Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tasting from Avignon: 3 Estates & Picnic

Three hours into Provence's wine country, tasting your way back to Avignon

You arrive at three different Côtes du Rhône estates in one morning, tasting at least nine wines across Beaumes de Venise, Gigondas, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A farm-fresh picnic with local cheese and produce breaks up the tastings if you book the full-day option. Arnaud drives you from Avignon and back, handling the logistics so you just show up and taste.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wine tastings in southern Côtes du Rhône

• Drive 45 minutes from Avignon
• Taste wines in Beaumes de Venise or Rasteau
• Drive 15 minutes to second estate
• Taste wines in Gigondas, Cairanne, or Séguret
• Enjoy picnic with local fresh produce
• Drive 30 minutes to Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Taste white and red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines
• Drive 30 minutes back to Avignon

The experience

The car pulls away from Avignon at 9:30am, and forty-five minutes later the landscape shifts. Stone villages perch on hills, vines stretch in neat rows, and the air smells different. Your guide Arnaud points out the first stop: Beaumes de Venise or Rasteau, where the sweet Muscat and red wines grow on the same slopes. You walk into a family estate, and the tasting begins, not a rushed pour-and-go, but time to ask questions, to notice the difference between what's in your glass and what you expected. The wines here are softer than you thought they'd be.

Fifteen minutes down the road, the second estate sits in Gigondas or Cairanne, villages known for reds but increasingly for whites too. This is where the picnic happens if you've chosen the full morning tour: fresh goat cheese, tapenade, boiled eggs, fruit from local farms, spread out somewhere you can see the vines. Arnaud talks about the appellation system while you eat, and it starts to make sense why these names matter. Then thirty minutes to Châteauneuf-du-Pape itself, the name that actually means something to people who drink wine. The final tasting is at a family estate, and you taste at least three wines: reds mostly, but a white too, which surprised me when I learned they make it. By 3:30pm you're heading back to Avignon, the drive giving you time to think about what you'd actually buy.

The whole thing is six hours door-to-door, which sounds long until you realize you're not driving yourself, you're not hunting for addresses, and you're not guessing which estate to trust. Arnaud handles the route, the timing, the introductions. If you want to buy bottles, you can do it at the estates themselves, or ask about shipping to your country, though some areas have restrictions. The tour runs year-round, but the picnic only happens April through October on the morning option, so timing matters if that's what you're after.

What’s included

Your half-day includes hotel pickup from Avignon, a native guide (Arnaud), visits to three wine estates across the southern Côtes du Rhône, tastings of at least nine wines, and a farm-fresh picnic with local cheese, vegetables, and fruit (April to October morning tour only). You'll have time to photograph the vineyards in Gigondas and Séguret, and the option to purchase wine directly at the estates or arrange shipping to your country.

Options for this experience

3 options

Two cellars in Châteauneuf-du-PapeGuide in English or French · 09:30Two cellars in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Duration: 3 hours. Castle of the Pope: 9:30 am pickup in Avignon; 10:00 first estate in Châteauneuf; 11:00 second estate in Châteauneuf; 12:30 drop-off. No picnic.

Two cellars, one of them in ChâteauneufGuide in English or French · 09:30Tasting at two Rhône Valley domains in two different areas: one in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and one elsewhere (Gigondas, Beaumes, Cairanne, Rasteau, etc.). Duration: 3 hours. Morning around Châteauneuf: 9:30 am pickup in Avignon; 10:15 visit to Gigondas, Cairanne, Beaumes, Rasteau or Séguret; 11:30 Châteauneuf-du-Pape; 12:30 drop-off.

Wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and nearby areas, in a half-day tourGuide in English or French · 09:30 and 14:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to FridayDepartures at 09:30 and 14:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Ventourisme

Is this one for you?Right for wine drinkers who want to understand the differences between Côtes du Rhône regions without arranging their own route or driving after tastings. The morning tour with picnic runs April through October only, so book ahead if that's your preference. Other options run year-round.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

How long is the drive from Avignon to the first vineyard?

About forty-five minutes. The return drive from Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Avignon takes another thirty minutes.

Is the picnic included in all options?

No. The picnic with farm-fresh produce is only included in the full morning tour (9:30am to 3:30pm) from April to October. The afternoon tour and shorter two-estate options do not include food.

How many wines will I taste?

At least nine wines across three estates if you book the full tour, with at least three wines tasted at each stop. Shorter options taste at two estates instead.

Can I buy wine to take home?

Yes. You can purchase bottles or cartons directly at the estates. Shipping to your country is possible from some areas, though it's subject to costs and taxes. Ask Arnaud about importers in your country.

What time does the tour start?

The morning tour starts at 9:30am and runs until 3:30pm. An afternoon option runs 2pm to 6:30pm year-round. A shorter morning option (9:30am to 12:30pm) visits two estates only.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it's not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the starting point?

The tour includes pickup from your hotel in Avignon, so you don't need to arrange transport yourself.

What's included in the farm-fresh picnic?

Boiled eggs, tapenade, pepper cream, fresh goat cheese, fruit, and fruit juice: all sourced from local farms.