The Printemps de Châteauneuf (Springtime in Châteauneuf) is a world class wine tasting week-end held early every April in this quiet southern Rhône village.

It is still a rather unknown event though it is the best public wine gathering in the south of France. 85-90 wineries –-a virtual who’s who in Châteauneuf-du-Pape—present their wines over a Saturday and Sunday. You can taste all week-end long for the outrageously low entrance fee of €10—about $11 US, or £8 per person.  You can meet and talk to the winemakers, winery owners, and staff; you can purchase wine at winery prices. You can try an enormous variety of reds and the rare white Châteauneuf-du-Pape.  (There is no rosé in the appellation, though some wineries do make it from grapes grown outside the appellation.) Winemakers are generous in providing many of their best cuvées for tasting.

You are welcome no matter what your level; you can just go and taste, or else deepen your knowledge of terroir, of the 13 grapes used in the wines, of the use of foudres vs new oak barrels, or of the winemaker’s opinion on de-stemming or not.

If your French is limited, not to worry.  You can taste with the American sommelier wife of the owner of Bois de Boursan, or the Australian wife of the owner of Font de Michelle. Château de Beaucastel has a bi-lingual staff.  Domaine de Pégau, Domaine Jean Royer, Château la Nerthe, André Brunel’s Domaine Les Cailloux and others have English speaking owners and/or staff pouring the wines.  A lot of the young French winemakers travel in English speaking countries and welcome the opportunity to speak English.

Wine people in general are quite friendly and open which allows you make some terrific discoveries. A real highlight of the week-end is to find “hidden treasures.”  Some of my recent finds include the terrific Natalie Reynaud, winemaker at her family’s Domaine l’Abbé Dîne.  With vineyards near Château Rayas, Natalie makes exquisite white and red Châteauneuf, and top north Côtes du Rhône.

At Domaine Guiliani, Bernard and Aline Guiliani make Châteauneuf that starts at about €17 per bottle, and whose €6.50 Côtes du Rhône “Notes de Louis” is sold for €35 at a two-Michelin starred local restaurant.  The “Notes de Louis” is a wine whose grapes are planted right next to the border of Châteauneuf so it is a terrific buy.

Domaine l’Abbé Dine website

Domaine Guiliani website

The atmosphere is friendly and I loved having the opportunity to see many of my Châteauneuf friends all in one place, especially after the quiet winter season.  Wine lovers come from many parts of France and many foreign countries. As I waited in line for the doors to open, I was surprised to hear American English; a young American from San Diego drove up from Monaco for the day. I met other French, Americans, English, Swiss, Turks, and Belgians.

Each year the organizers, including famous oenologist Philippe Cambie, and affable and talented American sommelier Kelly MacAuliffe, along with local winemakers, plan several “ateliers” (tasting workshops); the cost is an additional €25-40 per person, and is well worth it. When the workshops are announced in February, I immediately register for all of them.  Mr. François Audouze, who has the largest collection of old vintages in France led the tasting of  “Old Vintages of Châteauneuf-du-Pape”; we had the enormous pleasure of tasting vintages from 1974 though 1998. He reiterated that  “one shouldn’t judge an older wine, one needs to try to understand it” by keeping an open mind. Older wines definitely do not taste like fruit driven younger wines and two bottles of older wine, even from the same vintage and cuvée will taste different. François disagrees with Robert Parker regarding his theory on the life cycle of wines but he gave lots of credit to Parker, whose influence helped to improve the quality of local wines and the local economy as well.

A specialized workshop taylor-made for wine geeks was the “To de-stem or not” workshop.   At least 90% of wines in Châteauneuf are de-stemmed, since winemakers want to produce wines that drink young, so it seems like a moot point. However some winemakers are rethinking this approach; after 2009, Isabel Ferrando of St. Préfert, one of Châteauneuf’s newest superstars, against advice of consultant Philippe Cambie, decided to leave some ripe stems in the fermentation since she thinks it will help her wines age better.

Irrefutably, and as always, the most popular atelier was the Culinary Workshop pairing Châteauneuf wines with foods.  There were three whites and five reds paired precisely to match 8 dishes prepared by Chef Olivier Scola of Ze Bistro in Aix-en-Provence.  Dominique Laporte, meilleur sommelier, commented on the matches, and winemakers were not the least bit shy about chiming in with their opinions. It seems to be the trend these days to do unorthodox pairings. Sometimes it worked beautifully, as in the case of the 2008 Domaine Pegau –a lighter vintage–paired with a slightly smoked cod with beets and  meat “jus.”  (Owner and winemaker Laurence Feraud loves this vintage with Thai food.) My favorite pairing was the 2010 red Vieux Donjon with the “Porc Noir de Bigorre” with mushrooms and small chunks of bacon.

