky enough to be holidaying here. Grab a car (and designated driver!) and get on the road. For everyone else, St Tropez is approximately 70 minutes from Antibes by car. This is in the off - peak and shoulder seasons. It can take HOURS to get here in peak season so keep that in mind! You can also take the train to the nearby town of St Maxime and pick up a car from here.
Chateau Minuty
Chateau Minuty
Let’s start off with a BANG. Perhaps the most famous of the Provençal rosè’s and my personal favourite. From the moment you drive through the gates you can tell your in the presence of luxury. From the ultra modern building to the sleek and perfectly pale rosè bottles. Minuty is the queen of St Tropez and should be treated as such.
Chateau Minuty has been family run since 1936 which makes this place extra special. Château Minuty is surrounded by 65 hectares in a single block on schistose limestone soils, complemented by 120 hectares on clay-limestone soil in Vidauban and 15 hectares on the slopes of Val de Rian in Ramatuelle with a magnificent view over the Bay of Pampelonne.
They regularly collaborate with artists and designers for limited editions rosé so make sure you try them whilst you are here before it runs out!
Wine Tastings
The Cellar is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 6pm. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Come and sample some of their finest wines in their elegant setting. Want a deep dive? You can book a formal tasting in their beautiful cellar designed by François Viellecroze and Olivier Saguez.
Chateau Barbeyrolles
Located at the foot of beautiful Gassin, you will find Chateau Barbeyrolles. Acquired in 1977, here you will be surrounded by 12 hectares of vineyards under the Riviera sun.
At Chateau Barbeyrolles, their philosophy is focused on organic farming and plough without chemical weed killers.
Along with organic farming, Chateau Barbeyrolles manually cut each grape from their vines by hand. Trained by generations of winemakers, each grape is boxed by hand and refrigerated within minutes to avoid oxidisation. The grapes are then pressed as full bunches to create crisp rosé and white wines.
Chateau Barbeyrolles
Wine Tastings
You can enjoy wine tastings at Chateau Barbeyrolles between 9am - 7pm (April - October) and is closed on Sundays.
You can turn up without a reservation and the staff will gladly talk you through the workings of the vineyard and the wines they produce.
Chateau des Marres
Only 15 minutes drives from both Minuty and Barbeyrolles, Chateau des Marres is located just off the road between St Tropez town and the Beaches of Ramatuelle. Perfect for anyone staying locally who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the port or beach.
The traditional Provençal estate sits on 30 hectares of vineyard, 27 of which are AOC classified!
Chateau des Marres
Wine Tastings
Tastings at Chateau des Marres is split into three parts, a tour of the vineyard, the cellar and the chai. You will end your tour with 4 glasses of their wine to taste.
Open ~ Tuesdays - Fridays 11am & 3pm
Cost ~ 25€pp
Durarion ~ 1h30
Languages ~ English & French
* Tastings can be run on the weekends but must be PRE BOOKED.
bar Le 1907
A great place to end the day, Le 1907 is open from 5pm - 11.30pm (closed on Wednesdays and bad weather days)
On the menu are wine inspired cocktails, sharing boards, tapas and a game of pétanque! What a way to end the day!
Charcuterie board at Bar Le 1907
Bar Le 1907
Domaine du Bourrian
Domaine du Bourrian has been family owned for 150 years. It’s famed as one of the oldest wineries on the St Tropez Peninsula and can be dated back to the 11th century.
Spanning 24 hectares, the vineyards are divided between Cotes De Provence AOP and IGP classifications. All plots are organically certified and maintained without the use of pesticides or herbicides.
They have a large collection of intake WW2 planes and vintage tractors which makes for interesting viewing!
Located in the western edge of the Gassin hill, it’s a great addition to your vineyard tour!
Domaine du Bourrian
Wine Tastings
You can choose from a variety of tours and tastings at Domaine du Bourrian a fusion of luxury and viticultural discovery. From a traditional estate tour to a picnic surrounded by vineyards. You can even discover the art of gastronomy with a private cooking class! Please see website for more details.
Winetasting at Domain
Domaine Bertaud Belieu
Nestled in 65 hectares, Domaine Bertaud Belieu is in the heart of the St Tropez Peninsula. Over 80% of the vineyard grows grapes used for rosé wine.
Fun fact, the Domaine was host to the launch of Leonardo Dicaprio’s Charity Foundation which saw celebrities from around the world descend on to Domaine Bertaud Belieu.
Domaine Bertaud Belieu
Wine Tastings
Throughout the year, a tour of the cellars is available by appointment. Like most vineyards, you can of course drop in without appointment for an informal tasting. Keep an eye out for their events such as fêtes, concerts and more.
