Private excursion · French Riviera
Vineyards twenty minutes from Nice, rare local grapes and professional tastings with a sommelier-guide. Half a day among the vines, overlooking the mountains and Mediterranean.
About the itinerary
A Bellet wine tour is a unique opportunity to taste the French Riviera’s wines at their source.
Bellet is one of France’s smallest wine areas, in the hills above Nice. Just 20 minutes from the Promenade des Anglais, rare local varieties are grown: Rolle for whites, Braquet and Folle Noire for reds and rosés. Bellet wines are Provence in a glass: Mediterranean climate, limestone soils and cool sea breezes create elegant, aromatic wines. The itinerary includes 1–2 winery visits with professional tastings and commentary from a guide-sommelier. Learn about terroir, winemaking methods and local grape varieties. An ideal format to understand Riviera wines without long journeys: taste the region’s best in half a day.
Bellet is a rare chance to taste local wines without travelling far.
This is one of France’s smallest wine areas, with just around 60 hectares of vineyards on the hills above Nice. Elegant whites, rosés and reds are made from varieties found nowhere else: Rolle, Braquet and Folle Noire. Each wine tells a little story of terroir between mountains and sea. Over half a day, you visit one or two wineries, walk among vineyards with sea views, taste eight to ten wines with professional commentary from a sommelier guide and understand the Riviera’s true flavour. Wine can be bought at the winery: a perfect souvenir to remind you of the journey.
Who it is for
Not simply tasting but understanding: the Riviera's terroir, what makes Bellet unique, and how climate and soil shape flavour. A professional sommelier-guide answers questions at every level, from beginner to enthusiast.
Bellet is just twenty minutes from central Nice. In four or five hours you visit one or two wineries, taste their wines and return, without spending a whole day travelling. Half a day, with enough impressions for a whole holiday.
Bellet is one of France’s smallest wine areas, with around 60 hectares. Rolle, Braquet and Folle Noire grow here, varieties found nowhere else. This is a rare wine experience.
Hillside vineyards, views of the mountains and Mediterranean, and a terrace tasting at sunset: one of the Riviera's most beautiful and romantic experiences for a couple.
Buying wine at the winery where it is made is more than a souvenir-shop purchase. A bottle of Bellet brought home will recall the Riviera better than any fridge magnet.
What you will see
A distinctive wine area within Nice's city limits, one of France's smallest AOCs. Hilly vineyards overlooking the mountains, Var Valley and sea. Limestone soils, sea breezes and a Mediterranean climate: ideal conditions for elegant white, rosé and red wines.
The itinerary’s first estate. A family winery with a terrace and breathtaking valley views. Taste four or five wines: mineral, floral whites from Rolle, and rosés and reds from Braquet and Folle Noire. Learn about the winemaking method and the estate’s philosophy.
We visit another Bellet estate. Each producer has a distinct winemaking style, selection of varieties and philosophy. Comparative tasting is always the most interesting part: you taste different interpretations of the same terroir.
Between wineries, a stop at one of the best viewpoints above Nice. From the Bellet hills you can see the whole Bay of Angels, the mountains and the sea to the horizon. The contrast between urban Nice and rural Provence makes a striking photograph.
On request, lunch at a winery or authentic local restaurant overlooking the vineyards. Fresh Provençal produce, olive oil, cheeses, bread and wine straight from the estate. Booked in advance.
Programme · step by step
Scroll through the programme and the map follows you: the stop lights up and the route extends. Click a map marker to jump to that stop.
I collect you from your hotel in Nice or another town. In 20 minutes, we are among the vines. Along the way, I tell Bellet’s story, from its medieval beginnings to today.
An introduction to the estate, a vineyard walk and the story of its terroir and grapes. A tasting of four or five wines with professional commentary: whites (Rolle), rosés and reds (Braquet, Folle Noire). What to look for in the aromas and how to read a wine.
Views of the Var valley, mountains and the whole coastline to the horizon. A perfect photo spot. We discuss our impressions of the first tasting.
Another producer, another approach to winemaking. A comparative tasting showing how two winemakers interpret the same terroir. Always the most interesting moment for understanding wine.