Ze Bistro website

 Dominiqe laporte website

Outside in the courtyard there is a high quality “French Style” Food Court with purveyors coming from all over France. Get a bottle of Châteauneuf and enjoy it for lunch with Cancale oysters on the half shell, cheese plates, eggs with Ventoux black truffles, grilled organic veal, “gratinée of Royans raviolis.”  Then try some Carpentras strawberries and the exceptional chocolate from Peyrerol in Vaison-la-Romaine.

Peyrerol website

It is not too early to get on the mailing list for the 2017 tasting week-end. It will be held the week-end of April 8 and 9; registration generally starts in February.

Printemps de Châteauneuf 

Contact to sign up on email

When you are in Châteauneuf, be sure to stop by Vinadea for a tasting.

Article and photos : Sharon de Rham

Cet article Printemps du Châteauneuf-du-Pape est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Wine tasting is a different experience in France. In many countries, including the U.S., wineries are open on week-ends and this is usually the most popular time to visit.  In the Southern Rhône valley, as in all of France, this is not the case since the week-end, especially Sunday, is sacred.  Since many wineries do not have their own tasting rooms, and those that do are usually closed on week-ends, Vinadea is the place to know about. Winemakers got together to open the shop so wine lovers would have place to taste on week-ends and holidays. But it is a wonderful place to go any day of the week.

Vinadea is absolutely the best of the multiple-winery tasting rooms in Châteauneuf. I live nearby and have been going here since 2005.  Vinadea is a sales co-op of about 85 wineries in Châteauneuf, with hundreds of bottles from the very best wineries. Among others you can find Château de Beaucastel, Château la Nerthe, Domaine de la Solitude, St Préfert, Vaudieu, Marcoux, Gardine, Sénéchaux,  Beaurenard, Janasse, Saint Dominique, Clos du Caillou,  and many, many more.

Every day there are about 6-10 bottles of the rare white as well as the red Châteauneuf available for tasting—free. In addition you can purchase bottles at winery prices, unlike at many places in town. I have made some fabulous discoveries here, including the very first vintage of Domaine St. Préfert—I fell in love with it. (Or as we say here, it was a coup de coeur. ) The staff is excellent, friendly and helpful; they are quite knowledgeable about the wines sold and some speak English. For wine lovers spending time in this tasting room is like being a kid in a candy store!  So much choice! The atmosphere is very convivial, bringing together wine overs from all over the world.  Occasionally a generous visitor will purchase a bottle of their favorite wine to share with the rest of the visitors.

This is truly a “not –to-be-missed” stop in Châteauneuf.   As always it is polite to purchase a bottle.

Vinadea can ship your wine purchases within France, and to the US, except to the states of  Mass, Pennsylvania, and Utah.  (Wineries will not ship to the US because of potential competition with their importers.)  Shipping is not possible to the UK or Belgium. Price of Châteauneuf du Pape wines start at about €16 per bottle, and go up from there. There are also some Côtes du Rhône wines for sale, but not for tasting.

They are open every day of the year except Christmas, but close at lunch, around 12:30 to 1:30 or 2:00, depending on the season.

The shop is located in the center of the village.  On foot from the Tourist Office,  turn right past the Café Mule de Pape and go down the street Maréchal Foch. The shop is located at the top of the double stairway on the left side of the  street. The stairway is right next to the horrible public WC.

8 rue Maréchal Foch, Châteauneuf-du-Pape  84230

Website

[email protected]

+33 (0) 4 90 83 70 69

Written by Sharon deRham

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L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue’s antique market

L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is acharming Provençal village known worldwide for its Antiques fairs. You will find old furniture, jewelry, clothing, decorations, linens and art in all forms. Amateurs or professionals will enjoy this fair and Provence Emotional Escapes is here to welcome you in one of our luxury holiday rentals.

Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is also known for it’s water wheels and water canals that run through the town. The atmosphere there is unique and one must take time just to walk around, over the little bridges, etc.

The Golf Provence country club is situated just outside the village, which further extends the village’s attractiveness as a base for your future vacations in Provence.

Emotional Escapes promotes a selection of properties in and around L’Isle sur la Sorgues:

Thym et Sens: situated near the Golf Provence country club, is a charming, large and airy house with pretty, secluded garden,ideal for those seeking peace and quiet yet with all the nearby amenities of the delightful market town of L’Isle sur la Sorgue. Only 5 minutes by car and 15 minutes by bike.

La Rosière:  is ideal for an extended family holiday, this vacation rental has been tastefully refurbished and includes a 10x4m salt water treated swimming pool. The location gives you the best of both worlds, offering the peace and tranquillity of country living but within walking distance of village life in Saumane-de-Vaucluse, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and Lagnes.

