It seems that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie just moved into their 500 hectare (1,200 acres) estate, Château Miraval, in the tiny medieval village of Correns, in the Var region of eastern France, not far from the Mediterranean.

Now comes word of a break-up! Wine lovers all over are apprehensive about the fate of the well-received wines from the estate, especially Château Miraval rosé.   (They also produce smaller amounts of white and red wines.)

Brad and Angelina’s interest in the south of France didn’t begin in Correns. Many years previously they dreamt of buying an estate in the exquisite, small village of Eygalières in Provence, very close to St-Rémy-de-Provence.  Unfortunately, the mairie (city hall) didn’t approve their plans to develop some roads on the estate, so their bid was nixed.   Neighbors did not take kindly to the thought of paparazzi and helicopters hovering permanently in the area. Though Eygalières does have many French tv and movie personalities (and now Hugh Grant) with second homes in the town, no one is of the stature of Brangelina. French celebrities participate in the life of the local village, and they are not mobbed by locals and tourists, who are used to seeing them in cafés, restaurants and the popular Friday market.

The couple leased the 35 room estate at Château Miraval as of 2008, and then purchased it in 2012 for about €35M, putting an additional €15M in improvements.  They married there in 2014. They began producing wine from the 90 acre organic vineyards with the 2012 vintage. Naysayers clearly doubted that this celebrity wine would be worth their attention but a partnership with the super star Perrin Family, who makes one of the world’s greatest wines, Château de Beaucastel, in the southern Rhône Valley, quickly proved the doubters wrong. The Côtes de Provence Rosé Miraval was listed at #84 on the Wine Spectator’s Best 100 Wines in the world in 2013, and since it was the only rosé listed that year, it was essentially the best rosé in the world, which could help justify the €16-18 price in France. The 2015 Miraval Rosé was rated 90 points by the Wine Spectator; Decanter has also praised the wine and rated the 2013 vintage 91 points.

Rumors are swirling about a sale of the estate but cannot be confirmed.  Miraval itself was purchased in the names of the 6 children, and according to partner Marc Perrin the estate is not for sale. We know that Brad Pitt is deeply interested in grape growing and winemaking, and takes part in planting and blending decisions so there is a likelihood that he may want to continue his winemaking venture.  The bottle for the 2016 vintage carries the names of Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, seemingly dispelling rumors of a sale, though labels can be redone.

Miraval was originally the home of jazz pianist and composer Jacques Loussier. Other famous artists, including Pink Floyd, Sting, and Sade have recorded there.

Article submitted by: Sharon deRham

Cet article What is happening with Château Miraval rosé? est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

La Tour d’Aigues and Ansouis :Two villages in Provence

On the Route des Châteaux in the southern Luberon  

La Tour d’Aigues is a lovely medieval village in the southern Luberon, not far north of Aix-en-Provence. It has a prime spot on the Châteaux Route in the southern Luberon, along with neighboring Ansouis, Lourmarin, and Lauris. This is an area of Provence without the notoriety of St Rémy-de-Provence—whose fame partially relates to the years when Princess Caroline of Monaco lived here with her children—or the northern Luberon, whose villages of Menerbes,  Gordes, Bonnieux, and others became known worldwide through Peter Mayle’s witty novels. Nevertheless the southern Luberon is a very attractive area for travelers, loaded with everything visitors love: excellent restaurants, many Provençal markets, stunning scenery, lavender fields, beautiful villages, wineries, historical sites but with generally fewer crowds, a blessing in summer.

Truly one of the most stunning sites in the area is the Renaissance Château de la Tour d’Aigues, located right in the middle of the town of La Tour d’Aigues on the D956. It is hard to drive through the village without the facade of the château pulling you in for a visit. The massive entry gate is sculpted and has the style of a Roman triumphal arch.  (Catherine de Medicis visited in 1579, and the entry gate had to have the sides carved out to allow her carriage to pass.) The entry courtyard of the château has become an open-air theater; the château was pillaged and burned during the Revolution and was never fully restored, but it provides a great open space for entertainment. Watching a dance or musical performance on a warm summer evening is magical.

