Château La Coste: What to Count on on the Wine Tasting and Artwork Stroll
Final Up to date on July 15, 2026 by Eve Dawes
Château La Coste France is a working natural wine property simply exterior Aix en Provence, however the wine is basically just one a part of the draw. After basing ourselves close by at Château de la Gaude for the journey, we spent a morning right here and it’s simple to see why it’s turn into one of the talked about spots for wine tasting Provence has to supply. It’s half vineyard, half up to date artwork park, half structure showcase, with sweeping winery views and fabulous Provence wines all through, making it one of many extra memorable stops for wine tasting Aix en Provence has to supply. If you happen to’re planning a go to, right here’s what to really count on, based mostly on what we did, plus the way it compares to a smaller, on the town choice like La Cave du Cours Mirabeau.
What’s Château La Coste
Château La Coste France is a working natural wine property simply exterior Aix en Provence, however the wine is basically just one a part of the draw. The property doubles as an open air artwork and structure park, with installations and buildings from names like Jean Nouvel, Tadao Ando, Frank Gehry, and Yoko Ono scattered throughout the vineyards. It’s the type of place the place you intend for a fast tasting and find yourself staying for hours consuming wine, consuming and taking every thing in.
There’s additionally a sister property, La Coste de Los Andes, within the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina, producing its personal natural wines below the identical possession. It doesn’t look like arrange for public visits the way in which the Provence property is, however the wines are value in search of out if you wish to style either side of the mission.
Château La Coste Wine Tasting: What to Count on
Château La Coste provides a number of wine tasting and tour choices whether or not you’re on the lookout for wine and cheese, wine and meals pairing, a go to to Jean Nouvel’s vineyard and tasting, a Introductory Workshop – The Artwork of Tasting, or easy wine tasting.
If you happen to simply need to go purely for wine tasting, Château La Coste’s free wine tasting is held of their wine store and no reservation is required. We went within the morning when it was quiet, however in case you go after noon in excessive season, count on a wait.
We tasted a spread of the property’s wines, whites, rosés, and their glowing wines. The Grand Vin Rosé and Grand Vin Blanc had been the clear standouts of the day for each my sister and me. Though their rosé bubbles had been additionally fabulous and straightforward consuming.
The person pouring for us was genuinely pleasant and educated. The type of tasting that really teaches you one thing concerning the wine and the property, reasonably than simply pouring and transferring you alongside. If you happen to’re deciding whether or not Château La Coste is value constructing a wine day round, the tasting alone makes a powerful case, earlier than you even issue within the artwork and structure.
I extremely suggest including Château La Coste to your wine tasting in Aix en Provence itinerary. If you happen to guide a tour that doesn’t go to the wine store, it’s nonetheless value a go to. They usually have wine specials, restricted version wines, stunning glasses and serving gadgets on the market.
Château La Coste Restricted Version Wines
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a restricted version wine take a look at Madame ‘B’ which is a collaboration between Damien Hirst and Château La Coste on a rosé model. Solely 10,000 bottles had been fabricated from Madame ‘B’ 2025 classic, and it’s mix of grapes from throughout the property, that includes varieties Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Counoise.
Château La Coste France Artwork and Structure Stroll
Past the tasting room, the grounds themselves are an fascinating, properly curated characteristic in case you like trendy artwork. Strolling paths wind by means of the vineyards previous main architectural and artwork installations, so even when wine isn’t the primary cause you’re visiting, the stroll is definitely worth the journey by itself.
You’ll be able to both stroll round by your self or guide a guided artwork and structure stroll. They advise permitting 2 to three hours to your go to and to begin a self-guided tour earlier than 3pm. Guided excursions can be found on a regular basis in French and English at 10am and a pair of:30pm. You’ll be able to guide tickets for that right here.
Comfy sneakers are a should right here, this isn’t a fast cease, it’s a correct stroll by means of the property. I’d additionally advise a solar hat and SPF as there’s not a number of shade.
The place to Eat at Château La Coste, France
We didn’t eat on web site throughout our go to, we simply adopted our wine tasting with a chilly glass of our favourite, the Château La Coste Grand Vin Blanc at La Terrasse which is subsequent to the wine store and open from 10am to 10pm day-after-day. Sat within the shade of the bushes, having fun with the views was the right strategy to begin the day.
