- With friends
- With family
- As a couple
The French Wanderers' top recommendations for exploring the vineyards of the Rhône Valley
What happens when you hand the keys to the Rhône Valley vineyards over to two people who love exploring France? Ambre and Mathieu—known as the "French Wanderers"—set off on a journey, spending a few days among vines, villages, and hidden, offbeat spots. On the agenda: sleeping in a wine barrel in the middle of the vineyards, painting with wine, taking in the best views of the Hermitage, and even learning the art of cocktail-making. Join us as we follow their path and uncover their top recommendations for an tourism getaway in the Rhône Valley.
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In the Vaucluse, wine is experienced in a whole new way
The journey begins in Avignon, heading toward Beaumes-de-Venise. A great first move: choosing accommodation that immediately sets the mood. At L’Evajade, Ambre and Mathieu settle into a room shaped like a wine barrel, nestled in the heart of a vineyard landscape—a perfect introduction that sets the tone for the trip.
The next day, the route leads to Mazan and the Château la Croix des Pins. Here, wine glasses are briefly swapped for paintbrushes during a "wine painting" workshop—a playful way to discover the vineyard by exploring wine in a rather unexpected form.
© Jeff Habourdin Photographe
Next, it’s off to Suzette, at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. At the Ferme Saint Martin, the focus shifts to a blending workshop, offering a hands-on look at the craft of winemaking: combining different grape varieties to create a wine perfectly tailored to one’s own taste.
Between these experiences, the journey unfolds across the landscapes and villages that define the charm of the Vaucluse. You might wander through Séguret, or continue on to Provençal gems like Gordes, Roussillon, Ménerbes, or Venasque. For those who enjoy a change in elevation, the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux provide a striking contrast to excursions among the vines. Meanwhile, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the ideal spot for a picturesque break by the water.
© Bernard Favre
In the Drôme-Ardèche region, take in the vineyards from a new vantage point
Leaving the landscapes of Provence behind, Ambre and Mathieu head up the Rhône to Tournon-sur-Rhône, where they spend the night aboard La Péniche Bed and Bicycle. In the evening, a short walk across the river brings them to the restaurant Le Quai—a stop where the Rhône accompanies the journey from morning until night.
© La Péniche
The next day, they head straight out into the fresh air around the Hermitage hill. The walk leads past the Saint-Christophe chapel, before crossing to the opposite bank to admire the vineyard-covered slopes from a different perspective—a place where the vineyards are as much a feast for the eyes as anything else. Next, the scene shifts in Beaumont-Monteux, where the Clairmont Cellar introduces them to the art of crafting wine-based cocktails.
The route then continues southward, with a few delightful stops that add to the charm of the road trip. They linger in La Garde-Adhémar, a hilltop village in the Drôme Provençale, and then in Aiguèze, located at the gateway to the Ardèche Gorges. A little further on, La Roque-sur-Cèze offers another interlude of historic stone architecture and scenic vistas, before the journey resumes through the vineyards.
© Jeff Habourdin Photographe
What we love: turning the road trip itself into an experience. Between visits to wine estates, there’s time for a stroll through one of France’s most beautiful villages, a walk among the vines, or a pause before a panorama so striking it begs for a photograph.
In the Gard, slow down and take a breath in the great outdoors
For our final change of scenery, we head back to the southern Rhône Valley—this time on the Gard side. We’ve chosen to stay at Lodge Ferreol in Laudun-l’Ardoise: a lodge tucked away among the vines, complete with a kitchenette, a griddle and a Nordic hot tub. The plan here is simple: prepare your own dinner on-site and enjoy the sunset. It’s hard to imagine a better excuse to slow down.
© Jeff Habourdin Photographe
The next morning, the car can stay parked. Following Ambre and Mathieu, we set off on foot from the lodge to visit the Clos de Taman, continuing with a tasting of Côtes du Rhône wines at Maison Sinnae. It’s a fantastic idea—combining a stroll through the vineyards with a wine tasting, all in the course of a single morning.
The final stop on this getaway is Pouzilhac, at the enchanting Domaine de Panéry, for lunch followed by a tour of the estate. It’s one last peaceful interlude in the heart of nature, before completing the loop and returning to Avignon.
© Jeff Habourdin Photographe
The takeaway: this road trip serves as a reminder that the vineyards of the Rhône Valley are to be savored just as much in the glass as they are while exploring a village, wandering a trail, or taking in a scenic viewpoint. And perhaps that is the best tip of all from Ambre and Mathieu: hit the road, but above all, take your time.
Why not follow in their footsteps?
The French Wanderers’ travel log offers a great glimpse into what a wine-focused road trip through the Rhône Valley vineyards can be like: it’s not just about tasting wine—it’s about immersing yourself in the landscape, meeting the people who bring the vineyards to life, and experiencing wine in a whole new way.
You can follow the route at your own pace—pick a single stop for a weekend getaway, or string together all the locations over the course of a few days. A piece of advice: leave some room for the unexpected between your planned stops. In the Rhône vineyards, taking a detour is often all part of the journey.
👉 Since images can be just as expressive as words, you can watch the video of their road trip right here.
