Countryside Tour and Wine Tasting

This full-day countryside excursion leaves from Nice and takes you into the hills behind the French Riviera. It links three villages of the Alpes-Maritimes hinterland with a wine tasting at a local estate, so perfume, views and wine all fit into a single outing. The route begins in Grasse, where you can wander the narrow streets and look around well-known perfumeries such as Fragonard. From there you continue to the hilltop village of Gourdon for its far-reaching views, then stroll through Tourettes-sur-Loup. The day ends with a wine tasting at Domaine des Hautes Collines, set among open countryside. Grasse has long been associated with perfume. Its tanning trade turned to scented gloves and then to fragrance making, and the town became a centre for growing flowers such as jasmine and rose. Its old quarter climbs a hillside in a tangle of lanes, tall ochre houses and small squares, and several perfume houses still welcome visitors to learn how scents are made. Behind the coast, the land rises quickly into limestone hills, gorges and terraced slopes. Villages such as Gourdon and Tourettes-sur-Loup perch on rocky spurs above the Loup valley, and the high ground looks out toward the sea. Vines, olive groves and flower fields share this landscape, which feels far removed from the busy waterfront only a short drive away. The tour suits travelers who prefer local culture and flavors to a beach day, and who like to see several places in one outing. It is a full-day excursion with a relaxed rhythm of walking, looking and tasting. Guides speak French, English, Spanish and Portuguese, so you can follow the day in a language you are comfortable with. When planning your day, remember that Nice is the main hub for the coast, with trains, buses and the tramway linking it to the airport and the neighboring towns. Comfortable shoes help on the cobbled, sloping village streets. Back in Nice, the old town and the Promenade des Anglais make an easy, relaxed way to end the evening.