Vines have been grown in the Golfe de Saint-Tropez in the Var department for more than two millennia, planted first by the Phoenicians, then the Romans. The Mediterranean climate, endless days of sunshine and rare rain provide an ideal climate – making the Var the world’s leading producer of rosé wine with more than 40 estates.
La vie en rose, white and red
Discovering the wines of the Var isn’t just about sipping deliciously pure and fresh rosés, excellent reds and crisp whites! It’s about the landscapes where the grapes ripen – and visiting wineries where you can taste the wine and discover the history of the winemakers. In the past it was said that vines were grown here because they needed little water and the soil wasn’t great for growing crops but now this dazzling corner of France is sprinkled with lush green vineyards that festoon the hills and glorious sun-kissed countryside sweeping down to the turquoise blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. And discovering the wines of the Var is also about eating great food and pairing the wines with local and seasonal dishes.
The rosés of the Var went unappreciated for many years but they’re now and considered amongst some of the best made in France, known for their pale and pure colour. And it’s that unique barely-there-blush that has enabled the Var roses to conquer the world. At Château Barbeyrolles in Gassin, wine maker Régine Sumère’s Pétale de Rose cuvées, a rosé freed from stuffy codes, started the trend. The delicate pink rosés of the Var are perfect with just about everything.
Top wine experiences in the Golfe de Saint-Tropez
Wine tourism in the Golfe de Saint-Tropez has really upped its game in recent years and it’s now a major draw for holiday makers with lots of new and unusual experiences. Here are just a few of our favourites:
Go Beyond the Wine
Join Sonia Ferchaud, a former wine maker turned wine guide at Beyond the wine, as she shares her expertise and passion. Enjoy authentic experiences discovering all the secrets of wine by horseback, with a picnic lunch in a vineyard, in a 2CV called Paulette, a cheese and wine tasting aboard a traditional fishing boat called a ‘pointu’, a cookery class – paired with wine of course, and even take part in the grape harvest!
Award winning organic wines
Clos Mirages at La Mole is a brand-new sustainable winery on the Saint-Tropez peninsula between the picturesque, perched villages of Grimaud and Ramatuelle. The family-run wine estate covers some 15 hectares on the edge of the outstanding natural beauty spot Massif des Maures. Classified as an A.O.P. Côtes de Provence and certified organic, Clos Mirages produces small quantities of award-winning gourmet rosé, characterised by great freshness and intensity, is produced in limited yields from fully mature vines. Harvesting here is strictly controlled to make sure the grapes are the best they can be, including cooling of the bunches. There are around 50 beehives, a pond that’s a haven for wildlife, a vast pine forest and fabulous accommodation options with a swimming pool.
Wine sound and light show!
At Domaine du Bourrian in Gassin, just a few minutes from Saint-Tropez, you’ll enjoy no ordinary tastings. Their visits include a sound and light show while tasting three of their finest organic wines with some delicious cheese, or a picnic in the sunlight bathed vineyards surrounded by forests. This is one of the oldest wineries in a historic part of the area dating to the 11th century.
Find out more: Visit, tasting and meditation, sound and light show
Blindfolded sensory tasting
Château de Chausse, in La Croix Valmer is a magnificently renovated estate producing quality organic wines. Its hilly vineyards produce exceptional reds, amongst the most renowned in the region as well as superb whites and rosés. Take an immersive blindfold tasting which really heightens the senses allowing you to truly appreciate the flavour and aromas of the wines.
A wine oasis
Domaine Up Ultimate Provence in La Garde-Freinet offers a complete immersion experience in a wooded estate surrounded by vineyards, with a luxury hotel, fabulous restaurant, bar, spa, swimming pool and activities – even its own private man-made beach. Take a wine tasting of their truly memorable AOP Côtes-de-Provence wines, fruity rosé, refreshing white and modern red with spicy notes. And don’t forget to take home a bottle – they’re unique! The transparent sleek elegant bottles feature vertical ribbing and no label, and are designed to reflect the estate’s unique DNA, they make wonderful carafes and vases, long after you’ve enjoyed the wine.
The wine tasting venues with sommeliers include a stunning bar, and a VIP area for groups or special events such as weddings.
Find out more about the wines of the Golfe de St-Tropez and wine experiences at: golfe-saint-tropez-information.com/en/vineyards-terroir
