Vacqueyras
Home to a renowned wine & a famous troubador
Only a short distance from Gigondas, the walled village of Vacqueras is a wine producing commune in the Côtes-du-Rhône region where they have made wine since the 15th century. The village is circular with an old gateway, a 12th century belltower and a ruined Medieval Château.
Don’t miss the old fountains and the plane tree lined Cours Stassart constructed to cover unsightly ditches behind the ramparts.
A little brother of Châteauneuf
While very pleasant, the village’s main claim to fame is its superb robust red wine which has Côtes du Rhône status and was granted its own AOC in 1990. Like Gigondas, it is made mostly from Grenache grapes and is often referred to as a 'little brother of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Fancy a tasting? La Vigneronne wine Co-operative on the Gigondas road will happily oblige and will be even happier if you buy some!
Vacqueras is not all about wine however. It was the home village of Rimbaut de Vacqueras a famous troubadour, pictured above, who entertained the Prince of Orange no less!
Département: Vaucluse
Market day: Thursday morning.