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Provence luxury villa rentals- Spring 2014

Emotional Escapes prides itself in constantly seeking new luxury rentals to introduce to our discerning clientele. We insist on regularly visiting the villas we promote to ensure they maintain their high standards and we keep our presentations up to date with new photography. To this effect, the Emotional Escapes Provence team has revisited some of their most popular villas and took the opportunity of this early Spring’s splendid weather to update their property descriptions.

Mas des Florettes

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This luxury villa rental sits just outside the perched village of Bonnieux and benefits from a high level of comfort, with air conditioning, a heated pool, spacious grounds and seven en-suite bedrooms.
Mas de Florettes was visited in late April and we were able to photograph the newly refurbished living areas and bedrooms of this exceptional property.

Beaumanière

[portfolio column=”1″ cat=”exclusive-holiday-rental” current=”exclusive-holiday-rental” ids=”2137″ title=”false” desc=”false” more=”false” moreButton=”false”]This luxurious rental property is just a ten minutes’ drive from the centre of the city of Aix-en-Provence. Beaumanière offers Air-conditioned bedrooms, tennis court, heated infinity pool, gym / fitness room, 10 hectares of manicured grounds.

The villa is located right next to a brand new 18-hole course. There are shops for all your needs just 5 minutes away and the delightful beaches of Cassis are at just half an hour’s drive. Aix TGV station is only 15 minutes away and can get you to Paris in under 3 hours, while Marseilles airport is just 15 minutes further.

Having refurbished the pool house and swimming pool, the owners of this luxury rental villa are delighted to offer a special summer rate of 14,995€/wk for all weeks from early July to the end of August, instead of the previously advertised rate of 18,360€.

Le Mas Volets Bleus

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Le Mas Volets Bleus is a short drive from Chateaurenard with its local commerce, and just a 15 minutes drive from the stunning St-Rémy-de-Provence with all that market town has to offer.

This traditional provençal holiday home has been part of the Just Provence portfolio since the launch of the site, in early of May 2014 Mas Volets Bleus benefited from a new visit from Tim, owner of Just Provence, resulting in a complete new set of photographs showcasing this peaceful family-friendly rental.

La Maison à Caromb

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La Maison à Caromb is an 18th-century village house situated  in the foothills of the Mont Ventoux. Everything has been prepared to ensure that its guests enjoy a short stay that will remain in the memory for many years to come. The owners live in the village and are always on hand should they be required. This traditional Provence rental is ideal for visitors seeking a truely authentic experience in the centre of an active village in the south of France.

Thanks to a photoshoot in late April, La Maison à Caromb’s description now benefits from updated interior photographs which better representes the variety of  spacious rooms the house has to offer.

Clos Paradou

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Clos Paradou is a traditional and very comfortable stone-built rental Mas  enclosed in its own  private grounds right in the centre of the charming village of Le Paradou  in the heart of Les Alpilles.  Setting this vacation rental just a few minutes walk to butchers, bakers, grocery store and restaurants.

Clos Paradou benefited from a new photo shoot in early May and you will surely agree that the new photos do justice to the luxurious interiors as well as the in beautifully manicured gardens.

Cet article Provence luxury villa rentals- Spring 2014 est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Destination Weddings in Provence.

This article was inspired by another article entitled: destination wedding mythbusters which raised the  crucial points that destination weddings were not more expensive, nor complicated to organise and offered the advantage of doubling as honeymoon destinations. In this article we will look into how organising your wedding in Provence can be a variety of experiences beyond but not excluding the restrictive postcard image of lavenders, sunshine and cicadas.

The Côtes Du Rhône region.

Provence is famous for many produces from olive oil to cicadas printed napkins. But among its noblest of products is the world renowned Côtes du Rhône wines. As mentioned in a previous article, Vaucluse has been once again recognised in 2012 for the quality of its fine wines. Planning a wedding in North Vaucluse  not only means that you’ll be able to welcome friends and family in the heart of  these exclusive vineyards but also that you will have at hand beautiful sites such as Les Dentelles-de-Montmirail, the “Giant of Provence” that is Mont Ventoux or historically rich towns such as Vaison-la-Romaine or Orange.

Weddings are festive  occasions where your loved ones travel to gather and share your joy. By choosing an exclusive holiday rental in the heart of Provence you will ensure that not only will they have a wonderful time during the wedding but will also be able to visit a beautiful region and enjoy its products.

North Vaucluse is very versatile in the themes it can bring to your wedding and honeymoon. You can choose organise a chic wedding reception in a “domaine” near Grignan with  Mme de Sévigné’s romantic 17th century as backdrop or add  wine tasting tours to the occasion with the famous vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Valréas within a short drive. Treat yourself and your guests to not only a trip to Provence but a voyage through the flavours of rich and exquisite wines sought the world over.

