Fête des Vins de Bandol (formerly Fête du Millésime) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Provence calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Port of Bandol in 83150 Bandol, in the heart of one of France's most distinctive wine areas. It is an annual event with an established local audience and a consistent place in the regional calendar.
42 winegrowers from Bandol AOC (1,600 ha, 60 domains). Tastings, long-keeping wine competition, children's activities. Tasting kit €10 advance / €15 on-site (€15/€20 with 'Bandol dans le temps' old-vintages experience). Focus on Mourvèdre-led reds, rosés and rare whites. French wine festivals typically combine producer tastings with food pairings, music, and a strong sense of place. Visitors can expect access to wines from a range of producers in the appellation, alongside food stalls offering regional specialities, masterclasses or vineyard walks for those who want to learn more, and an opportunity to buy direct from the cellar at producer prices. The event is organised by Association des Vins de Bandol, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
Provence is the spiritual home of dry rose wine, with the Cotes de Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence appellations producing the bulk of the region's volume. Bandol stands out for structured Mourvedre-led reds and roses around the Mediterranean coast, while Cassis is one of France's oldest white-wine appellations. Wine tourism in Provence is well developed, combining cellar visits with the broader holiday economy of the south, and festivals here typically run from late spring through September against a backdrop of Mediterranean coastline and Provencal hill villages.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for First weekend December 2026 (TBC). Cost details are best confirmed directly with the organiser ahead of travel. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at fete-des-vinsdebandol.fr. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as French festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
Provence is reached via Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Nice or Avignon, with extensive TGV service from Paris. Festival visits combine naturally with the lavender fields of the Luberon (June-July), the Roman amphitheatres at Arles and Orange, the artist trail through Saint-Remy and Aix, and the Calanques coastline near Cassis. Provencal food pairs traditionally with the region's roses: bouillabaisse, ratatouille, daube, brandade de morue, tapenade, and pissaladiere from Nice. Late spring and September give the best weather without high-summer crowds.
