Cave coopérative de Tavel

Cave coopérative de Tavel (Les Vignerons de Tavel) is a cooperative winery at the heart of Tavel, a small town in the Gard department famous worldwide as the birthplace of AOC Tavel rosé.

The cooperative was founded on April 28, 1937, just a year after the Tavel appellation was officially established — one of the first controlled appellations in France dedicated exclusively to rosé wine. The building was designed by architect H. Floutier and completed in November of the same year. Recognized for its architectural qualities, it later received the "20th Century Heritage" label, and in 2013 it was listed as a historical monument in France.

Today the cooperative brings together 85 winegrowers who together produce close to 35,000 hectoliters of wine each year — half of the entire Tavel appellation's output. Alongside its flagship Tavel rosé, the range includes Lirac, Côtes du Rhône, and local table and regional wines (Vin de Pays).

How to get there?

Tavel sits in the Gard department, a short drive from Avignon and close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on the western bank of the Rhône. The cave coopérative is located right in the town center, making it an easy stop by car or as part of a wider tour of the Rhône Valley vineyards.

What will you see?

The heart of a visit is a spacious tasting room where the cooperative's team presents and pours the full range: Tavel rosé, red and white Lirac, Côtes du Rhône, and regional wines. It's a chance to explore the diversity of rosé styles produced in the area, from light and fruity to more structured vintages. The building itself, recognized as a piece of 20th-century architectural heritage, is worth a look too — it reflects the typical style of southern French winemaking cooperatives from that era.

When to visit?

The tasting room is open daily from 9 AM to noon and 2 PM to 6 PM, making it easy to fit a visit into a day's itinerary. Groups interested in touring the production cellar itself should contact the cooperative in advance by phone or email to arrange a suitable time and organize the visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you taste wine without booking ahead? Yes, the tasting room operates on open hours — every day, morning and afternoon — with no reservation needed just for tasting.

Can organized groups tour the cave? Yes, but touring the production cellar as a group requires contacting the cooperative beforehand to arrange the date and details of the visit.

What wines can you try besides Tavel? Beyond the flagship Tavel rosé, the range includes Lirac, Côtes du Rhône, and local regional and table wines.

Why is this building historically significant? It was built in 1937, a year after the Tavel appellation was established, and in 2013 it was listed as a French historical monument as an example of 20th-century cooperative architecture.