Rhône Valley Wine Tours: North or South, and What It Costs
19 tours, all in the southern Rhône, from 20 to 1,200 EUR with a median of 104, the lowest of any French region on this site.
Every one of the 19 Rhône Valley wine tours we list goes to the southern Rhône. None goes to Côte-Rôtie or Hermitage, the Syrah slopes south of Lyon that make the valley famous among people who collect wine. That is the first thing to know about Rhône Valley wine tours, because the valley is really two regions joined by a river and separated by more than 200 km. This page lays out the split: what grows in each half, where you start, how the tours and their prices work, why the Rhône is the cheapest French region on this site at a median of 104 EUR, and the dates that explain why Châteauneuf-du-Pape tastes as it does. It also says plainly what we cannot offer yet, which is the north, so that you can decide before you book whether this is the valley you came for.
The prices are read on 30 September 2026 and are per person, except for the private days, which price the car or the party. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape page has the tour-by-tour detail; this one is the map of the valley. Every figure that comes from a trade body, a grower syndicate or a route planner is labelled as such in the text below, and the dates of the appellations are the ones the decrees give.
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Wine Tours Experiences in Rhône Valley
3-Hour Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour from Avignon: Two Estates, Six Wines, Two Whites
Six or more wines including two whites, at an estate over 300 years old and one of the appellation's largest, with a Ventourism driver-guide from Avignon.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Afternoon Wine Tour from Avignon, Two Cellar Tastings
Two tastings in two village cellars, a papal ruin above the rooftops, and red and white Châteauneuf-du-Pape on an afternoon trip from Avignon and back.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Luberon Wine Day Trip from Avignon, Two Tastings and Gordes
Two tastings in one day, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Luberon, with an English- or Spanish-speaking local driver and a scenic run past the village of Gordes.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Masterclass from Avignon: Two Wineries and 5 Hours
Five hours, three of them in the cellars, learning professional tasting technique and how stony soils and 13 permitted grape varieties shape the wine.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour from Avignon: Sommelier Guide and Medieval Cellar
A bilingual local guide and sommelier, three wineries with a private tasting in a medieval cellar, and a lunch stop at a traditional restaurant near Avignon.
Family Estate Wine Tasting in Sablet: 15 Hectares in Gigondas and Sablet, Four Generations
Four generations on 15 hectares, some vines a century old, across Gigondas and Sablet: a tasting of the estate's range that explains terroir and method.
Half-Day Châteauneuf-du-Pape Walking Wine Tour: Domaine Mayard and Le Nez des Papes
Walk from the Chapelle Saint Théodoric to a working winery, then taste in an old cave in the village, with an English-speaking wine specialist as guide.
Half-Day Côtes du Rhône Crus Tour from Avignon: Two Wineries, Morning or Afternoon
Morning or afternoon departure, two wineries picked from Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Séguret and others, with a driver-guide near the Avignon tourist office.
Half-Day Côtes du Rhône Wine Tour from Avignon: Beaumes-de-Venise to Châteauneuf-du-Pape
A local guide drives four options through the southern Côtes du Rhône, from Gigondas to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a farm-produce picnic from April to October.
In-Depth Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Course: Terroirs, Viticulture and Tastings
A teaching tour of the village: appellation rules, viticulture, winemaking and tastings of different Châteauneuf-du-Pape styles, from novice to amateur level.
Mas des Escarades Winery Visit and Vineyard Tasting with Panoramic Views, Buisson
Wine tasting at Mas des Escarades in Buisson, with panoramic views over the vines and a meeting point in the car park directly in front of the cellar.
Private Full-Day Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tour: Fortia, La Nerthe, La Gardine, Lunch Stop
A full day for your party alone: cellar visits and private tastings at Château Fortia, Château La Nerthe and Château de la Gardine, with a lunch stop arranged.
Private Full-Day Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tour from Marseille with Avignon Stop and Lunch
Private driver from Marseille, an Avignon stop, lunch in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and tastings at Les Caves Saint Charles, La Nerthe and Domaine de Beaurenard.
Private Full-Day Custom Wine Tour from Avignon: Choose Châteauneuf, Gigondas or Vacqueyras
You choose the areas when you book: a flexible private day with a wine specialist among vineyards in Gigondas, Séguret, Vacqueyras and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Small-Group Half-Day Wine Tour from Avignon via Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in one small-group half day from Avignon, with tastings of Côtes du Rhône wines and a lesson in tasting like a professional.
