Explore Provence! 

October 6th- 13th 2017 

South of France Wine Travel, Exploration and Discovery .This region in France is not only inspiringly beautiful, but is rich in Roman history set in decidedly French tradition.  From the wonderful Provençal cuisine influenced by rich produce and the Mediterranean Sea, to the vines and olive trees that cover the landscape surrounded by the wildly aromatic scrub oak and garrigue forests. This is an experience for the senses!  
 
Day 1 - Friday October 6th- Arrival
Shuttle pick up at the Nimes TGV station to our resort, the Domaine des Escaunes, for a meet and greet wine reception and dinner later that evening.  
 
Day 2- Saturday October 7th- Sommieres Market, Aubais, Aubai Mema
On our first day out we will visit the charming village of Sommieres and the famous Saturday marché. This market has everything you could imagine from this region in France famed for its culinary products. After the market we head to the pétanque terrain to watch a little of the traditional pastime of the Midi, and have a pastis at the nearby bar! Lunch is at a little French bistrot that we love in the countryside called O Chateau.  Afterwards, we head to Aubais for a stroll through this charming provencal village and then to Aubai Mema winery for a tasting with organic/biodynamic winemaker, Mark Haynes. His winery is in a converted old wine co-op and Mark gives quite the tour. Dinner tonight is away from home at Mark’s charming Bar a Vin right next to the winery.
 
Day 3- Sunday October 8th-  Nimes, Pic Saint Loup
After breakfast we are off to the ancient Roman city of Nimes. We will begin by taking in the famous Arene and the Roman temple called the Maison Carré. We will pop in to the famous Les Halles de Nimes and visit the Jardins de la Fontaine for a relaxing stroll and more Roman history in this very French city. Ample opportunity for shopping abound in the sophisticated city center of Nimes as well. Lunch will be at a special market counter very typical of covered markets across France called Auberge des Halles.  After lunch, It’s out of Nimes and off to one of the more famous wine regions in the Languedoc, Pic St Loup. This is beautiful wine country. We will visit an exciting winery making excellent wines in this up and coming region! After the winery visit and tasting it’s back to our lovely Domaine des Escaunes for a wonderful Sunday dinner. 

 
Day 4 – Monday October 9th Chateauneuf du Pape/ Domaine de La Charite, Uzes, Pont du Gard. 
After breakfast we head off to one of our wineries who produce wine from the famous appellation of Chateauneuf du Pape! We will first take you on drive through the famous appellation itself. We will then taste the wines of Christophe Coste in his wineshop in the village of Saze and visit his nearby vineyards and newly renovated winery. We will then take a short trek to the lovely town of Uzes and wander the historic Roman sites of the origin of the source of the Pont du Gard! Lunch will be a baguette sandwich picnic (our favorite lunch of the tour!) at the Pont du Gard. After lunch we will have time to visit the Pont to Gard itself for an extended exploration of the bridge and its ancient history.  Later dinner will be back at Domaine des Escaunes, but and for those looking for a little extra exercise before dinner, the Pont du Gard is only two miles from our domaine on a beautiful trail through the Garrigue. Adrienne will take the lead on this evening stroll. 
 
Day 5- Tuesday October 10th- Vaison-la-Romain, Clos de Caveau
After a lovely leisurely breakfast we will be off to Vaison la Romain. This is a fantastic city with wonderful charm and amazing historical sites. A great place to wander, see ancient Roman ruins, and bask in a café or two in this picturesque part of the Vaucluse. Tuesday is a very important market day here with vendors coming from all over the region. We will keep lunch light by letting you pick something for yourself in the market. After the market we are off to one of the more beautiful wineries of the trip, Clos de Caveau, in Vacqueyras. (This may be Adrienne’s favorite AOC in the Southern Rhone.) There is an interpretive trail through these picturesque vines. We’ll meander and meet owner of this famous vineyard Henri Bungener in the winery, where we will be given the full tour and tasting experience. Dinner will be a five course affair prepared by Henri and his partner Jean-Francois. It is sure to be an excellent meal.
 
 Day 6- Wednesday, October 11th- Aigues Mortes, Camargue, Saintes-Maries-de-la Mer, Arles 
We will begin a leisurely morning heading to the Mediterranean, and the village of Aigues Mortes. There we will enjoy the French version of brunch at a seaside restaurant where the seafood tower is not to be missed. In the afternoon we will travel along the coast and into the Camargue! As the marshy mouth of the Rhone river it is the home to black bulls, white horses, pink flamingos, famous rice and salts, and infamous French cowboys known as Les Guardians. We will then head to the coastal town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and see an afternoon bullfight (bullfights here a very different from Corridas elsewhere in France and Spain -  bulls in Provence are not killed, but are chased by men called Razeteurs in an effort to pluck tassels from their horns). On the other side of the Camargue we will reach the city of Arles. Here we will have ample time to explore its narrow, tangled streets and its imposing Roman
Amphitheatre. Dinner tonight will be one of the highlights of the trip… French Pizza night at a fun resto in Arles.
 
Day 7 -Thursday October 12th- Les Baux de Provence, Saint-Remy de Provence, Farewell Dinner
We will begin the day with a later start from the Domaine des Escaunes to give you all the chance to really enjoy the grounds. After breakfast we are off to Les Baux des Provence. We’re here on the cusp of the Luberon! This is arguably one of the most beautiful regions of France. Les Baux is a listed world heritage site, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in France. A hilltop tour of the village’s ruins provide breathtaking views of the surrounding country and an insight into the Roman history of this region. Then we will head straight to one of our favorite restaurants in the South of France for lunch called La Riene Jeanne located right in the village.  After Les Baux we travel to the village of Saint-Remy de Provence (perhaps best known for the time Van Gogh spent here). After shopping and exploring this lovely little Provençal city we head back to our home away from home for a fantastic farewell dinner. Be prepared to share your favorite memories, and make sure we drink all the wine we have left!
 
Day 8 Friday October 13th- Departure Day
All guests will be shuttled according to the best possible schedule back to the TGV gare at Nimes.