My friend and I are visiting Provence this July and our tentative plan includes 2 night stay in a B&B in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, checking in Saturday and checking out Monday. Our big question: are wineries open Sunday? Is the winery co-op store open Sunday? If not, we need to adjust our plan.
Also we'd like to know if there are bike rentals, winery tours, or any other means to visit a few wineries in leisurely pace, without renting a car.
Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Toronto, Canada
415 posts
It's quite a small village and my experience with the village is during the month of October when things are quiet and there aren't a lot of tourists around. During October, things are closed on Sunday but during July which I assume is peak tourist season, I would imagine you will find enough places open fill a Sunday.
Most of the big wineries have websites and it's possible you could write in advance for an appointment on Sunday or at least check their hours. There are tasting rooms in town which you can reach without a car if you are staying in the village - Ogier and Clos des Papes come to mind and there are several others.
I believe that Vinadea is the wine shop you are referring to and from their website it looks like they are open 7 days a week in the summer, so you should be ok.
There was also an interesting tasting room just below the ruins of the castle which I'm sure will be open on Sundays in the summer. I think it's called Cave du Verger des Papes - there is a restaurant there but also a tasting room with a pretty good explanation of wines and the area and lots to taste.
Why not check with your B and B? They might also be able to arrange some tastings for you with people they know in the area.
One very small winery called Domaine du Galet des Papes has a shop in town and it was open on Sunday (and staffed by the winemaker). It's a bit odd because they have a shop in town despite the fact that you can actually see the winery from the shop just down the road and can walk to it from the village. We got a tour after talking to the man in the shop in town.