Wine In Cote Du Rhone And Provence

Fall 2010

This program is designed especially for wine lovers and includes visits to the best vineyards in the Côte du Rhône and Provence. It will be accompanied by a local guide who knows wines, traditions and towns of the region extremely well.

Day 1 – Paris – Avignon Oct 17th:

Arrive at Paris CDG airport. Connecting flight to Marseille airport.
Transfer by deluxe mini-coach in Avignon to a hotel located in Avignon. Evening and dinner at leisure in Avignon.
Overnight at a 3 or 4-star hotel in Avignon.

Day 2 – Avignon – Northern Rhone Valley (B) Oct 18th:

We begin our Rhone wine tour with some of the great crus of the North. 
Travel by car (2 hours) from Avignon up the Rhone valley to the Chateau d’Ampuis.
This is the heart of the Cote-Rotie appellation. Today, the appellation and his wines in particular, have achieved cult status. Private visit and tasting at the chateau.
Continue 25 miles along an enchanting road to Tain-Hermitage, surrounded by the vines of Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage, arguably the most famous Rhone appellation. If there is time, we could program a visit to Valrhona, one of the world’s best chocolate manufacturers, which is based in Tain and perfumes the air with the smell of cocoa.
Tasting of the mighty, Syrah-based reds of Hermitage and its long-lived dry whites at leading négociant Michel Chapoutier in Tain.
Lunch at leisure (We suggest the restaurant across the street from the Chapoutier tasting room, which serves local wines by the glass).
After lunch, vineyard visit and tasting with the friendly Paul Jaboulet, who produces consistently, top Hermitage wines.
Continue south back to Avignon. 
Overnight at a 3 or 4-star hotel in Avignon.

Day 3 – Avignon – Southern Rhone Valley (B/L) Oct 19th:

We begin the day with a walking tour of the historic core of Avignon. The immense palace-fortress they built is one of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture. For lunch, we drive 20 min north to the famed wine village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, dominated by its ruined chateau. Just outside the village stands the crenulated Hostellerie du Chateau des Fines Roches, where you would not be surprised to meet a knight in full armor rescuing some fair damsel in distress. The food is based on the best local products: olives, red mullet and –in season—truffles.
After lunch at the château, visit and tasting at Domaine de Beaurenard which is part of the “Modernists” of Chateauneuf. The Coulon brothers, Daniel and Frédéric, have taken over from Paul and Régine and are striving to sustain tradition.
You will learn about the estate which covers 32 hectares of vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 25 hectares in the Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau AOC area.
You will then continue to the domaine de la Mordorée acclaimed by the specialized press and the greatest wine reviewers, like the Revue du Vin de France, Wine Spectator, or Parker.
Return to Avignon at the end of the day.
Overnight at a 3 or 4-star hotel in Avignon.

Day 4 – Avignon – Le Luberon (B) Oct 20th:

Morning at leisure in Avignon.
Afternoon drive to Vacqueyras for a tasting at the cellar of the domaine de Montvac where you will receive a convivial welcome with explanations and information about the history and the wines of the estate.
Continue to Sarrians and visit Montirius. You will attend a workshop with Christine or Eric to discover our whole range of wines to understand our specific Bio-Dynamic production process.
Back in Avignon at the end of the day.
Overnight at a 3 or 4-star hotel in Avignon. 

Day 5 – Avignon – Les Alpilles (B/D) Oct 21st:

Drive to the small, but spectacular mountain range of Les Alpilles, where dramatic bleached limestone peaks emerge from a green girdle of almond trees, olive groves and vineyards.
Stop in Mouriès, for a tour and tasting at an Olive Mill. Provence produces 95% top quality, cold-pressed virgin olive oil and the very best of it comes from les Alpilles, which was granted its own appellation for olive oils. 
Continue to the vineyards of Les Baux de Provence, a region that was part of the larger Côteaux d’Aix en Provence until it earned its own appellation in 1995 for reds and rosés, almost all grown using earth-friendly, organic methods. The wines produced with this ‘green’ approach taste strongly of terroir, that particular combination of soil, climate, geography and grape variety best described as “a sense of place” – the hallmark of France’s best wines…
Lunch at leisure at a typical restaurant in Maussane les Alpilles
Tour and tasting of two vineyards, the mas de la dame whose wine spectator granted 88 points to La Stele Blanc 2006. “Ripe tropical fruit flavors are supported by a firm structure and accented with rich, spicy notes. Has a long finish of almond and sea salt"
Continue to the Domaine de Trevallon: It is one of the first Domaines to have made its way with quality wines totally free from the Appellation system, with wines labelled as "vin de pays", but nonetheless highly appreciated in the wine world. Trevallon is comparable to the finest Cru Classes Bordeaux. Domaine Trévallon is widely considered the finest wine from the region.
“One of the greatest discoveries in my life has been the wine made at the Domaine de Trévallon. Virtually everything about this compelling wine is unique.” Robert Parker
Farewell dinner at a gourmet restaurant
Overnight at a 3 or 4-star hotel in Avignon.

Day 6– Avignon – Marseille airport (B) Oct 22nd:

Breakfast at the hotel. Coach transfer to Marseille airport. 

End of services

Planning your holiday with Adams & Butler ensures a truly personal and intimate experience - a totally hassle free process from beginning to end.