Côte Rôtie to the Sea: Adventures in the Wines and Geology of the Rhône Valley
France
Tour Dates:
October 24th-31st, 2018
Rates:
Double Occupancy $4,900/person
Single Occupancy $5,400/person
What’s Included:
- Expertise of tour leaders
- Hotel accommodations for 6 nights along the tour route
- Meals as noted in the itinerary (B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner)
- Daily wine tastings
- All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
- Transportation between hotels and for all daily itineraries
- Assistance with transport at tour’s end
- All gratuities
- Pre-tour and in-tour information
- Suggested reading list
What’s Not Included:
- Passport and all visa fees, photos, immunizations, or other travel documentation fees
- Airfare for flights to and from France
- Train fare or other travel before and after the tour
- Airline or train transfers and baggage handling
- Personal items such as souvenirs or wines that might be purchased for personal use
-Other items noted as optional or not specifically mentioned as included
- Optional travel insurance including cancellation/delay/lost baggage insurance
Day 1 Wednesday: Lyon (D)
• Lyon: Rendezvous at 5:00 pm, check in to Hotel Silky Lyon
• Confluence wine tasting
• Dinner at “Bouchon” bistro in Lyon
• Overnight in Lyon
Day 2 Thursday:
Northern Rhône to Gigondas (B, L, D)
• Bus to Ampuis: field trip in Côte Rôtie vineyards for geology of Massif Central, Alps, Brune & Blonde terroirs
• Picnic/lunch near Tain-Hermitage
• Tasting in Tain-Hermitage. Geology & wines of Hermitage massif
• Bus to Gigondas; geology of the pre-Alps and Vercors; the volcanoes of the Ardeche; wines of the Northern Rhône
• Dinner at Les Florets, wines of Côtes-du-Rhône & Vacqueyras
• 3 nights at Les Florets in Gigondas
Day 3 Friday: Chateauneuf du Pape (B, L, D)
• Morning: Visits to Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe (La Crau)
• Picnic/lunch nearby
• Afternoon: Visit an unusual CDP vineyard
• Dinner at Les Florets, wines of Côtes-du-Rhône Villages & Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Day 4 Saturday: Mont Ventoux & Dentelles de Montmirail (B, L, D)
• Visit vineyard in AOP Ventoux
• Picnic/lunch near Bedoin, at the base of Mont Ventoux
• Geology of Mont Ventoux, the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean
• Vineyards of Ventoux and Dentelles
• Special tasting of Ventoux region wines
• Dinner at Les Florets, wines of Ventoux, Beaumes-de-Venise, Gigondas
Day 5 Sunday:
Luberon, Aix-en-Provence (B, L)
• Morning outdoor market in l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
• Traditional French Sunday lunch in the countryside
• Explore Peter Mayle’s Provence
• Geology and wines of the Luberon mountains
• Tasting at AOC Luberon winery
• Dinner in Aix-en-Provence (if still hungry) on your own
• 3 nights at Grand Hôtel Roi René Sofitel in Aix-en-Provence
Day 6 Monday: Aix, Cezanne, Mont Ste. Victoire geology and wines (B, L, D)
Aix’s outdoor markets and food adventure
• Geology field trip to Cezanne’s Mont Ste. Victoire refuge
• Picnic/lunch on Mont Ste. Victoire
• Tasting at Domaine de Saint-Ser, Domaine Houchart or Domaine Richeaume in Puyloubier
• Time for shopping, museums, Cezanne’s atelier
• Dinner adventure in Aix-en-Provence
Day 7 Tuesday:
Limestone, Bandol & Cassis (B, L, D)
• Bus to Bandol: Geology of the Mediterranean basin, Cap Canaille & Limestone Calanques
• Tasting of Bandol's Domaine Tempier in La Cadiere d'Azur
• Geology/Terroir where Bandol wines are grown
• Lunch/picnic in Bandol
• Tasting at Ch. du Pibarnon; visit the limestone amphitheater of Pibarnon's vineyards
• Return to Aix-en-Provence to pack, relax and prepare for dinner
• Au revoir dinner celebration in Aix
Day 8 Sunday: Au revoir (B)
• Guidance with transportation at tour’s end
• Au revoir et A bientôt