Opening hours~ 10am - 7pm
Open ~ Monday to Friday all year and Monday to Sunday during the summer months.
Language spoken ~ French & English
Domaine La Rouillére
Named ‘Rouillére’ thanks to the beautiful river that runs through the property. With over 230 hectares sits between Gassin and Ramatuelle in the heart of the St Tropez peninsula. This stunning estate has been in production since 1900!
A true marvel is their pristine 1700m² wine cave which features all of the most modern technologies and methods for quality wine-making.
Domaine La Rouillére
The Domaine is also home to olive trees which produces 800kg of olives per year. They are sent to a local moulin (mill)to be pressed for olive oil.
Vineyards of Domaine La Rouillére
Wine Tastings
You can visit the Domaine without reservations for an informal tasting.
During the high season (may - October) Domaine La Rouillére host a food truck every lunchtime.
Domaine Fondugues-Pradugues
Domaine Fondugues-Pradugues is an organic farmed vineyard that focuses on a holistic approach to farming, harvesting and winemaking.
A family - owned , single - estate, they are famed for using organic and biodynamic farming practices. Producing wines with a strict minimum of sulfites, well below the threshold recommended by organic certification standards. The vineyard and wines are the sole certified organic (AB) and biodynamic (Demeter) in Saint-Tropez.
Domaine Fondugues-Pradugue
Domaine Fondugues-Pradugue
Wine Tasting
Domaine Fondugues-Pradugues offers a range of wine tasting experiences hosted at Le Chai qand L’éphémère Pop Up Truck starting from €25pp.
They also host dinners at Le Chai along with special events. Keep an eye on their instagram for more information!
Dinner at Le Chai
L’éphémère Wine Tasting Pop Up
Domaine Tropez
Domaine Tropez is a modern - built vineyard and has become a staple on in the Gulf of St Tropez . Making its debut in 1996, this independent, family run vineyard prides itself on its organic horticulture. With Grenache, Cinsault and local staple Tibouren grapes making up their pale rosé - it’s certainly one of the front runners of the area.
Domaine Tropez
Wine Tastings
Domaine Tropez welcomes visitors year round from 10am - 7pm. Drop by for an informal tasting and the staff will be delighted to offer you a tasting.
For a more formal affair , Domaine Tropez offer pre booked tastings every Tuesday in French and Wednesdays in English. Additional tastings are offered in high season, please see website for more information.
This formal tasting includes the history of the vineyard, a visit of the winery, an overview of the bottling line and tastings of the estate wines paired with a light tapas.
Prices are 26 Euro pp.
Chateau de Chausse
Situated between the hills of La Croix - Valmer and Gassin - Chateau de Chausse slightly further south than the vineyards we talked about earlier. Yet still within 10-15 minutes drive from the other vineyards!
The estate sits within 50 hectares of immaculate forest and unlike the other vineyards, it is most famous for its red wines!
They of course produce rosé and white wines too and grow Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle grapes to make up the crisp taste.
Wine Tastings
From only 12€pp you can enjoy a tasting of their red, white or rosé wines in the stunning main salon. You can also reserve a private tasting for 25€pp which includes 6 different wines, a meat, cheese and fruit platter guided by your very own sommelier! Well worth it I think! Open everyday from 10am - 6pm
(please check website for off season opening times)
Chateau de Berne
We end on an spectacular note at Chateau de Berne. One, if not the most recognizable Provençal rosés on the market due to its distinctive square bottle. Chateau de Berne is so much more than a vineyard from boutique hotel rooms, spa, restaurants, bars and cooking school. This is the perfect place to base yourself for a weekend of luxury and well being.
Chateau de Berne
Wine Tastings
Chateau de Berne’s famous tasting cellar is open from 10am - 7pm everyday for informal tastings over the counter. For a full tour they offer three varieties from 20€ with a tour of the various production areas finished off with a tasting. See website for more details.
Activities
As I previously said, Chateau de Berne is so much more than an informal wine tasting. With 515 hectares, you can discover 100km of trails by electric bike, hike or guided walking tour.
With such a vaste agricultural area, you are bound to spot some of the wildlife who live on the estate including deer, wild boar, hedgehogs and hares. The estate also has an incredible variety of flora including eucalyptus, olive, orange, fig and umbrella pine to name a few.
Spa at Chateau de Berne
stay at chateau de berne
For the ultimate weekend away, Chateau de Berne offer rooms and suits on the grounds of their château. With access to the spa, a multitude of activities, on site restaurant and pool. Its the perfect getaway with your partner, friends or family.
Suite at Chateau de Berne
