Côte Rôtie to the Sea: Adventures in the Wines and Geology of the Rhône Valley
France
Tour Dates:
October 14th-21st, 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 Sunday: Lyon (L)
• Lyon: Rendezvous at Noon, check in to Hotel Silky Lyon
• Traditional Sunday “lunch” at Lyon “Bouchon” bistro
• Geology and wines around Lyon
• Dinner (if still hungry) on your own
• Overnight in Lyon
Day 2 Monday:
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 Tuesday: Vaison, le Mont Ventoux & Dentelles de Montmirail (B, L, D)
• Morning: Travel to Vaison-la-Romaine thru several Côtes-du-Rhône villages
• Outdoor market and Roman history in the Rhône valley
• Picnic/lunch near Vaison-la-Romaine
• Explore Mont Ventoux and the vineyards of AOC Ventoux and the Dentelles
• Geology: the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Massif Central and the Mediterranean
• Dinner at Les Florets, wines of Ventoux, Beaumes-de-Venise, Gigondas
Day 4 Wednesday: Châteauneuf-du-Pape & Vallée des Baux (B, L, D)
• Bus to Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Morning: Geology and tour at Ch. Beaucastel (valley floor terroir)
• Picnic/lunch in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Afternoon: Tour and tasting at Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe
• Dinner near Gigondas
Day 5 Thursday:
Luberon, Aix-en-Provence (B, L, D)
• Travel through Peter Mayle’s Luberon to Gordes and Roussillon
• Geology of ochre mines & wines of AOC Luberon
• Lunch in Roussillon
• Travel to Aix-en-Provence
• Geology and wines of the Luberon & Durance river basin
• Shopping/museums and dinner adventure in Aix-en-Provence
• 3 nights at Grand Hôtel Roi René Sofitel in Aix-en-Provence
Day 6 Friday: Aix, Cezanne, Mont Ste. Victoire geology and wines (B, L)
• 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
• Shopping/museums/Cezanne’s atelier and dinner in Aix-en-Provence on your own
Day 7 Saturday:
Limestone, Cassis & Bandol (B, L, D)
• Bus to Bandol (Le Plan du Castellet): Geology of the Mediterranean basin, Cap Canaille & Limestone Calanques
• Tasting of Bandol's Domaine Tempier in La Cadiere d'Azur; Geology/terroir of amphitheater where Tempier wines are grown
• Travel over France's tallest cliffs to Cassis
• Lunch on harbor for local specialties soupe de poisson, oursins, wines of Cassis, etc.
• Return to Aix-en-Provence to pack, relax, 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