On request, lunch at a winery or a local restaurant with a view. Local cooking, fresh ingredients and wine straight from the producer. Booked in advance.
Tastings are booked in advance. Availability depends on the season. I recommend writing one or two weeks ahead, as Bellet wineries are busy in high season. In winter we allow for the estates' holiday closures.
Photo gallery
Transport and logistics
Premium transport with a driver throughout the tour. I collect you from your hotel in Nice or another Riviera town, and 20 minutes later we are among the vineyards. Journeys are short: Bellet’s wineries are close together in one valley.
Please note: I am responsible for transport, but not for how you feel after tasting. Wine quantities are strictly tasting-sized, four or five cl per sample, so you stay in good shape. Tasting is not a competition, and a spittoon is always available. If departing from Cannes or Monaco, let me know in advance so I can adjust the timings for the journey.
What the tour includes
Tour on request
from €650
Per excursion. The price is calculated for your dates and group.
Request a personalised proposal
Your guide
My name is Kirill, and I help travellers discover the authentic taste of France — its wine, gastronomy and culture. My work goes beyond excursions and tours: it is a deep immersion in a region’s atmosphere, getting to know its traditions, history and people.
I was born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, but have lived in France since the age of 13. This country has become my second home and a true source of inspiration. For 25 years, I have studied its culture and wine regions, turning that knowledge into my profession.
My education underpins my professionalism:
Our guests’ voices
The Bellet wine tour was the discovery of our holiday. Who would have thought wines of this quality were made 20 minutes from Nice? Rolle is an astonishing white; we now look for it everywhere. The guide-sommelier explained everything so engagingly that, although not experts, we left with real wine knowledge.
I travel to wine regions quite often, and Bellet surprised me. A small area, rare varieties and very interesting terroir. A guide-sommelier is exactly what you need: professional commentary without snobbery. Comparing two estates was the best part.
I booked the tour as an anniversary surprise for my husband, and it was perfect. Vineyards, sunset and a terrace tasting: an entirely romantic day. We bought two bottles to take home and now open them for special occasions.
We came with our parents and everyone enjoyed it, although Dad was initially sceptical about a 'wine tour'. His opinion changed completely after the first tasting. Excellent organisation, a comfortable pace and a very warm welcome at both wineries.
The Bellet wine tour was the discovery of our holiday. Who would have thought wines of this quality were made 20 minutes from Nice? Rolle is an astonishing white; we now look for it everywhere. The guide-sommelier explained everything so engagingly that, although not experts, we left with real wine knowledge.
I travel to wine regions quite often, and Bellet surprised me. A small area, rare varieties and very interesting terroir. A guide-sommelier is exactly what you need: professional commentary without snobbery. Comparing two estates was the best part.
I booked the tour as an anniversary surprise for my husband, and it was perfect. Vineyards, sunset and a terrace tasting: an entirely romantic day. We bought two bottles to take home and now open them for special occasions.
We came with our parents and everyone enjoyed it, although Dad was initially sceptical about a 'wine tour'. His opinion changed completely after the first tasting. Excellent organisation, a comfortable pace and a very warm welcome at both wineries.
FAQ
Answers to the main questions before booking.
No. I explain from the beginning: which grapes grow in Bellet, why this terroir is unique, how to taste and what to notice. The itinerary suits absolute beginners and experienced wine enthusiasts. Everyone finds their own level of interest.
Usually eight to ten wines across two wineries: whites, rosés and reds. Sometimes local specialities too, such as olive oil, honey and cheeses. The quantities are tasting-sized rather than restaurant servings, four or five cl each, so you do not tire and can enjoy the flavours.
Yes, almost every estate sells wine on site. Prices range from €15 to€40 a bottle. It is a wonderful souvenir: you bring home wine from a producer you know personally. I recommend at least a white Rolle and a rosé Braquet, wines you will not find in mass distribution.
The itinerary adapts. We can focus on panoramas, food, olive oil and the wine region’s history. Or I can recommend an alternative, such as a Nice food walk.
Yes, most open year-round. However, I recommend booking one or two weeks ahead in winter: small estates sometimes close for holidays in January and February. April to October is the best time to visit, when the vineyards are green and the weather is ideal for terrace tastings.
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