ORBIS city intelligence

Ménerbes: One Square and Two Drives

This is not a walking route in the way a market town is. One door sits on the square and two are estates in the vines below, so plan for a car and for seasonal cellar hours.

Maison de la Truffe et du Vin du Luberon: place de l'Horloge, first S1

Place de l'Horloge is the centre and this is the stop to make before driving anywhere. It carries both truffle and Luberon wine, which is a useful briefing on the valley.

Ask what the estates nearby are pouring this week. A shop that sells both products usually knows which cellars are open.

Domaine de la Citadelle: estate caveau, second S2

This is the closer of the two estates to the village and the easier first taste. Organic Luberon wine is poured in the caveau.

Ask which cuvées are open before you commit to the drive. Ask about packing if you are flying rather than driving out of the region.

Domaine de Marie: towards Bonnieux, last S3

Twenty-three organic hectares sit between Ménerbes and Bonnieux, which makes this the stop to take if you are continuing east afterwards.

Taste the rosé against whatever you bought at the previous stop. Buying from both is more useful than choosing between them on one visit.

Cellar hours in the Luberon are seasonal and often close over the winter lunch. Call each of the three before building an afternoon around them.