Wine Journey in the Camargue: Rain, Flamingos, and a Red Rubis

Travel report by Stefan · on the road in October 2026

Actually, we wanted sun and sea. From Berlin, our journey took us across the Vosges and Lyon to the Camargue. But in October 2026, the South of France showed its wet side. In Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, it rained so persistently that we changed our plans: if the beach wasn't tempting, then the wineries were.

This didn't become a makeshift program. It became a surprisingly beautiful part of our journey – with red wine in the glass, water among the vines, and people who brought us closer to their homeland through their wines.

When the Vines Stand in Water

Along the way, we saw vineyards that were heavily submerged in water. In some places, it seemed to us as if the water reached about half a meter high. We asked during the tasting: couldn't that harm the plants?

The winemakers' answer sounded calm. They explained to us that the vines were used to the water. This encounter stayed in our memory. However, it is not a general guide for viticulture: what flooding means for a vineyard depends, among other things, on the location and duration. We could not independently verify a specific irrigation or flooding practice for the visited estates.

It is precisely such questions that make a wine trip exciting. You don't just look at the label, but at the landscape in which the wine is created. In the Camargue, for us, that also includes the flamingos, the white horses, and the proximity to the Mediterranean.

Domaine de Montcalm: Rouge Excellence from the Pays d’Oc

At our first stop, we tasted mainly red wines and took a Rouge Excellence with us. My bottle photo clarifies previously imprecise notes: the label states Pays d’Oc IGP, Domaine Vignobles Jeanjacques, 30600 Montcalm, and the website www.domainedemontcalm.fr. An alcohol content of 13.5 percent by volume is stated. The label text describes a red assemblage and aging in oak barrels. Which grape varieties are included is not stated on this photo. A 2025 vintage is also not visible on the photographed back label; therefore, we do not state it as a confirmed vintage.

The moment still belongs to the journey: out of the rain, into a conversation about wine, and in the end, a bottle to look forward to for a later evening. The attribution of the winery and the wine is now documented by our own label photo. The website indicated on it was not accessible during our supplementary research.

Caveau Les Sablons: A Wine Tasting Shortly Before the Lunch Break

Our second stop led us to Les Sablons. The young man behind the counter actually wanted to go on his lunch break. Nevertheless, he took his time, introduced us to various options, and recommended a red wine that, for him, paired particularly well with the Camargue.

In my spoken notes, it was called "Rouge Robi". On the official website, the designation is "Rouge Rubis". Caveau Les Sablons is located on the Route d’Arles in Saint-Laurent-d’Aigouze – not in the coastal town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where we also were during the trip. The website introduces Vignobles des Sablons as a cooperative enterprise in existence since 1952.

The wine tasted light and approachable to us. I remembered red fruit and a mineral-salty impression. That is my tasting memory, not proof that sea salt enters the wine. Our own bottle photo confirms the full name "Rouge Rubis by Dune", 12.5 percent by volume, and bottling by Vignobles des Sablons in Saint-Laurent-d’Aigouze. The label states "Vin de France"; this specific red wine is therefore not generally referred to here as AOP Sable de Camargue.

What I Take Away from the Camargue

Not every successful travel day requires good weather. Sometimes a winemaker who takes a question seriously, or a host who postpones his break a little longer, is enough.

Anyone visiting the region can combine landscape and wine very well. Before a detour, it is worth checking the winery's current visitor information; our spontaneous tasting is not a guarantee for future appointments. We continued along the coast toward Nice – and to a completely different way of making wine.

Read more: Wine in Saint-Jeannet · France's Wine Regions

Sources and Context

This travel report combines Stefan's personal memories of October 2026 with supplementary researched information. Tasting impressions, conversations, and past purchases are personal experiences, not current offers or availability guarantees.

- https://caveaulessablons.fr/ — Estate name, history, and caveau address
- https://caveaulessablons.fr/2-accueil — Product name Rouge Rubis
- Own, visually verified travel and label photos by the operator (30/10/2026).