Nonetheless, in case you do need to eat right here, Château La Coste has a number of eating choices value understanding about in case you’re planning an extended day there. The property’s greatest identified restaurant is helmed by Argentinian chef Francis Mallmann, identified for cooking over open fireplace and identified for dishes like beef empanadas and sluggish cooked steak. For one thing extra informal, the property additionally runs La Rôtisserie and an Italian restaurant, so there’s a spread of choices relying on how formal you need the meal to be. If a sit down lunch or dinner is a part of your plan, it’s value reserving forward, particularly for the Mallmann restaurant given its reputation.
Who owns Château La Coste
Château La Coste is owned by Irish hotelier Paddy McKillen who purchased the property in 2002 and it opened to the general public in 2011. He’s spent a very long time renovating the property, changing the vineyards to natural after which biodynamic viticulture, in addition to a gallery and sculpture park. McKillen continues to be engaged on the enlargement of his property.
A Full Provence Wine Day
If you wish to flip Château La Coste right into a full wine tasting Aix en Provence day reasonably than a fast cease, right here’s how ours performed out. After the morning tasting and the pool again at Château de la Gaude to chill off, we Ubered into Aix en Provence for a second wine tasting at La Cave du Cours Mirabeau. Much less is extra on the subject of wine tasting in Provence. It’s a spot to be savored and loved at a leisurely place, to not attempt to cram as a lot in as you possibly can.
La Cave du Cours Mirabeau is on the gorgeous Cours Mirabeau in Aix en Provence within the cellar of a mansion in-built in-built 1792. I’d advise reserving upfront as La Cave du Cours Mirabeau solely provides one tasting at 3:30pm each day. In the course of the tasting you’ll attempt 3 native Provence wines (white, rosé, and pink) with cheese pairings with a knowledgable information. Whereas the Châteaus are a spectacular strategy to go wine tasting, in case you don’t have a automobile, are restricted on time, or don’t need to depart the middle of Aix on Provence, it is a handy choice.
Dinner in Aix en Provence
Since we had been already in Aix en Provence, we went for cocktails on Cours Mirabeau, adopted by dinner at Le Ramus Restaurant, a former medieval hospital turned church. I extremely suggest this charming Aix En Provence restaurant which actually respects the historical past of the constructing. They even sought out and reused the unique stones from 1389 and preserved traces of the previous constructions, for an area that feels such as you’ve stepped again in time.
The filet and foie gras there have been wonderful, simply one of many higher meals of the journey, however they had been all fabulous! Pairing Château La Coste with a cease at La Cave du Cours Mirabeau provides you each the countryside property expertise and a extra native on the town tasting in the identical day.
The place to Keep Close by in Aix en Provence
We based mostly ourselves at Château de la Gaude for our Provence keep, which put us inside simple attain of Château La Coste, Aix en Provence, and the broader wine area while not having to maneuver resorts all through the journey. If you happen to’re planning the same wine centered few days and need a luxurious resort, a château keep within the space makes a phenomenal house base for precisely this sort of day journey. The opposite profit is Château de la Gaude can also be a vineyard and provides wine tasting there. Full overview coming subsequent.
Regularly Requested Questions
Sure. The wine tasting is genuinely good by itself, however the artwork and structure stroll throughout the property and the views make it definitely worth the go to even for individuals who aren’t particularly into wine.
If you happen to’re simply doing the free wine tasting you are able to do it in below an hour however plan for half a day if you wish to correctly do the wine tasting, artwork stroll and have a meal on web site.
Sure. We paired our Château La Coste go to with a second tasting at La Cave du Cours Mirabeau in Aix en Provence later the identical day, giving us each a countryside property expertise and a extra native, on the town tasting. Nonetheless, we did swap from driving to Uber for the second wine tasting to keep away from drink driving. So issue that in to your wine tasting route planning.
We stayed at Château de la Gaude, which put us inside simple attain of Château La Coste, Aix en Provence, and the encircling wine area for the size of our journey. It was precisely the enjoyable, luxurious keep we needed.
Concerning the Writer
Eve Dawes is the founder and editor of Glamour and Features, a luxurious journey and way of life journal. She writes from firsthand expertise throughout each vacation spot she covers.
For extra actual journey and outfit concepts, comply with alongside on Instagram at @glamourandgains.
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