A curated wine journey
Between the Mediterranean and the foothills of the Maures massif, the Cavalaire countryside is woven with vineyards. The Saint-Tropez peninsula is one of the cradles of Provence rosé, a terroir shaped by the mistral, the sun and the sea, where each estate carries its own way of cultivating the South.
From Hôtel du Parc, those vines are never far. A short drive is enough to leave the coastline behind and step into another landscape: pale pebbles, rows of syrah, the shade of cypress trees, the unhurried gestures of the winegrower. Here are three estates we love to recommend to our guests: three characters, three rhythms, one shared invitation to taste Provence slowly.
Château Saint-Maur Cru Classé
Cogolin, 23 minutes by car
In Cogolin, at the heart of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, Château Saint-Maur belongs to the very selective circle of eighteen estates classified as Crus Classés de Provence, a distinction that has not been reopened since and which says much about the standards of the place. Acquired in 2011 by Roger Zannier, the estate has since been entirely reimagined: a contemporary semi-underground gravity-flow cellar, where grapes and juice descend ten metres below ground to ferment in thermo-regulated stainless-steel tanks, sheltered from light and temperature swings. Here, technical craft remains at the service of the fruit, never the other way around.
Wine tourism here is treated as an experience in its own right. From May to the end of September, the terrace wine bar is open every day for a tasting overlooking the vineyards and the Château de Grimaud: wine by the glass, charcuterie and cheese boards, or guided flights of three wines, no booking necessary. On reservation, the guided cellar tour ends with a tasting of three cuvées, and the Wine Luxury Experience offers a private route with a tasting of four wines, including the prestigious Clos de Capelune, born of a plot at the highest point of the appellation, paired with charcuterie and cheese. A workshop called De la Vigne au Verre is offered to those who wish to go further into wine tasting.
In summer, the estate also comes alive after sunset: Mardi Chill and Jeudi Fresh, with wine bar, foodtruck and DJ set, unfold every Tuesday and Thursday from late June to the end of August. In 2024, the estate entered the top 100 of the Trophées de l'œnotourisme.
In short: precision, contemporary architecture, and a cru rosé to be tasted in the light of the Gulf.
Opening hours, cellar door and boutique
From Easter to end of September: every day, 10:00 to 19:30
From October to Easter: weekdays 10:00 to 17:00; Saturday 10:00 to 13:00; Sunday closed
(closed weekends and public holidays in November, January and February; closed on 25 December)
Opening hours, Terrace wine bar
From 1 May to 30 September, every day 10:00 to 19:30 (no booking necessary).
To book visits and experiences
+33 (0)4 94 95 48 48
oenotourisme@zannier.com
chateausaintmaur.com
Domaine Val d'Astier
Cogolin, 23 minutes by car
A few country lanes away, Val d'Astier tells another story altogether. Since 2003, the Seignez family has been shaping the small valleys of Val d'Astier with quiet care: Bruno and Ellen, today joined by their children Arthur and Laure. They have shaped the hillside themselves, cleared, planted, and imagined the plateaux and slopes to give the estate's eighteen grape varieties their fullest expression. A living work, where family spirit remains the first source of inspiration.
Bruno's craft was first learnt in Burgundy, refined in Bandol and perfected in Saint-Tropez, three influences he now passes on to Arthur. Together they vinify outdoors, in harmony with the climate: the wines benefit from winter's natural cold before ageing in the bottle in a cellar dug four and a half metres below ground, reaching thirty metres into the hillside, sheltered from temperature variations. From their hands come the minerality of a white, the strength of a red, the subtlety of a rosé, each cuvée a reflection of the singular, natural energy of the terroir.
Around the vines, a living ecosystem: one hundred and twenty beehives, olive and fruit trees, sheep grazing among the rows from autumn to spring. Ellen has remained the accomplished gardener she has always been; her garden reclaimed from the garrigue supplies some of the region's finest chefs with vegetables and aromatics throughout the summer. At the caveau, she and Laure welcome visitors to discover the "Fruits of their Passion": the wines of course, but also the estate's grape juice and honey.
Three ways to experience the estate: free tasting at the caveau (three wines and one non-alcoholic drink); the in-depth tour of the vineyard and cellar (two hours, nine wines, three non-alcoholic drinks, local tapenades), to be booked with Arthur; or, for a longer afternoon, a Provençal picnic laid out at the Gloriette for up to eight guests.
In short: a family estate classified AOP Côtes de Provence and IGP des Maures, a preserved ecosystem, and the rare feeling of being welcomed into someone's home.
Summer hours (July and August)
Monday to Saturday: 9:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 19:00
Sunday: 9:00 to 13:00
Winter hours (September to June)
Monday to Saturday: 9:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 19:00
Sunday: by appointment only
To book
+33 (0)6 23 26 37 31
arthur@domainevaldastier.com
Domaine de La Croix
La Croix-Valmer, 10 minutes by car
Closer still, just ten minutes from Hôtel du Parc, Domaine de La Croix is one of the oldest estates on the peninsula. Its foundation goes back to the nineteenth century, when Lyon silk manufacturers settled in La Croix-Valmer. The estate is what gave its name to the village. One hundred and eight hectares today, classified as a Côtes de Provence Cru Classé, owned by the Bolloré group since 2001: a viticultural heritage of scale that nonetheless welcomes visitors with quiet simplicity.
The estate opens its doors for tastings, features a boutique of its wines alongside a selection of regional produce, and offers guided tours by appointment to retrace its history and the making of the wines. On foot, marked trails cross the rows between fig and olive trees, up to viewpoints that reveal the Cavalaire bay in its entirety. In summer, the Estivales bring the estate to life throughout July and August.
In short: the founding story of the village, a landscape to wander slowly, and a rosé the exact colour of late afternoon over the sea.
Summer hours (July and August)
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 19:30
Sunday: 10:00 to 14:00
Winter hours (September to June)
Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:30
Tasting available freely during opening hours. Guided tours by appointment.
To book
+33 (0)4 94 95 01 75
contact@domainedelacroix.com
Events and private hire: +33 (0)4 94 17 47 65, caveau@domainedelacroix.com
The South is also tasted through its estates. We would be glad to arrange a vineyard day for you: booking your visits, mapping a route between the three addresses, or simply slipping a word of advice at reception. The peninsula reveals itself slowly; we invite you to live it that way.