Source : vaucluseenprovence.com

The château’s ruins are open for a visit, and there is a Musée de Faience, full of beautiful 18^th century earthenware which now can be visited by appointment.

Also on the Châteaux route, Ansouis, one of “France’s most beautiful villages,” has an ancient 10^th century fortress, refurbished in subsequent centuries. The village of Ansouis, at the intersection of the D56, D37 and D135, is well restored, with neat stone walls, and has a fair number of ancient little streets, just perfect for a quiet visit.

The Château d’Ansouis, an ancient medieval fortress, was the property of the Sabran Pontevès family for over 1,000 years; this is the family who created the château and gave it is spirit.  In 2008 a couple from Aix-en-Provence, enamoured of ancient buildings, bought the château from the heirs who were constantly fighting over their family property.  (Pierre Cardin, who had been buying up property in the Luberon, lost his bid to buy this chateau.) The new owners have spared no effort or money to restore the château. They found the original decorative plaster walls beneath wall coverings, and have furnished the rooms with lovely furniture.

Though the château is privately owned, it opens for visitors in the afternoons. Visitors must take a guided visit, which is given in French.

Another interesting visit in Ansouis is the Extraordinary Museum of Georges Mazoyer. Mazoyer was a Provencal painter and diver, who gave the enormous collection of fossilized sea creatures and pre-historic fragments that he gathered in his 47 years of diving all over the world. The museum is located below the village.

L’Art Glacier, a well-known ice cream parlor with unique and delicious flavors, is located in the countryside outside Ansouis and La Tour d’Aigues; it is well worth the effort to find the shop. Enjoy the terrace overlooking the Petit Luberon while enjoying one of the dozens of unique flavors of ice cream.

For a change of pace, go a little further east of Tour d’Aigues and Ansouis and visit the well-known town of Manosque, in the Alps of Upper Provence  (Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence.) Manosque is the birthplace of the  famous  writer Jean Giono, well known for his evocative descriptions of  early 20th century life in Provence. (Giono wrote the novel upon which « The Horseman on the Roof » was based, and Marcel Pagnol based several films on Giono’s other novels.)  Be sure to visit the pretty squares and ancient gates of the city.   The Occitane company, world famous for its natural beauty products, has its factory and a museum that you can visit in Manosque.  From Pertuis either take exit 18 off the A51 autoroute, or  the more scenic D973 and D996.  Just east of Manosque is the huge Plateau of Valensole, renowned for its lavender fields—but you can only see lavender from about mid or late June to mid July.

South of Manosque are the famous « Gorges de Verdon »  the « Grand Canyon of France » ;  you can go swimming, hiking, canoeing, or just drive and enjoy the scenery. Just south of the western end of the gorge you  can watch the gliders fly out of Vinon-sur-Verdon, which has the largest gliding club and training centre in France.

Our luxury villas 

If you would like to spend some time exploring this spectacular region, we have beautiful luxury villas in the southern Luberon:  Villa Hélène in Peypin d’Aigues, Villa Domino in Cadenet, and Domaine Marderic in Ansouis.

Villa Hélène

Villa Domino

Domaine Marderic

Markets

Local outdoor Provençal markets are held in the morning in many nearby villages: La Tour d’Aigues, Cucuron, and Gordes on Tuesday; Ansouis on Sunday; Pertuis on Wednesday and Saturday; Lourmarin on Friday; Cadenet on Monday; Aix-en-Provence on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday ; Manosque on Saturday.

Recommended: Restaurants, Ice cream shop,

Winery & Garden

La Closerie, one Michelin star,

Blvd des Platanes, 84240 Ansouis

Very good food, wine and service. Lunch is a great value. Need to reserve.

L’Auberge de Tilleuls, one Michelin star,

Moulin du Pas, 84240 Grambois

Tél.: 33 (0)4 90 77 93 11

Very good French food at reasonable prices, generally good service ; terrace for summer, fireplace indoors for winter.

Le Retro, +33 (0)6 69 63 55 30

95 Rue Antoine de Tres, 84240Tour d’Aigues.

Unassuming small bistro on the main street but serving very good food, with high quality ingredients.

