Rhône Roots is a travel and events company dedicated to celebrating the best of the Rhône Valley, owned by Rhône expert Matt Walls.

The first Rhône Roots tasting event in London was in April 2025, and it was a sell-out success, hosting 40 of the very best wine producers from the region and a selection of exceptional Rhône-inspired winemakers from around the world. It attracted names such as Château de Beaucastel, Château de Saint Cosme, Domaine de la Mordorée, François Villard, Pierre-Jean Villa, Chapoutier, Gramenon, Torbreck, Richard Kershaw… The second edition will take place on 27^th April 2027.

Rhône Roots Tour, June 2026

In the meantime, 2026 will see the first Rhône Roots Tour! This is taking place during the week of 21^st to 26^th June 2026. Join Matt on a trip along the Rhône Valley, starting in Lyon and finishing in Avignon. You’ll taste with some of the best winemakers in the region, eat at some of his favourite restaurants, and he’ll be there in person to tell you all about this beautiful, soulful place and its incredible wines.

To keep things relaxed and personal, the number of guests will be limited to six. All are welcome, no matter your level of knowledge; come by yourself, in a couple or a group.

Sunday 21st June – an evening in Lyon

Make your way to bright, modern Hôtel Globe et Cecil in the heart of Lyon’s Presqu’île, just off Place Bellecour, where the tour commences.

We’ll meet in the hotel lounge for an introductory drink, then walk over to Armada in Vieux Lyon, a vibrant, informal restaurant with original and inventive small plates to share.

Monday 22nd June – Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu

In the morning, we’ll drive to Ampuis where we’ll pay a visit to Domaine Jasmin, a producer of eminently classic Côte-Rôtie whose wines age beautifully.

After lunch at Restaurant Les Gagères with breathtaking views over the vineyards, we’ll drive up into the heights of Condrieu to visit Clos de la Bonnette, a relatively new producer that makes consistently excellent Condrieu, and Côte-Rôties with real personality. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the appellation.

Afterwards, we’ll drive to Tournon, check in to Hôtel de la Villeon, then take some time to explore their terraced gardens with views of the Hill of Hermitage before meeting for dinner. We’re going to Le Tournesol, a welcoming restaurant just near the river where chef Cyril has a deep understanding of local cuisine. His wife Hea keeps an excellent cellar!

Tuesday 23rd June – exploring the southern pole of the Northern Rhône

We’ll start the day with a trip to Cornas where we’ll meet Emmanuelle Verset of Domaine A&E Verset. She’ll take us into the vineyards, then back to the winery for a tasting of her range of beautifully elegant wines.

Lunch is down the road at the Auberge de Crussol in Saint-Péray, where they cook over live fire, and (if it’s not too hot) we can eat overlooking the vineyards.

After lunch, we’ll drive to the heart of Crozes-Hermitage to visit one of the greatest estates of the appellation, Domaine Combier. David Combier will take us to one of his nearby parcels to tell us all about the terroir, then we’ll taste through their impressive range.

Dinner is at Le Cerisier in Tournon, an elegant restaurant where the kitchen works with impressive precision and finesse. They also have access to some very hard-to-find bottles.

Wednesday 24th June – to the Southern Rhône

We’ll be getting up a bit earlier today (but not too early!) to drive to the Southern Rhône. We’ll start the day with a visit to Gigondas, one of the most picturesque villages of the Vaucluse, where we’ll be meeting Jean-Baptiste and Zoe Meunier of Moulin de la Gardette. They produce a particularly fine and drinkable style.

After several days of good restaurants, we’re going to keep things relaxed and simple today. Jean-Baptiste is organising a picnic in the vineyards where we will share some local salami, cheese, bread and fruit together under the shade of the pine trees, with the singing of the cicadas all around.

After a brief stroll around the village, we’ll drive over to Rasteau to visit Domaine des Escaravailles. This estate was highly regarded before Gilles Ferran’s daughter Madeline took over; she’s taken it to ever greater heights of excellence. She will tell us all about the terroir of Rasteau and Carianne, and we can taste through her range.

From here, we’ll drive to Avignon where we’re staying at the renowned hotel La Mirande. You’ll have the evening to settle in and get to know Avignon at your leisure. No activity or dinner is booked this evening, but suggestions can happily be provided.

Thursday 25th June – traditional Tavel and modern Châteauneuf

After breakfast, we’ll make our way across the river to Tavel, the Rhône’s only 100% rosé appellation – and, along with Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the first five appellations of France. Château d’Aqueria is the leading traditional Tavel estate, and it was recently bought by Guigal. We’ll be meeting with Guigal’s Southern Rhône lead winemaker, Ralph Garcin, who’ll tell us all about this historic estate.

Lunch will be at Café de France; it might have an unprepossessing name, but expect Corsican chef Christophe Bolis to cook up a storm. He also has one of the most exciting wine lists in the region.

After lunch, it’s a short hop to Domaine Mayard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This is a brand-new estate – rare in Châteauneuf – and one that’s making a stylistic break from tradition, making a thrilling lighter style of Châteauneuf.

This evening, we’ll be eating at La Mirande’s gastronomic restaurant, the best that Avignon has to offer, and one of the finest in the region

Friday 26th June – traditional Châteauneuf

After checking out of La Mirande, we’ll visit Domaine de la Solitude in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. One of the first estates in the appellation to label and export their wines, this is an ancient estate with exceptional terroir. Today it’s owned by Florent Lançon, who will personally welcome us and guide us through his wines, including his rare Vin de la Solitude.

We’ll have a final lunch together at La Mère Germaine, a historic Châteauneuf address with ambitious new owners, before the minibus drops us off at Avignon TGV station and we go our separate ways.

The trip includes

• Breakfast and lunch every day from Monday to Friday inclusive.
• Dinner every day from Sunday to Thursday inclusive except Wednesday. For advice or assistance on booking restaurants on Wednesday evening, feel free to get in touch using the details below.
• Travel by chauffeur-driven, air-conditioned, 16-seater minibus with complementary, chilled bottled water.
• You’ll be accompanied by Rhône expert Matt Walls every day of the trip.
• Fee includes welcome drink, hotels, taxes and gratuities. It does not include any supplementary drinks, food or services that you may order.

Guests need to organise and pay for their own travel to Lyon and from Avignon.

The cost is £6,200 per person (sharing twin / double room), with a single room supplement of £700 and includes the following:

(Though every effort will be made to adhere to the itinerary above, due to factors beyond our control, any detail (including hotels, visits and restaurants) may change without notice. In the event of an amendment to the itinerary, any substitute will be of a similar or higher level of quality.)

Email us now at mw (at) mattwalls.co.uk – there are two places left!