Where to visit in Rhone?

I know what wines we like but I don't know the best places for regular folks to visit.

Some friends will be renting a cottage between Gigondas and Vacqueyras, but Chateauneuf du Pape, Beaumes de Venise, and Lirac are all within easy driving or biking distance, so they're pretty open to anything.

Any recommendations appreciated!

Thanks!

. . . . Pete
 
Buy wine jams from Philippe Bruneton, under the Les Saisons de Rosalie label. Hell, buy anything the man makes. (He didn't win Meilleur Confiturier de France for nothin'.)
 
If you know the wines you like, it's easy enough to visit the vineyards. Most places will receive without an appointment on Monday through Friday. I find it's best to make an appointment in CdP because you get a better tasting.

In Gigondas and Cairanne, they have Caveaus in the center town where you can taste all the wines of the area, virtually, and buy bottles at the same price as the domaines.

Beaucastel offers a very nice tour and tasting, and they virtually don't want you to buy the wines.

Remember that many if not most domaines are fairly small and you will be tasting with the winemaker, who may well have other things to do as well. So do try to make appointments. Unlike CA, tasting fees are very rare. But it is nice to buy a couple of bottles.
 
Best visits are Rayas and H. Bonneau: probably the dirtiest cellars you'll ever see. They are tough to get in

L'Anglore should be another interesting visit, though i have not been there

Go to La Beaugraviere in Mondragon for lunch / dinner. Nice wine list
 
Jonathan mentioned the central tasting location in Gigondas. If I ever went to Gigondas that's one place I'd want to check. I've talked to others who've been there and they liked it quite a bit. Supposedly the staff is reluctant to make recommendations of the best, but if you persist they will point you in the right direction.
Some friends said the friendliest place they went was Beaucastel.
I've always been intrigued by Sang Des Cailloux with the employee buying the winery after the owner died with no heirs and naming the cuvees after his daughters and mother.
 
It's impossible to get into Bonneau if you don't have connections and, although I once talked my way into Rayas when Jacques Reynaud was still alive, I don't think that's any easier.

The caveau in Gigondas is run by the vignerons and the staff are not allowed to recommend based on their preferences. If you tell them what style of wine you like, they are happy to make suggestions or, if you ask about a wine, to tell you about its elevage, etc. Gigondas has a lot of vignerons who are very fond of new oak--moreso then in any of the neighboring appelations--so, if like me, you are oak averse, it can be important to ask about that.

I used to like Beaugravieres. But the wine list has long stopped being the bargain it was and the cooking is only average. There are any other number of restaurants I'd recommend before them.

All the cuvees of Sang de Cailloux with womens names are named after the three daughters. I second the recommendation of the wine, one of the four or five best Vacqueyrases.
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:
Where to visit in Rhone?
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What's a visit for you ? What are you waiting for ? Do you to make a vineyard-tour, a cellar-tour or just tasted ? When do you want to go ?
 
originally posted by Ignacio Villalgordo:
Best visits are Rayas and H. Bonneau: probably the dirtiest cellars you'll ever see. L'Anglore should be another interesting visit, though i have not been there
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Dirty or old ? In a dirty cellar, you make dirty wine. Rayas or Bonneau are not dirty wine. Cellar is a cellar not an operating room.
About Anglore, it's a new house.
 
Thank you all for the good and useful feedback.

I am forwarding the info and will forward any other suggestions that come in.

Pierre-Alain, my friends are wanting to know interesting places to visit and taste at for a week at the end of April. The answers thus far are right on track.

. . . . Pete
 
Peter,

If you visit Pegau, do make an appointment in advance if you don't speak French. Laurence speaks pretty good English. Paul, though he speaks either Spanish, Italian or both, does not speak English. He's more fun to visit with, but if you want someone to talk to, you'll want Laurence, and that entails an appointment.

Oswaldo went to the storefront in the town, as I remember. He probably met the guy who usually works there. He is a friend of the family and he knows the wine, but he also doesn't speak English.
 
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