The wines of Provence are grown on the slopes of its stunning limestone mountains – Cezanne’s Mont Sainte Victoire along with the “Giant of Provence” – Mont Ventoux, and its foothills the Dentelles de Montmirail. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre  (GSM) are blended with as many as 26 other grape varieties to create food-friendly wines of all three colors – reds, whites and the increasingly popular very pale rosés.

This tour begins in historic Aix-en-Provence with its fountains, music, outdoor markets and ever-present rosé wines. We’ll explore the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Cap Canaille and the Mediterranean harborside restaurants and wines of Cassis. Then head up to the mountain painted in every imaginable light by influential French painter Cerzanne, Mont Sainte Victoire, to tour and taste wines of the Côte de Provence and Coteaux d’Aix.

From Aix we’ll travel to Peter Mayle country in the Vaucluse. A tasting in Lourmarin, then through the perched village of Bonnieux to the ochre cliffs and lunch in Roussillon. On to Gordes, then a tour and tasting on the way to our destination, our Hotel and Restaurant Les Florets in Gigondas. The next day we travel to the top of the magnificent Mont Ventoux.

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Next is famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, home to what many consider the greatest wines of the southern Rhône valley. We’ll learn about the unique geologic history that created its stony terraces. We’ll have the opportunity to compare their red and white blends with those of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and other AOCs of the Côtes-du-Rhône.

The wines and their settings in Provence together with the provençal cuisine make for a wine-and-geology trip to savor. With luck, the Mistral will greet us and teach us why the place is so special. They are the stuff of magic.

A professional driver will transport us comfortably from start to finish, so there is no need to worry about driving once you get there. You will have the opportunity to purchase and ship wine home if you wish.