Vacqueyras: Wine Routes and Village History
Accommodation in Vacqueyras
Vacqueyras can be explored through two closely connected themes: winemaking and village history. Routes, tastings, and insights into production sit alongside architectural traces of the old village and winemaking traditions. This distinction is useful when planning your stay: you can focus on wine-related activities or include historical details. The offerings differ in the way they can be experienced.
Wine Country and Winemakers
Vacqueyras mainly produces red wines, as well as white and rosé wines. One educational route through the wine country is the Parcours au cœur de nos terroirs, which passes through vineyards and garrigue. Educational panels line the route, along with an interpretation panel made of enamelled lava. The route thus brings together the two landscape themes described, with information along the way.
The shared winemaking tradition also shapes the region’s wine offering. Since the 1950s, Rhonéa Vacqueyras has brought together the expertise of more than 300 winemakers, showcasing the terroirs of Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise. Rhonéa offers wine and hiking experiences at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Wine-related Visits
At Clos de Caveau, the vineyards are open to the public, and a free wine tourism trail is available. Check the visiting arrangements before your visit. Clos de Caveau can organise private tours on request. The free trail and private tours are different formats: private tours require a request.
At Domaine de Montvac, L’Âme du Vin explores the secrets of winemaking and different ageing methods. The visit ends with a tasting of five cuvées. At Domaines Aimé Arnoux, the offering includes cellar tours, wine tastings, and a tour of the ageing tunnel. Wine tastings are available for groups of up to ten people by appointment.
The focus of each visit can help you choose between them: L’Âme du Vin centres on winemaking and ageing methods, while visits to Domaines Aimé Arnoux can include the cellars and ageing tunnel. The group limit and appointment requirement apply to tastings at Aimé Arnoux; they should not be assumed to apply to the other types of visit mentioned.
Winemaking Culture and Village History
The Les vins du Troubadour wine cooperative was built in 1956. On the west façade of its tower-like entrance is a ceramic depiction of the troubadour Rimbaud de Vacqueyras. Those interested in the village’s architectural history can also find a historical reference at Cours Stassart: it was created in the 1830s, when the ditches of the village’s fortification walls were filled in.
The FĂŞte des Vins de Vacqueyras was established several decades ago, has become part of local tradition, and helps pass on winemaking culture in the CĂ´tes-du-RhĂ´ne area. The programme includes a mobile tasting of Cru Vacqueyras in the lanes of the old village. If you are planning to attend a future event, check the details of the relevant programme.
Discover more destinations: Vaison-La-Romaine, Lagarde-Pareol, Goult, Cadenet, Oppède, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, Cabrières-D'avignon, Bollene
For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.