Small-Group Marseille Cruise Shore Excursion: Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine
Shared excursion for cruise passengers from the Marseille seaport: Avignon's Pont Saint-Bénézet and Popes' Palace, then a tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Small-Group Morning Wine Tour from Avignon to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône Valley Views
Grenache, Cinsault and Counoise in the glass, cellar visits with a guide and a Rhône Valley viewpoint, in a small group that leaves Avignon in the morning.
Vintage Solex Ride Through the Vineyards of Domaine des Favards, with Organic Wine Tasting
Guided by Clément on a restored 1960s Solex, then an organic wine tasting with winemaker Céline at the estate, with views over Plan de Dieu vineyards.
Wine Day from Avignon: Three Tastings in Châteauneuf, Gigondas or Séguret, Lunch Included
Lunch is included in this driver-guided day from Avignon: three tastings of Côtes du Rhône wines and stops in hilltop villages with views over the vines.
Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Two valleys with one name
The Rhône runs from the Alps to the Mediterranean, and the wine changes where the climate does. In the north, around Lyon and Vienne, the slopes are steep, the vineyards small, and the grape is Syrah. Côte-Rôtie has 343 hectares and became an appellation in 1940. Hermitage, on the hill above Tain, has 136 hectares and was made an appellation in 1937. In the south, around Avignon and Orange, the land is gentler and stony, the sun stronger, and the wines are blends led by Grenache.
That is why you cannot do both in a day. Côte-Rôtie and Châteauneuf sit over 200 km apart, which is a morning's drive each way.
Choose a hemisphere. The valley is long enough that each half needs its own trip.
| Northern Rhône | Southern Rhône | |
|---|---|---|
| Base city | Lyon | Avignon |
| Main grape | Syrah | Grenache, in blends |
| Best known appellations | Côte-Rôtie (343 ha, 1940), Hermitage (136 ha, 1937) | Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras |
| Scale | Small, steep | Large; the regional appellation Côtes du Rhône is 26,777 ha |
| Tours in our catalogue | None | All 19 |
For scale, Inter Rhône counts about 63,300 hectares of AOP vines in 2024 and more than 2.1 million hectolitres, without the Châteauneuf-du-Pape figures, and 75% of it is red, 13% rosé and 12% white. The Côtes du Rhône appellation dates from 1937.
North: from Lyon
The view is Lyon from the Fourvière hill, and it is the usual starting point for the Syrah slopes. We list no tour from Lyon, so this half of the valley is a gap in the catalogue rather than a recommendation against it.
If you want Côte-Rôtie or Hermitage, the working options are a private driver from Lyon or a train to one of the wine towns, such as Tain-l'Hermitage, and a taxi. We have not priced either, so do not read the 104 EUR median as a budget for the north.
What the valley costs against the rest of France
Rhône Valley is the cheapest French region here. The 19 tours run from 20 to 1,200 EUR with the middle half between 81 and 183 EUR. Bordeaux's median is 187 EUR, Champagne's 349, Burgundy's 425. The reason is what the tours are: short, shared half days from a single hub, with no train fare, no classified château and no Paris transfer. Nine of the 13 shared tours are half days, with a median of 85 EUR.
South: Avignon as the base
The arched bridge in the photo is on the Rhône at Avignon, the town almost every southern tour starts from. 26% of the listings include pickup, and the rest meet you at a fixed place, so staying in Avignon itself keeps your options open.
There is one exception worth knowing. A shore excursion leaves from Marseille at 159 EUR for 7 hours, and a private Châteauneuf-du-Pape tasting from Marseille is listed at 1,200 EUR for 8 hours, the dearest tour on the page.
Getting to Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Avignon
| Option | Time | Fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus from Avignon Aubanel | About 47 min | Not shown | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only |
| Train Avignon TGV to Sorgues-Châteauneuf, then bus 922 | About 1 h 30 | 6 to 14 USD | Two legs |
| Buses 902 and 922 from the Avignon station | About 1 h 17 | 8 to 12 USD | Two buses |
| Tour with pickup or meeting point | Varies | From 69 EUR | The simplest way to combine cellars |
So without a car it is possible but awkward, and the frequencies are thin. The village is small enough to walk once you are there, but the cellars are not all in it. Most people who want more than one cellar end up on a tour or in a taxi. The tour page shows which half days run from Avignon.
The map makes the geography plain. Orange, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas sit within a short drive of Avignon, while Tain-l'Hermitage and Ampuis are far to the north, on the road to Lyon. One private day from Avignon links Châteauneuf with Gigondas or Vacqueyras, but no tour we list links Hermitage with Châteauneuf.
Who sells the Rhône
There are 15 operators on 19 tours. Provence and Wine holds 29% of the reviews with a single 7 hour, 175 EUR day rated 5.0 on 566 reviews. Together with Provence Panorama and Time 4 Provence, three operators hold 65% of the 1,919. Read the weighted rating of 4.82 as a verdict on those three. The 15 operators also include small specialists with a tour or two, and Provence Panorama sells a private day at 398 EUR alongside its shared ones.
