Cuvée: French Wine + Cuisine Tours

Cuvéefrench wine + cuisine tours


Itinerary: September 2014

Cuvée Tours are located in the heart of the Languedoc wine-growing region, near the artistic enclave of Pézenas and 30km from the Mediterranean.

Friday, September 12Cuvée Tours will greet you at the Montpellier airport or train station, then we’ll drive to the gorgeous

Château de Pézenas. (Due to a 4:00PM check-in time, we may stop en route to relax in a café). Let the jet lag slip away as we sip wine on the terrace, or take a dip in the pool. We’ll end the day with dinner in

the lovely, historic town of Pezenas.

Detailed Activities for Cuvée: French Wine + Cuisine Tours: Bienvenue!

CuvéeTours



Saturday, September 13Pezenas, our “home” town, hosts one of the largest village markets in this region. We’ll start the day

with breakfast at the Château, taking in the beautiful view from the terrace, then spend hours browsing the colorful stalls that line Rue Jean Jaurès. You’ll find everything from artisan cheeses and handmade charcuterie to locally grown olives & fresh-caught seafood. Put together an impromptu picnic from the many vendors (we adore the poulet rôti direct from the mobile rotisserie) or find a café for lunch, fol-

lowed by a walking tour of the medieval center of this historic town. Return to the Château in late after-noon, where you’ll have time to relax by the pool. At day’s end, we’ll transform our market goods into a

delicious 4 course dinner, complete with regional wine. If you are so inclined, join us in the kitchen!



Sunday, September 14After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll head north into the foothills of the Black Mountains for an

olive oil tasting, then take in a wine tasting in St Chinian, famous for its own AOC of delicious red varietals. We’ll have lunch in St Chinian, then head back to the Château for some down

time by the pool.

8Our day will end with a wine tasting like you’ve never experienced, as our dear friends, Christian &

Régine, present some of the finest wines of the Faugères appellation. This is more than a wine tast-ing - Christian will regale us with the history & lore of Languedoc wines, and is always happy to answer questions about his own vignoble. This will befollowed by a five course dinner with paired wines at La

Vigneronne, prepared by Régine.


Itinerary: September 2014Monday, September 15

Montpellier has been called the “Paris of the South”, and with good reason. With its magnificent, café-lined Place de la Comédie, cobbled streets with inviting boutiques, vibrant student

population and sun-drenched ambience, this city will captivate you. Optional activities include an English-spoken tour of the ancient quartier of the city, visits to some of the fine museums, or just spending the day in the charming, shop-lined streets of this, our favorite city in the

South of France.

We’ll spend the better part of the day here, followed by a visit to the Picpoul de Pinet AOC region with dinner in Bouzigues, the oyster capital of the Languedoc.



Tuesday, September 16Are there ever too many markets to visit? Of course not! So today we’ll travel west into the

Minervois region and take in the Olonzac market, another must-see event in the Aude department of Languedoc. This weekly farmer’s market fills the winding streets of the village with the finest quality regional, handcrafted foods & local produce. After the market we con-tinue our exploration of this gastronomically rich area, perhaps with a visit to working chèvre

farm or L’Oulibo – an olive oil mill just outside Bize-Minervois - perfect to discover all the prod-ucts of the olive tree. Sample the Lucques olives (a local specialty) or the delicious honey scent-

ed with the taste of the garrigue (herbs & flowers of the region). We’ll spend a leisurely day exploring the food & wine of the Minervois, concluding our day with a visit to one of our favor-ite chefs in the tiny town of Beaufort for an exquisitly prepared dinner of regional specialties.

Wednesday, September 17Without fail, Collioure is the highlight of every tour we’ve led since 2007. With its pastel-hued houses, quay-side cafés, and brightly colored fishing boats, Collioure is the perfect place to spend a Mediter-

ranean day. We’ll arrive in time for the weekly market, followed by lunch in the restaurant of your choice. This Catalan enclave in France is well known for its unique cuisine that features seafood fresh from the sea. Our favorite tapas restaurant, Le Comptoir, serves up a Catalan-French fusion that should not be missed. Optional activities: Check out the restaurant, Les Templiers, where works of Picasso & Manet grace the walls, or perhaps join us on a culinary journey into the region with visits to anchovy shops

(Collioure is famous for these tasty delicacies ), or a guided trip high into the mountains for an AOC wine tasting you will never forget. Feel free to browse the shop-lined streets, or spend the day on the beaches

if you need some down-time.



Thursday, September 18After the activity of the last few days, we’ll move at a slower pace. For those who are feeling

energetic, we’ll make a short trip to the Mediteranean beaches. Alternately, we’ll offer a final shopping foray into Pézenas, a local mecca for French antiquities. In the

late afternoon, meet us poolside for wine & appetizers. Dinner at a regional restaurant.

We say au revoir to beautiful Collioure in the late afternoon, and end the evening with dinner in Beziers, famous for its Cathedral that towers over the River Orb and home to numerous traditional bistros that feature delicious, authentic cuisine.



Friday, September 19Departure. Drinks, croissants & fruit will be available in the kitchen. Since the main flight from Montpellier

to Paris departs at 7:20 AM, we’ll be leaving the Château at approximately 5:00 AM. Please note that, for those of you who might be leaving at a later time by train, this is the only departure time. Please plan

your post-tour schedule accordingly.

We wish you bon voyage & bonne route!

Please Note:The itinerary is subject to change, based on factors such as restaurant availability and logistics.

We will immediately update if any changes are made.The dinners covered with the tour fee are: Saturday at the Château, and the dinner at

La Vigneronne. All other dinners and all lunches are optional, meaning that they are not covered with the tour cost. For these meals, you have the option of dining with your

hosts, or at any restaurant of your choosing. All breakfasts at the chateau are covered.

Documents

Cuvée: French Wine + Cuisine Tours