TOUR DESCRIPTION

 

A first-class hotel and sumptuous gourmet restaurants await us in the UNESCO heritage city of Avignon. The Rhône Valley's rich history, its diverse geography and various grape varieties all contribute to making southern Côtes du Rhône wines so unique. We'll be joined by Laurence Minard-Amalou a French Government licensed guide with an art history degree from the Ecole du Louvre, Paris. We'll enjoy five wonderful nights at the magnificent Hôtel d'Europe from which guests will have time to explore the historic centre.

 

SUNDAY, Day 1 (Welcome to Provence) - Pick up from Avignon TGV Station. Check in for five nights at the magnificent 16th Century 5-star Hôtel d'Europe in Avignon, then enjoy a private walking tour of Avignon with our expert guide. Once back at our hotel, guests will be invited to join us in a welcome reception and wine-tasting introduction to the Rhône Valley, and a review of our itenerary for the week. Dinner tonight is at Le Moutardier du Pape, which serves contemporary cuisine and offering from its terrace a dazzling view of the Palais-des-Papes.

 

MONDAY, Day 2 (Vic. Châteauneuf-du-Pape) - After breakfast, we journey ten miles north of Avignon to the medieval village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The village, the site of the Avignon Popes' former summer palace, gives its name to the highest-quality wine growing appellation in the southern Rhône Valley. There are approximately 450 wine producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape during our tour we'll visit some of the very best. Our first visit of the day is with the iconic Domaine du Pegau whose cellars are in the heart of the village. After our tasting, we'll have time to stroll around the village before our lunch at La Mere Germaine. In the afternoon, we'll have time for two more tastings in Chateauneuf: Domaine Bosquet des Papes, and Domaine de la Charbonniere. Guests will dine tonight in Avignon at the classic Michelin-starred Christian Étienne. "Faithful to his art, Christian Étienne pays a vibrant homage to his region—Provence—but always with new variations. All this in the unusual setting of a medieval building, whose walls have witnessed much history."

 

TUESDAY, Day 3 (Vaison-la-Romaine and Gigondas) - After breakfast we will travel 32 miles northeast of Avignon to explore the centuries-old Gallo-Roman market village of Vaison-la-Romaine. Every Tuesday morning, year-round, Vaison-la-Romaine hosts a vast open-air marché of up to 450 stalls featuring a variety of local produce and craft goods. For lunch we'll gather at Le Brin d'Olivier in the village to enjoy its splendid Provençal cuisine, relaxed atmosphere and its open fireplace. After lunch we'll head back toward Avignon with a stop in the wine-village of Gigondas where we'll taste at the brilliant Château de Saint-Cosme. Saint-Cosme has been producing wine on the property going back almost two millennia as evidenced by the fermentation vats carved from living rock by the Romans who first lived and worked here. Upon return to Avignon, guests will have the rest of the afternoon and evening on their own to take in Avignon's many shopping and sightseeing opportunities. Guests will be on their own for dinner tonight to discover one of this city's many wonderful restaurants with our recommendations.

 

WEDNESDAY, Day 4 (West of the Rhône River) - After a leisurely breakfast, guests will have time to explore Avignon on their own. Guests will enjoy lunch own their own today with our recommendations. At the appointed time, we'll rendezvous back at the hotel for a short drive from Avignon to Tavel for a tasting-visit at the renowned Domaine de la Mordoree, who produce a range of top-flight regional wines from Tavel, Lirac and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Dinner tonight is at the Chef’s Table in the elegant Hôtel La Mirande. Guests gather around the table of Mirande's 19th Century kitchen as master chef Jean-Claude Altmayer (who has worked in some of the best 3-star Michelin restaurants) prepares our meal on the old wood stove from the freshest seasonal ingredients chosen that morning at Avignon's central market. 

 

THURSDAY, Day 5 (Encore Châteauneuf-du-Pape) - After breakfast, our first wine tasting will find us just northeast of Avignon at Courthézon, for a tasting and tour at the grand maison Chateau de Beaucastel. Also this morning, time permitting, we'll taste at Les Clos du Caillou. We'll enjoy our midday meal at Les Parvis, a Provençal bistro in the heart of Orange, just steps from the Théâtre antique d'Orange ("Ancient Theatre of Orange") is an ancient Roman theatre, in Orange, southern France, built early in the 1st century AD. After our repast, we'll visit and taste at acclaimed Domaine Grand Veneur, en route back to Avignon. Tonight, our farewell dinner is at Chef Bruno d'Angelis' Michelin-starred La Vieille Fontaine in the Hôtel d'Europe.

 

FRIDAY, Day 6 - After breakfast, guests will be provided with transfer back to the Avignon train station for connections to Paris and beyond.