What you taste in the south
Four names come up in the listings beyond Châteauneuf itself. Gigondas and Vacqueyras are red-led villages a short drive east of it. Tavel makes rosé, and only rosé. Beaumes-de-Venise, Séguret, Rasteau and Cairanne are the other villages a private day can include. At Châteauneuf-du-Pape the wine is 93% red and 7% white, by the growers' syndicate's figure, and roughly 35% of the surface is farmed organically or biodynamically.
What you pour depends on the day. A typical half day is two estates and a handful of wines each, reds first, a white or a rosé if the estate makes one. The Rhône rewards a second look at the label more than most regions, because the name Côtes du Rhône covers a huge area while Châteauneuf covers five communes.
Half days from Avignon run in small groups, and the most reviewed operator sells one very popular day, so book ahead in summer. We have not verified opening times for individual cellars outside the season, so ask the operator which estates are on the itinerary and whether they are open on your date.
The dates behind the glass
From a papal court to the appellation decrees.
The origins
1309
The popes move to Avignon
Clement V settles the papal court in Avignon, and the town becomes a seat of power for decades.
14th century
Vines and a castle
John XXII promotes viticulture around the new village and has the castle built, which gives Châteauneuf-du-Pape its name.
The growth
Early 19th century
Ducos writes down the grapes
Joseph Ducos of Château La Nerthe documents the grape varieties of the appellation.
Early 20th century
Baron Le Roy drafts the rules
The owner of Château Fortia writes the first rules for the appellation.
15 May 1936
Châteauneuf-du-Pape becomes an AOC
It is among the first wine appellations decreed in France.
Today
1937
Côtes du Rhône and Hermitage
Both receive their appellation status.
1940
Côte-Rôtie
The northern slopes of Ampuis become an appellation.
When to go, and what August does
The harvest runs from late August to mid October. The Fête de la Véraison at Châteauneuf-du-Pape falls on the first weekend of August, with free entry and a tasting glass at about 5 EUR. Those are the two dates we can source; we have not verified closing dates for individual cellars, so book ahead in summer and check the estate before you travel.
Choosing a format
| Kind | Count | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared half day | 9 | 69 to 109 EUR, median 85 | 2 to 5 hours, mostly from Avignon |
| Shared full day | 4 | 159 to 185 EUR | 7 to 9 hours where stated; one includes lunch |
| Private day | 4 | 398 to 1,200 EUR | 7 to 9 hours; flexible villages |
| Cellar-door tastings | 2 | 3 and 20 EUR | Single estates, not day tours |
The southern Rhône is also a base for other villages. One private day lets you choose three or four wineries among Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise, Tavel, Séguret, Rasteau and Cairanne. That is the only listing that goes beyond the Châteauneuf core, and the page for Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine tours compares it with the rest.
Questions about Rhône Valley wine tours
Are there wine tours of the northern Rhône?
We list none. All 19 tours are in the south, mostly from Avignon. Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage sit in the north of the valley, with Côte-Rôtie more than 200 km from Châteauneuf, and need a private driver or your own transport.
Is Châteauneuf-du-Pape worth visiting?
If you like Grenache blends, yes. A shared half day from Avignon costs a median 85 EUR and most cover one or two estates. The village is small, and the tours make sense mainly because the cellars are spread out.
Can you visit Châteauneuf-du-Pape without a car?
Yes, with effort: a bus from Avignon takes about 47 minutes but runs only four days a week, and train-plus-bus routes take about 1 h 30. A tour or a taxi is easier if you want several cellars.
When is the harvest in the Rhône?
From late August to mid October. The Fête de la Véraison, on the first weekend of August, is free to enter, and a tasting glass costs about 5 EUR.
Why is the Rhône cheaper than other French regions?
The tours are shared half days from one hub, with no train fare or classified château. The median is 104 EUR against 187 for Bordeaux and 349 for Champagne.
The tours
One page covers every Rhône tour in the catalogue.
Plan your trip
Guides that apply to this destination.
When to go
A month-by-month climate matrix for 28 wine destinations, with the harvest windows we could verify.
Plan your wine tour
Nine decisions in order: tour or car, booking, what to wear and what to check on a listing.
How to choose a wine tour
Private, group, bike or scooter: four questions, and the cases where a tour is the wrong answer.
Data verified on. Prices, ratings and counts from 19 listings on 30 September 2026. Hectares and dates from Inter Rhône and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape growers' syndicate; route times from route planners.