Nice drive recommendations in around Aix, Avignon & Arles

Bonjour,

I%26#39;ll be visiting Provence this weekend (very excited) and have rented a car. I%26#39;m staying in Aix first night when I get in and then in Avignon for the following 2 nights. Any recommendations of scenic drives to get a feel of Provence would be greatly appreciated. Also am keen to visit some nice wineries (espeically for Rose).

Thanks in advance.

MD

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For the vineyards of the Cotes du Rhone drive out north east of Avignon and pick out the marked tourist circuit. Your hotel will have a map of this.

There are many small %26quot;wine villages%26quot; all with local Caves to taste the wine - a small gratuity should be paid if not actually buying any wine.

We like Beaumes de Venise (classic Vin Doux as well as pinks) and Gigondas - lovely litle square in the village with a simple restaurant with great views while sipping the local produce.The last %26quot;batch%26quot; of pink we bought there was 14.5%!

Another nice drive to the south west of Avignon is the Alpilles - lots of nice sleepy villages.

I am sure others will add their own favorites but whatever you do I am sure you will have a memorable time.

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Firstly, if you like Rosés you may already know about Tavel - regarded by many as the finest among all rosés. Here%26#39;s an NY Times article you may find interesting:

nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/02/10/travel/2008…

This area of Provence could easily fill 2 weeks of exploration so it%26#39;s mostly a matter of what to cut - unfortunately. From Aix-en-Provence to Avignon you could either proceed west-southwest through les Alpilles, les-Baux-de-Provence, and perhaps Arles or west-northwest through Roussillon, Gordes, Sénanque, l%26#39;isle-sur-la-Sorgue. An additional must see is Pont du Gard to the west of Avignon for perhaps a following day.

Should you be able to visit Tavel to the north, do not miss Vaison-la-Romaine on your way. Orange is also this direction.

Check at the Office de Tourisme in Aix for additional ideas or purchase a copy of Michelin%26#39;s Green Guide of Provence which outlines several driving itineraries.

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I agree about the rosés of Tavel. Absolutely fabulous. They even have an oak aged Tavel - sounds weird, but it is really good.

I don%26#39;t think Vaison is on the way to Tavel from Avignon - perhaps I misunderstood the starting point.

Tavel is a 10 minute drive from Avignon, unless you get in horrible traffic or lost. Mappy puts it at 16 minutes, but it has never taken me that long. I%26#39;ve timed it several times.