I'm headed to CdP next week, and I am very interested to see if anyone has been there! Any suggestions for where to go? Which vineyards accept visitors? Can you buy wine directly from the vineyards? Any great wine shops in the area? What are your favorite CdPs? I would love any and all advice that you may have. It is my first time visiting the Rhone valley, so I am extremely excited about going!

I hope to visit the following vineyards, but I don't know what their visitation policy will be:

Beaucastel
Pegau
Les Cailloux
Chateau Rayas
Domaine de la Mordoree
Clos du Caillou
Cuvee du Vatican
Domaine de Marcoux
Tardieu-Laurent
Le Vieux Donjon
Domaine de la Charbonniere
Paul Autard
Domaine Roger Sabon
Bosquet des Papes
Pierre Usseglio
Clos du Mont Olivet

I know...it's a long list, but I hope to hit as many as I can. Are there any unknown gems that I should visit, taste, buy while I'm there?

Taking the train down from Paris to Avignon next Thursday morning. Hope to get some great insight before then!

Cheers!

I haven't been, and can't offer specific advice other than start making appointments NOW!. If you haven't been to the wine regions of France before, you're in for a very different (and very wonderful) experience - but don't expect tasting rooms and a welcome mat. If you're going to be there next week you should have started setting up appointments 3 weeks ago. Start now!

it's been a few years, but most of the better places need appointments. i was able to get into chateau la nerthe without an appointment. brusset has a tasting room in gigondas. have your local wine retailer help you make appointments through their distributors. some of the estates do sell wine. believe it or not, i found some decent deals in the local supermarkets.

MWC = Margerum Wine Company

Can't help you with the CDP trip. Doug Margerum (MWC) sure could.

Well I guess that "other" wine site's magazine came out just in time for you then.

Real nice article in The Wine Spectator for anybody planning such a trip.