Meet the makers of the Drôme

Guillaume can’t stop talking about the wines of Cave de Tain

At Le Fief de Gambert, right in the middle of the vineyards of the northern Rhône Valley, I sit down for lunch. Sommelier Guillaume can’t stop talking about the wines of Cave de Tain: the grapes, the terroir, and the challenges of winemaking.

You can find those wines at your local wine shop back home. But it’s obviously way more fun to visit the Rhône Valley yourself and do a wine tasting at Cave de Tain or the restaurant Le Fief de Gambert.

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Sophie runs France’s last scourtin factory, together with her mother

In Nyons stands La Scourtinerie, France’s last scourtin factory. The business has been in the family since 1882, and it’s now the fourth generation’s turn to run it. Owner Sophie now leads the workshop alongside her mother.

They once made scourtins mainly to filter olive oil; these days the focus is on decorative mats. Lots of old machines, lots of handwork. Really cool to see. Definitely stop by if you’re in Nyons.

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Nathalie carries on the family story of Domaine de Grangeneuve

At Domaine de Grangeneuve, everything revolves around doing it yourself. The Bour family makes rosé, white, and red wine here, and sells it directly, with no middlemen. The story starts in 1964, when Odette and Henri Bour move from Algeria to the Drôme and turn a plot of oak forest and grain fields into a vineyard.

When Henri passes away in 1980, Odette takes over at age seventy, with help from her children. It isn’t until 1998 that their son Henri Jr. takes over the estate, and their granddaughter Nathalie joins in the late 2000s. She’s the one showing me around the vineyards today.

Domaine de Grangeneuve wines are also available internationally through select wine importers. My tip: go for the viognier called V.

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Zoë takes me through the lavender fields

Driving through the Drôme, I see lavender everywhere along the roads. So pretty! Naturally, I want to know more. At L’Essentiel de Lavande, everything centers on lavender. Guide Zoë patiently explains the different lavender varieties and how you can turn them into products. I get to try it myself: I make a lavender balm.

I wrap up with a glass of lavender lemonade and lavender cookies. You can even stay overnight here, in a house with a pool right between the lavender fields. Read more about a visit to L’Essentiel de Lavande.

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Ferdinand Cheval built his own palace

Not everyone on this list is still around to talk to. Mailman Ferdinand Cheval spent from 1879 to 1912 building his own palace, stone by stone, in Hauterives. No architect, no construction crew — just an ordinary mailman with a dream.

Director Frédéric Legros shows me around the Palais Idéal and tells the story behind it. Traveling through the Drôme this summer? Don’t skip this one. Read more about Palais Idéal.

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