L’Ange Gourmand,   33 (0)4 90 07 49 02

92 Rue Antoine de Tres, 84240 Tour d’Aigues

Good, simple, and well-priced food in the center of town.

Pizza La Rosa / Chez Nino (name has changed)  +33 4 90 79 08 42

25 Rue Antoine de Tres, 84240Tour d’Aigues.

Wood burning oven pizza; eat in, take out or delivery.

L’Art Glacier, only artisan ice cream in the Provencal countryside . Click here for map

Located in “Les Hautes Terres” hameau (hamlet) between Ansouis and La Tour d’Aigues on a hilltop just off the D9 on the D135;  from Ansouis, follow the signs “L’Art Glacier” for about 5 km.

GPS 5° 30’ 35”   East   43° 44’ 32” North

Tel +33 (0)4 90 77 75 72; for hours  +33 (0)4 90 77 75 70

Domaine Val Joanis,  well known winery with 988 acre  property of vineyards and gardens.

2404 Route de Villelaure, D973, 84120 Pertuis

Free tasting, 10-19H in July and August;  spring and fall, 10-13; 14:18:30.

The gardens are open from April until October and are €3 per adult. Free admission for children 18 or under.

Article submitted by: Sharon deRham

Cet article La Tour d’Aigues and Ansouis : Two villages in Provence est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Book recommendation

 Markets of Provence by Marjorie R Williams

In the “Markets of Provence” Marjorie R. Williams has done a masterful and comprehensive job of explaining Provençal markets. She describes and takes you with her to the many types of markets: traditional Provençal markets; farmers’ markets; flea markets; antique markets; covered markets; craft markets; truffle markets; Christmas and santon markets.

As I private guide in Provence prior to my employment at Provence Emotional Escapes, and also the owner of a French antique shop in the Napa Valley, California, I had the great pleasure of accompanying Marjorie on many of her market visits.  So I got to experience her enthusiasm, love of markets and in-depth knowledge first hand. And yes, we had a great time discovering markets together.

Markets are presented logically, day-by-day, listing the 30 “best” markets, and then other smaller markets in lesser-known villages.  Marjorie includes tons of information on each market, which she often visited with well-known local chefs. Who knew there were so many markets in Provence?  Most days it would be hard to choose where to go; Friday and Saturday have an overwhelming choice of excellent markets. However you may prefer a small market in the hectic months of July and August, and Marjorie gives you a broad choice.

Marjorie’s book is more than a book about markets, it is a complete guide to touring with cultural and historical notes, colorful photos, maps, restaurants & chefs, and primers on goat cheese, olive oil, breads, vendors, plus market hints—when to go, where to park, where to find the all-important WC.  She adds in lots of suggestions for buying picnic foods. She recommends her favorite stands, and includes permanent shops in the towns.

She provides historical notes on villages and markets, interesting anecdotes, and a glossary of useful terms for shopping at markets. Marjorie tries to define “Provence”, not an easy task due to history, culture and the cachet attached to the word Provence. Even the lovely Cote d’Azur calls itself part of  “Provence,” though it is not. (Provence, the Alps, and the Côte d’Azur form the PACA region in southern France.)

Perhaps the best way to use the book is to pick a favorite village for a visit to the market, and afterwards find a great café for lunch—or better yet buy picnic food at the market.  In the afternoon use Marjorie’s guide to visit local historical sites.

This may be the only book you need to accompany you on your trip to Provence.  With all the information that Marjorie has provided, you can use the book to plan your daily itineraries.  The book is compact so that you can take it with you. You will have no regrets about leaving a too-heavy book at home as I did in the 80’s with Patricia Wells’ “Food Lover’s Guide to France.” You can also buy a Kindle version, though I love leafing through this little book.

In the past I purchased books on “Provence Markets” but I was disappointed, since though the books purported to cover Provence, the markets included were primarily in the Luberon, certainly a beautiful region, but too limited and not one to everyone’s taste.  Marjorie really does a superlative job of covering Provence.

Bravo, Marjorie!

If you check out Marjorie’s website and blog you will learn even more about navigating the markets in Provence.

Website

Blog

Where to buy Markets of Provence

Submitted by: Sharon deRham

Cet article Markets of Provence by Marjorie R Williams est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.