Are you a wine-lover looking for a unique experience to have in Nice? Then a visit to Château de Crémat is your perfect option for trying locally-made wines without even leaving the city limits.
Here’s something else you might not know – Nice actually has it’s own wine appellation: Bellet. It took me two trips to the city to discover this hidden gem of the Provence region, even though it is actually quite easy to visit!
How this place remains unknown to most tourists, I haven’t a clue. After all, savvy visitors are treated to high quality wine tastings, panoramic Riviera scenery, unique local art, and a look into the world of Coco Chanel.
I visited this gorgeous property solo and had a wonderful time learning about the property and meeting the other guests during the wine tasting. If you too wish to experience what owner Thomas Derichebourg calls “wine-artistic tourism”, this guide provides all the information you need to know before visiting Château de Crémat in Nice.
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Visiting Château de Crémat in Nice: What You Need to Know
Whether you are into style and design, a fan of Coco Chanel, or simply want to taste wines of the greater Provence region, you will love a tour at Château de Crémat. A tour and tasting offers the chance to experience the white, rosé, and red wine offerings of the Bellet appellation.
Although Bellet is located within the Nice city limits, at only 55 hectares (140 acres) you likely have never heard of it. However, don’t think for a second that this means that Bellet doesn’t make fantastic wines. With such a small production, most bottles of Bellet are bought and consumed locally, which is why you’ll probably never find these wines outside of France.
→ In a hurry? If you are a wine lover and want to visit this and other wineries in the Bellet wine region, I highly recommend booking this private tour.
How to Get to Château de Crémat in Nice
It is super easy to Uber to the château from the Nice city center or simply drive yourself. The winery also offers free parking.
Seasonally, from June to September, it is possible to take the Bellet Vineyards Shuttle from Nice’s Magnan tram stop. It is also possible to reach Château de Crémat via a combination of the tram and the bus, although this option is less efficient. To do so, first take Tram Line 3 from Saint Isidore to Les Arboras/Université. From there, take bus #52 to the Château de Crémat stop.
The drive takes about twenty minutes, while the tram/bus combo will take about an hour and fifteen minutes. Another fantastic option is going on a private wine tour of the Bellet Wine region.
No matter which way you travel, remember to appreciate your surroundings as you climb inland away from the Mediterranean. The views heading out to this beautiful château transition from urban sprawl to hilly roads overlooking the bustling coastal city below.
Related: The 10 Best Wine Tours From Nice
Château de Crémat: A Brief History
Château de Crémat was built in 1906 by Antoine Mari, a successful niçoise in the olive oil industry. The structure represents Medieval Tuscan style and was painted red to match the warm colors of Nice.
The Roaring Twenties brought a vibrant period to the chateau when it came into the ownership of Irène Bretz, an American socialite and then-owner of Nice’s iconic Hotel Negresco. Working in tandem with the architectural firm of Charles Dalmas, who designed the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, the château became the style icon it remains today.
Many celebrities passing through the French Riviera came to Bretz’s lively parties, including her good friend Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. Chanel very likely got inspiration for the Chanel fashion house logo from the château’s own monogram, which you can see in various windows.
In 1940, Pierre Tomé became the new owner of the château. His biggest contribution was his work in bringing national recognition to Bellet’s beloved red, white, and rosé wines. Thanks to his efforts and expertise, Bellet officially became an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in 1941.
In the early 2000’s, Cornelius Kamerbeek acquired the chateau and modernized it, bringing the winery its organic farming (AB) certification in 2014.
Château de Crémat changed hands once again in 2017, with current owner Thomas Derichebourg completely renovating the chateau to reflect the Roaring Twenties and a new focus on art. The interior is furnished with pieces bought at a 2018 auction from the Ritz Paris, including from the suite where Coco Chanel lived from 1954 until her death in 1971.
An art gallery was also added to the grounds in 2022, which regularly hosts events and is open to visitors touring the château.
Related: 12 Best Tours to Take in the South of France
Visit & Wine Tasting
To visit Château de Crémat, you can book a guided tour on their official website. There are two options: The “Vineyard” or “Visite Vignoble” tour and the “Vineyard & Château” or “Visite Vignoble et Château” tour.
Vineyard Tour
The Vineyard Tour costs €20 euros a person and includes a tour of the vineyard and cellars and a tasting of three wines. You can pay an additional €5 to taste a total of six wines. The tour also offers the chance to peruse the château’s art gallery.
Tours are offered Monday to Saturday at two fixed times that can be booked online: 10:00am and 4:00pm.
Vineyard & Château Tour
The “Vineyard & Château” tour costs €30 for three tastings (€35 for six) and includes a tour of both the vineyard and the interior of the château. Tours are offered Monday to Saturday at two fixed times that can be booked online: 11:30am and 2:00pm.
There’s also the option to forgo the tour and simply do a tasting for €10 a person.
Not willing to sacrifice seeing the chic château interior, I took the Vineyard & Château tour, finishing with a tasting of six different wines on the gorgeous garden terrace. It was fun having the opportunity to taste the local terroir while chatting with some of the other guests.
What You Can Expect When Visiting
Upon entering the château, I personally felt like I was strolling through a work of art. From the architecture that boasts gorgeous parquet floors and ornate crown molding, to the luxurious crystal chandeliers and original Ritz Carlton furniture, this is no ordinary winery.
Our guide was welcoming and knowledgeable, providing every fascinating detail about the château’s origins and where it stands today. We learned all about the wines of Château de Crémat, whose key white wine grape varietal is “Rolle”, aka Vermentino. Primary red grape varietals used in the estate’s wines include Braquet and Fuella Nera.
One more final bonus – the tour allows the chance to climb a narrow staircase to the château’s tower. You will be able to see the surrounding lush hills and valleys for miles in all directions, including views out to the Alps and Mediterranean Sea!
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Overall, I had an incredible time at Château de Crémat and even left with a bottle of wine and vintage poster from its little shop. If you are hoping to try some local wines while in Nice, why not do so in these stylish surroundings?
Château de Crémat truly is an under-the-radar experience that I cannot recommend enough for any wine-lover visiting the French Riviera.
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