Bandol Wine Festival

AOC Bandol in the spotlight on its port

The Bandol Wine Festival is the unmissable annual event for lovers of Provençal wine. Every first weekend of December, the port of Bandol comes alive to welcome winegrowers and visitors in a unique festive atmosphere, between the sea and the vines. The event celebrates the Bandol appellation of origin, one of France's most renowned, whose red wines, predominantly mourvèdre, are distinguished by their longevity and assertive Mediterranean character.

An exceptional appellation

The Bandol vineyard extends over eight communes in the Var—Bandol, Sanary-sur-Mer, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Le Castellet, La Cadière-d'Azur, Le Beausset, Évenos, and Ollioules—and covers approximately 1,600 hectares. The king grape variety is mourvèdre, which must account for at least 50% of the blend for reds and 95% for certain estates. This late-ripening grape, sometimes nicknamed the "child of the sun," gives Bandol wines their inimitable signature: powerful tannins, aromas of black fruits, garrigue, and spices, and remarkable aging potential, often exceeding 20 years for top cuvées.

The appellation's rosé and white wines are also present at the festival, with whites based on clairette, bourboulenc, and ugni blanc offering freshness and aromatic finesse. The rosés, emblematic of the Provençal summer, enchant palates with their elegance and persistence.

Two days of celebration by the Mediterranean

During the weekend, the port of Bandol hosts the stands of the appellation's wine estates, allowing visitors to meet the winegrowers directly, discuss their cultivation practices, and taste the full range of AOC Bandol wines. The event brings together almost all the appellation's properties—from large cooperatives to independent estates—in a friendly and accessible spirit.

Alongside the wine, the festival also offers gastronomic events, a market of local producers highlighting Varois terroir products (cheeses, charcuterie, olive oils, honey, tapenade), and guided tastings to deepen the discovery of the appellation. Dining areas allow visitors to savor food and wine pairings in the exceptional setting of the Mediterranean port.

Bandol, city of wine and sea

The town of Bandol, nestled in a protected natural bay in the Var, is inseparable from its vineyard. Viticulture has been rooted here since antiquity: in the 18th century, Bandol wines were already renowned throughout Europe and exported to royal courts. The port facilitated their transport to major maritime cities. It is this intimately linked maritime and wine history that gives the Wine Festival its full identity and heritage dimension.

Today, the Bandol appellation comprises about thirty estates and cellars, all committed to a rigorous quality approach that contributes to the international fame of these wines. The December festival is the ideal opportunity to discover them before the year-end holidays, in a warm and festive atmosphere characteristic of Provençal traditions.

An accessible and friendly event

The Bandol Wine Festival is aimed at both connoisseurs and novices eager to discover the pleasures of Provençal wine. The welcoming nature of the winegrowers, the beauty of the port setting, and the quality of the wines offered make it a memorable experience. For visitors wishing to deepen their discovery, cellar and estate tours are often offered in addition to the festival program.