North Vaucluse is one of the most historically rich regions of Provence and gives many options to choose from for your wedding photo shoots from the steps of the popes’ palace in Avignon to the Roman ruins of Vaison-la-Romaine. Planning your wedding in Provence will mean that local caterers will supply you with home grown produce from this agriculturally rich part of France, the owners of holiday rentals that can accommodate wedding receptions will direct you towards services and the possibilities the properties offer.

 Luberon

The Luberon offers a wonderful setting for a romantic hide-away honeymoon in the heart of a UNESCO recognised National Park doted with perched villages from which you  can choose to stay or visit. A great choice for a more rural wedding, the splendid views of rolling hills, lavender and poppy fields as you exit  a small Provençal chapel greeted by your loved ones.

Planning your wedding in Luberon means you will be a short drive the  history rich capital that is Avignon or the large market town of Apt whilst being in a quiet and idyllic part of Provence which has proudly retained its Provençal heritage of stone-built houses, winding streets, charming “cabanons” and isolated monasteries dotting the hillsides. What could be better then spending your honeymoon in such a peaceful setting, overlooking the Luberon Valley with only the endless horizon greeting you, every morning.

 Les Alpilles

“Les Alpilles” is  a mountain range  Provence and gives its name  southernmost region of  inland Provence and as inspired world famous artists like Cézanne, Picasso, Gauguin and famously Van Gogh who spent time in Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The famous impressionist was inspired by the colours and beauty of this region. The Mont Sainte Victoire was Cézanne’s favourite subject having painted it 60 times, it most certainly won’t leave you indifferent.

Les Alpilles shares with Vaucluse a strong Roman Heritage and like Luberon has been -and still is- home to many artists. It has a close access to the sea and the regional capital that is the city of Marseille whilst being quietly nestled in a low mountain range.

By planning your wedding in Les Alpilles you could embed the occasion in artistic influence with views from Cézanne’s paintings and colours that inspired Van Gogh enabling you and your guests to literally walk in pictures only seen in the great Art Museums of the world.

Planning your destination

wedding in Provence

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Now the strong points of various destinations in Provence have been laid out you can consider renting a holiday villa in the South of France  to host your wedding and honeymoon. Enjoy the comfort of a home: privacy, exclusive setting and modern comfort whilst being able to plan your stay as you wish. Whether you wish to live like a local,  experience an intensive tour of this beautiful region or simply enjoy the sun by your private pool.

Just Provence has an extensive portfolio of properties from the isolated mas for a romantic honeymoon in the Luberon or a luxurious farmhouse near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence that can welcome up to 20 friends and family to enjoy the week leading to or following  your wedding. We will be more than happy to help you pick the destination for your once-in-a-lifetime emotional escape in Provence.

If you have any questions or comments do not hesitate to leave a message or contact me at: [email protected].

Dylan

Cet article Where to plan your destination wedding in Provence. est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Just Dordogne

Steve and Natalie – our first year with Emotional Escapes

Natalie and I joined Emotional Escapes just over a year ago.  Like many couples we work hard and look forward to our leisure time which, for us, means regular trips to the Dordogne in France.  In fact we love it so much that last year we were lucky enough to purchase a traditional French farmhouse in the region.  Now we have homes in the UK and France!

Dream jobs rarely present themselves but, when they do, you have to seize the opportunity.  Emotional Escapes business founder, Tim, was clearly taken with our enthusiasm for France and the Dordogne and was keen for us to become involved with the business.

Whilst we both still need to work full time at present we see a bright future with Emotional Escapes over the long term, representing and running the Dordogne region for the business.  It’s hard work balancing the jobs at the moment but it’s proving so rewarding.  Already we have met charming people who own stunning properties.  Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves that this really is a job, as we drive around the sunny Dordogne countryside on our way to the next breathtaking property, to be given a personal guided-tour.  And sometimes lunch and glass of wine!

What really impressed us though is the core values that are central to the success of Emotional Escapes.  There is no compromise on quality, insistence on personally viewing of all the properties and commitment to top-rate customer service.  It’s a refreshing antidote to the large, impersonal travel agencies or the lumbering, bargain-basement ‘owner direct’ websites.  It’s the personal touch.  We want to work for an organisation that believes in these things.

The goal now is to significantly grow our portfolio of properties over the next 12 months and start to introduce those who want to experience the charm and delight of the Dordogne to some truly fabulous holiday properties.

And if it proves to be half as successful as Just Provence, you never know, the day jobs may become a thing of the past.

We still can’t quite believe it!

Stephen & Natalie

Cet article Just Dordogne est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.