Rhône Valley
Wine Safari – Mike Rijken
Private Wine Guide · Rhône Valley, France
Credentials
Wine Academy of Steven Spurrier, Paris · 13 years in estate hospitality, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Languages
English · French
Tour style
Private only
Mike studied at the Wine Academy of Steven Spurrier in Paris in 1983. He went on to spend 13 years as PR and hospitality manager for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate, representing the family behind it across Europe and the US at tastings, trade fairs and with the press. He has also lectured for Inter Rhône at hospitality schools in Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Belgium.
He has run Wine Safari from Avignon since the 1990s. Guests write about his humor and his depth on the Rhône appellations, their history and food pairing. They also note that he explains wine without condescension.
Mike knows the southern Rhône from inside the trade. He spent 13 years on the hospitality side of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate and has guided from Avignon since the 1990s.
- Private days out of Avignon cover the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras.
- Days can extend into the Ventoux and the Luberon, with room for sightseeing alongside the wine.
- Small family estates where visits are often hosted by the owner, the winegrower or the estate's oenologist.
- Cellars that open through relationships with growers Mike has built over many years in the southern Rhône.
Mike chooses the estates for each day around what guests already know and what interests them, and offers options for how the day runs. He matches the depth to the guest, going into technical detail when asked. Each party books its own private day, which runs from 8 am to 5 pm. Mike picks up cruise passengers at Marseille and river cruise groups in Avignon. For a party of six, he also runs a tasting course over three or five days. The five-day version includes a B&B stay, four days in the vineyards and an adapted menu each evening.
Private visits only · By inquiry
Send an inquiry →This operator was personally evaluated by Michelle Ryan: WSET Level 3, French Wine Scholar, owner of an IATAN-accredited travel agency. Vetting criteria: guide credentials, access to producers not available through public booking platforms, and knowledge intake process. Not every operator we evaluate makes it onto this site.