The Road of Wines from the Luberon

Right in the heart of Provence, the country of the Luberon offers the spectacle of its perched villages and castles to the walker in search of prestigious cultural and historic places. The provençal way of life contributes to make of this region one of the most frequented places of the back country; Mountainous landscape, Southern hillside of the Luberon Mountain falls towards Durance in a terracing hillsides where, in the middle of their rich soil, villages live in big part of the wine growing.

Wines

The naming Côtes du Luberon extends over a surface of 3500ha distributed on 36 municipalities of Vaucluse, the homogeneity of the soil and the grouping in cooperative cellars (80 % of the exploited domains) are the main characteristics of it.

The black vines are represented by traditional Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah whereas the white vines have for name, Ugni-Blanc, Clairette, Vermentino, Bourboulenc, Grenache-Blanc. Red wines represent 70 % of the production, rosé and white wines 15 to 20 % according to years.

Syrah and black Grenache stay the dominant vines for the well-balanced red wines as well as for the fresh and nervous rosé wines.

The fresh and round white wines, have a pale dress in the nuances of green. In the whole, the Côtes of Luberon have to be drunk when they are young.

Some exceptional houses

Le Château La Canorgue
Right in the heart of the National park of the Luberon, this domestic property is built on an ancient Roman villa. Set up by the pope Benoît XIV, the house decorated with beautiful fountains shelters a small chapel. Tasting and sale directly in the cellar.
Château La Canorgue 84480 Bonnieux

Le Château Val-Joanis
Very beautiful bastide from the XVIth restored in the XIXth in the heart of a magnificent garden. Exhibitions of paintings and photos. Organization of receptions for the groups, 60 people minimum. Paying commented visit of the park and the cellars on inquiry, followed by a tasting. Duration: 1. 30.
Route de Cavaillon 84120 Pertuis.

Le Château Grand Callamand
Situated on the first foothills of the Luberon mountain, the fortified house was built in the XVIth century by a member of parliament. Big traditional cellar. Reception of groups on appointment until 25 people.
84120 Pertuis
Le Château de Mille
Pope Clément Vth's summery house, the castle is a jewel of architecture. Considered as one of the oldest wine domains of the Luberon, built on a rocky cape, it shelters a big baker's oven, a dovecote and an old fulling mill. Medieval tower, wooden chapel from the XVIIth century. Visit only on inquiry.
84400 Apt

Le Château de l’Isolette
From the small stony road stands out the massive building, buried on the spurs of the Luberon. Tasting and commented visits. No groups.
84400 Apt

Le Château Saint Pierre de Méjans
This former priory from the Xth century invites you to a tasting in its magnificent church. Very beautiful inner courtyard. Commented and historic tasting of the domain. Bed and breakfasts in summer.
84160 Puyvert

Holidays and animations

The corkscrew museum in Ménerbes
"Le domaine de la Citadelle" presents more than 1000 details, from the XVIIth century to our days. Visit of the Garden of vines.
Tel. 04 90 72 41 58
Opened all days from April till September and on appointment from October till March.

" Wines and wine growers " organizes every year two demonstrations :
- Gouleyade - Day of surly wine, in the middle of November. March in the village with the barrel of the first wine of the year or surly wine. Tasting of the wines from the Luberon accompanied with the fougasse of the Luberon and cheese.
- The friendly in the castles of the Luberon - At the end of June. Two inaugurations of famous people and wine growers. Meal and tasting of wines from the Luberon on bookings with concerts. For information - tel. 04 90 07 36 01