Directly next door to Château Rayas, the wines of Font de Courtedune remain one of the Southern Rhône’s best-kept secrets. Vigneron Caroline Charrier views herself as a steward of the land, farming gently and crafting her wines with whole-cluster fermentation and native yeasts to preserve purity and site expression.

Passed down through four generations and now managed by Thibaut Chamfort, Domaine de Verquière has been certified organic since 2014. Their Côtes-du-Rhône, a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah grown on chalky clay soils dotted with large pebbles, is one of my favorite everyday reds from the South of France.

Founded in 1930 by Italian émigré Nicolas Benedetti, Domaine Benedetti has deep roots in the Southern Rhône. The estate transitioned to organic farming in 2000 and today encompasses 4 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 10 hectares in Côtes du Rhône. Now led by Christian Benedetti, the domaine is guided by a minimalist philosophy in the cellar, resulting in wines that emphasize purity, balance, and honest expression of place.

In 2002, Jacques Coipel left the petrol industry to pursue wine, purchasing vineyards in the Côtes du Rhône Villages cru of Valréas. Set at roughly 1,200 feet on soils of clay, limestone, and gravel, the estate benefits from cooling northern winds that lend freshness and clarity to the wines. Reds show vibrant red fruit and lift, while the whites carry crisp orchard tones and natural energy.