Provence Wine Tour Half Day Trip from Aix (shared)

Highlights

  • Drive through stunning landscapes of Sainte-Victoire

  • Visit 2 carefully selected Provence wineries

  • Taste delicious local Rosé, white and red wines

  • English speaking local guide, expert in Provence Wines

Summary

A half day tour departing from Aix en Provence to taste Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Wines. Visit 2 carefully selected Provence wineries and taste delicious Rosé, Red & White Provence wines.

Tour info

Duration
4 hours
Group Size
8
Pricing (From)
Adult: (18-99 years)
€98.00
Commentary
English
Meeting Point
Dropoff location

Why take this tour?

1.50pm - Meeting point at Aix en Provence Tourism Office

2.00pm Depart from Aix en Provence
We will come and pick you up at centrally located Aix en Provence Tourism Office

2.45pm Visit & Wine tasting at 1st selected Provence Winery
Taste delicious red, white or rosé wines of Provence guided by a knowledgeable hand.

4.00pm Visit & Wine tasting at 2nd selected Provence Winery
Taste delicious red, white or rosé wines of Provence in a unique setting with a view of Sainte-Victoire mountains.

5.30pm Return to Aix en Provence 

Meet your English Speaking Driver/Guide who is a local Expert of Provence Wines
Upon arrival at the meeting point, you will be welcomed by your English speaking guide. Once you have met your Provence Wine Expert guide, he/she will go over the program and itinerary of this half day with you. Then, board your comfortable, premium air-conditioned minivan and begin to make your way to the Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire wine producing region. 

The Sainte-Victoire Mountain
One of the most symbolic locations of the Provence as Mont Ventoux or Sainte-Baume Mountain range, the site was labelled as a 'Great Site of France' in 2004 being a jewel of natural heritage. Located to the East of Aix en Provence, this wooded area still retains forest, agricultural and pastoral activities that have shaped this unique Provence landscape overlooked by the stone monument that is Sainte-Victoire Mountain painted so vigorously by Paul Cézanne.

Depart for the Côtes de Provence Wine region
In a small group of maximum 8 persons, your half day tour from Aix en Provence to the Sainte-Victoire mountain wine producing area will begin as you travel through stunning landscapes. The A.OC. Côtes de Provence wine region extends over more than 19 000 hectares (47 000 acres) and represent 3/4 of the production of Provence wines.

With its exceptional location especially when it comes to sunshine, the geology of the soil varies with the north-western part of the wine region mainly made up to limestone hills while in the south-western part the soil is essentially crystalline. This diversity of soils induce a wide variety of wines with reds, whites and rosés being produced with a number of traditional & local grape varieties such as Grenache, Syrah, cinsault, clairette to name a few.

What the wine region is the famous for, however, are the Rosés produced here. 80% of the whole production is made up of Rosé. The maine aromas that can be found in these wines are white & yellow fruits, vanilla or hazelnut.

The Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Territory
The Sainte-Victoire Mountain wine region was recognized as an A.O.P territory in 2005 for both the red and rosé wines. This recognition came after years of hard work made by the winemakers to establish that the local 'terroir' was unique and should be highlighted within the Côtes de Provence wine region.

The territory benefits from a wide variety of geological features and landscapes, a warm and dry climate enhanced by the Mistral wind the local wine growers best friend as it chases away many diseases that can impact vines.

There are three types of wines that are produced here: Rosé wines have a pale color with a high aromatic complexity. The main notes are floral, fresh fruits as well as exotic fruits to which can be added spices and aromas.

The red wines, depending on the grape varieties used, are fresh and can be laid down. Red wines of Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire can be suttle with notes of red fruits or flowers. Some red wines can also be very generous, mostly full bodied as they are aged in oak vats known as Foudres or Foeders or traditional oak barrels. These red wines can definitely be laid down for years as they will develop deep velvety flavors over time.

Finally, the white wines are traditionally 'Blanc de Blanc' which means that they are made only with white grape varieties. They offer nice colors of pale gold with reflections of green. Sainte-Victoire white wines are known to be well balanced between freshness and unctuousness.

Visit 2 carefully selected wineries

Once you have reached the Côtes de Provence wine region, it will be time to visit & wine taste in two carefully selected family owned wineries. In each winery, you will first be introduced to the estate, it's history and the life of the family who owns it.

Then, your visit will focus on the wine making process. Visit the technical installations to better understand how the wines are made. This will be a most interesting part of your tour as the process to make red, white or rosé wines differ. Once you have seen the Vat Room, discover the ageing cellars. This is the time when you will be explained how important it can be to age wine in oak barrels, the work of coopers and how they 'toast' the barrels.

End the tour with the best part of the experience, tasting wine. Fruity Rosés, elegant and well balanced whites or full bodied red wines will be on your program. After the tastings, it will be time to return to Aix en Provence. 

What’s included?

  • Visit & Wine tasting in 2 Wineries

  • All tasting fees included

  • English-speaking driver/guide, expert in Provence Wines

  • Travel in Premium A/C vehicle

  • Free wifi access on board

  • Personal insurance and expenses.

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off.

  • Meals and drinks.

  • Gratuities for the driver/guide.

Things to know

Before you book

  • Adult only tour

  • Tour requires minimum 2 passengers (adults) to operate

  • In case minimum numbers are not reached we will reschedule or refund the tour

  • Tour is operated in English

  • Tour is not wheelchair accessible

Before you go

  • Please be ready 15 minutes before arrival time

  • Small group option, maximum 8 persons

  • 4 hour Provence Afternoon Wine tour with expert guide

  • Currency is in Euros

Covid Policy

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • COVID-19 vaccination required for guides

Cancellation Policy

    Operator strictly adheres to its cancellation policy and will make no exceptions to the policy. If Guest chooses to cancel his or her reservation, Operator must receive written notice of said cancellation in writing via certified mail, fax or e-mail sent to [email protected] (with confirmation of receipt from Operator), and Guest shall be subject to the following cancellation fee schedule: Ophorus requires full payment by credit card, internet payment (through our website) or wire transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest) to make a reservation. We accept payment by AMEX, Visa and Master Card. There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund: > Up to 24 hours prior to departure: no cancellation fees except the booking fees. > 24 hours prior to departure and less > no refund All semi private tours depart on time. Clients should present themselves at the allocated meeting point at least 10 minutes before the beginning of the tour. Driver/guide will not wait unless Ophorus has been previously informed that the client will be late with a maximum waiting time of 10 minutes. Beyond that waiting time, tours will depart and Ophorus cannot be held responsible for clients missing their tour.

Redemption information

    Please contact us for all our Terms & Conditions


    Your voucher will be collected or scanned on redemption

About operator:

Ophorus Tours is both a licensed Tour Operator, member of Atout France and ETOA, and a Transportation company with headquarters in Bordeaux. We operate since 2005 and conduct Walking Tours, Day Trips, Private Tours, Shore Excursions and multi-regional Tours throughout France. 

Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world. 

Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...