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Join wine professional Doug Smith for this enticing small group excursion
to southern France for an immersion into the wines of the region
as well as learning to cook Provençal dishes at the Seasons of
Provence Cooking School while visiting markets and delightful towns
and villages. All meals included, just bring your enthusiasm and
comfortable clothes, the cost covers everything except airfare
to and from Paris and the high speed train (TGV) from CDG airport
or Gare de Lyon in central Paris to Avignon TGV station.
The itinerary we have arranged for you in Provence is as follows: |
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2
Rendezvous mid-afternoon at Avignon TGV station from where you will transfer
by minivan to Mas de Cornud, a beautifully restored 18th century Provençal stone
farmhouse with six guest rooms with pool, Jacuzzi , pétanque court plus indoor and outdoor
professional teaching kitchens. Aperitifs and dinner with your hosts, the Carpitas. Nitockrees (“Nito”)
has dual French and Egyptian nationality and David is a well travelled Montana native
with a passion for wine and the life and art of Vincent Van Gogh.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3
Depart for the delightful weekly market at Isle-sur-la Sorgue, the “Venice
of Provence” because of its many canals with waterwheels still turning slowly. Besides the food market,
you will have a chance to visit the many galleries with antiques and bric a brac
as well as the flea market on the street. After a casual lunch, we return to Saint Rémy for
a walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh at the Asylum and end our afternoon outing with tasting our outstanding
rosés and reds at an organic winery. Dinner at Mas de Cornud.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4
The premier wines of the southern Rhône Valley are in Châteauneuf-du-Pape,
an exceptional terroir where the mistral wind blows the hardest and up to 13 varieties of grapes
can be used in the wine making. We spend the better part of the day in this famous appellation
with a photo op on the way home catching the medieval city of Avignon in late afternoon glory.
Dinner at Mas de Cornud.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5
Today we explore the other side of the Rhône Valley, visiting wineries
in the crus of Gigondas and Vacqueyras and taste a muscat dessert
wine which finds its best expression in the village of Beaumes de Venise. Lunch
at Chez Serge in Carpentras, owned by our friend Serge Ghokassian, sommelier
of the year 2008. Afternoon visit to a boutique winemaker in the up and coming
appellation of Côte de Ventoux. Return to Saint Rémy for
late afternoon stroll and shopping or just relax until dinnertime. Dinner at Mas de Cornud.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6
We accompany Nito to the marche, where you will
shop with her and then have free time in this wonderful farmer’s market with its stalls of colorful spices, vegetables,
fruits, soaps, fabrics and handicrafts. After a market basket lunch and siesta, we gather in the well
appointed teaching kitchen for a hands-on cooking class. Before enjoying the fruits of
our labor over dinner, David will plunge us further into “la vie Provençale” with
a game of pétanque on the bouledrome while we sip pastis and glasses of rosé.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7
We ascend a winding road to the fabled castle of Les Baux, a “must see” village steeped in the
history of the feudal era of Provence. Wine tasting and casual lunch. In the afternoon we will
cross over the Rhône once again to explore value wines in the appellation Costiere de Nimes.
Farewell dinner at Mas de Cornud.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8
Breakfast and transfer to theAvignon TGV station for your departure.
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