WINE TOUR, RHONE VALLEY 2016

Arranged with the gracious participation of Wine Authorities's owner, Craig Heffley, this trip is for those seeking the richest wine and food experience in Provence and the Rhône Valley, where the wine production in France started during Roman times. I have designed this fluid itinerary in the hopes of leaving you with an unforgettable experience. We will be staying in 3 star elegant accommodations, with sumptuous food and wine, and will enjoy privileged visits with the artisan winegrowers that make Wine Authorities the preeminent wine source of the Triangle. I will be happy to provide photographic assistance and share the photographic experience throughout the tour.

DATES: June 4 to June 11, with a possible extension in Paris in solo with me if you'd like, or on your own.

Limited to 10 travelers, plus Craig and myself. SOLD OUT. We are now putting interested travelers on a waiting list. Thank you.


$4,975. per person in accommodations for two. Price includes air fare, hotel, meals, wine and other beverages during meals, transportation, entrance fees when applicable, and should be considered all inclusive, save for beverages in your room or at the bar and other services that you might want to enjoy that are not part of the group activities. Accommodation for one or more than two may be available and will be priced if demand occurs.

The itinerary below is subject to modification due to scheduling and the fact that one may only plan so much ahead of time.


Please email me using the "Contact me" button on the left of the footer, at the bottom of this page if you want to book or have any question.

nice, chateau, baie des Anges
Le Démon sur la Baie des Anges
dentelles de montmirail
Dentelles de Montmirail On a June Morning
dentelles de montmirail
View on the Dentelles de Montmirail and the Rhône Valley from the Belvédère near Suzette
Raisins, grape
Wine grape of the Rhône Valley
valence
Chez Moi
La Palette, café, bistrot, paris
Des Amants dans mon Café
Grande corniche, french riviera
Grande Corniche
Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux, looking toward the Alps, Italy.
Rhone Valley
Rhône Valley in Vacqueyras, looking north
Vine of the Southern Rhône Valley
Vine of the Southern Rhône valley
facteur cheval
Palais du Facteur Cheval
paris, hotel de ville
Palais du Facteur Cheval
ITINERARY:

* Saturday June 4: Departure from RDU to JFK and then to Nice via direct flight.


* Sunday June 5: Arrival in Nice International Airport after a striking descent on the beautiful Bay of Angels.

This day will be dedicated to acclimating and relaxing after the trans-Atlantic flight. Lunch by the flower market and a relaxing stroll on the "Promenade des Anglais," the Old Port, capture the view seen on the photograph "Le Démon sur la Baie des Anges."
If time allows, short visit of Monaco, Italian flavored Manhattan on the Riviera, which will give us the excuse to come back through the Grande Corniche.
Dinner.


* Monday June 6: Breakfast then hit the road and find ourselves an hour and a half later at the Domaine de Pinchinat.

Pinchinat is located in the Arc river valley, dominated by the Montagne Ste Victoire which appears many times in Cézanne's paintings. The location of the domaine is absolutely lovely, they produce aromatic organic wines with great purity of flavor. After visiting the property we will savor a lunch on the patio while enjoying the view.

Drive to the Rhône Valley through the Lubéron, and to the top of the Mont Ventoux which offers a spectacular view on the Alps and the Rhône Valley.
Arrival to the hotel which will be our base.
Dinner


* Tuesday June 7: Exploration of the Dentelles de Montmirail and the small roads and tracks that penetrate it. We will notably go to the overlook tucked on a peak and from which one can enjoy a breathtaking view on the Dentelles and the Rhône Valley, see photographs on left.

Visit of the Domaine La Ligière, which produces organic Vacqueyras, Gigondas and Beaumes de Venise.
Lunch.
Drive to the Domaine le Garrigon. A short hour drive that will take us through the Plan de Dieu and most of the southern Rhône Valley wine production range. Le Garrigon produces some of the best everyday red in the southern Rhône Valley, supple and aromatic.
Dinner in Gigondas.


* Wednesday June 8:
Drive to Mas de Libian in St Marcel d'Ardèche, on the west side of the Rhône Valley. This is not only an organic but a Demeter certified biodynamic domaine, which means that it supports all its needs, and even plow their vineyards by horse. The domaine yields aromatic wines with character, and has a nice view over the Valley, the Mont Ventoux, the dentelles de Montmirail.
Lunch.

Drive through the Gorges de l'Ardèche to the Grotte Chauvet. The Gorges are known as Europe's Grand Canyon, and are a magnificent site, where many caves may be found that were inhabited by humans, as early as 300,000 years ago. The most treasured of the caves is the Grotte Chauvet which we will visit. It is in the Unesco register and contains the earliest known and best preserved figurative cave paintings in the world. It is not possible any longer to visit the actual grotte, but French authorities have built a perfect replica which is a model for conservation of decorated caves.
Dinner


Thursday June 9: Drive to Domaine La Rocalière in Tavel, across the Rhône river from Chateauneuf du Pape, and visit another of Wine Authorities domaines. This one produces organic Tavel and Lirac.

Drive to Tournon, an hour or so north, sitting just across from Tain l'hermitage, home of the Hermitage and Crozes hermitage wines. We are now in the northern Rhône Valley region, where wines enjoy more floral aromas, notably due to the Syrah, which here is at its most famous and distinctive. Lunch in one of Tournon's ever inviting restaurants.

Just north of Tournon we will visit Guy Farge, who produces the best Saint Josephs I know, that may become available soon at Wine Authorities. His Saint Josephs are smooth and thick, loaded with aromas of violet. These are my favorite wines, period, and it is rare to find Saint Josephs as aromatic and fresh as Guy Farge's.
On the way back we will climb to the top of Crussol, the castle built on the cliff dominating Valence, my home town. The Castle of Crussol was destroyed by Richelieu, Louis the XIII's Eminence, in the fight to tame all chiefdoms into submission to the king. It is from there that I shot "Chez Moi."
Dinner in Valence.


Friday June 10: Leaving the hotel and drive to the Palais du Facteur Cheval, north of Valence. The Palais was built by a mailman and visionary artist who collected artifacts during his daily walks distributing mail around the area. It is remarkable of creativity and offers a unique insight in the psyche of such a humble man in the late 19th Century/early 20th Century.
Lunch

Visit of a domain in Ampuls producing Côtes Roties and other other delicious specialties from the northern tip of the Rhône valley.
Drive to Lyon to catch a high speed train to Paris.
Hotel in Paris
Stroll and drinks at La Palette where the photograph on the left, Des Amants dans Mon Café was shot.
Dinner.
Walk back to the hotel to enjoy the city at night.


Saturday June 11: Departure by Air France shuttle to Paris Roissy Airport. Delta direct flight to RDU.

Those wishing to, can book through me additional nights in Paris for an additional stay, either touring the town with me or on their own. Your return date will be booked following your specifications.
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nice, chateau, baie des Anges
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Grande corniche, french riviera
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Mont Ventoux
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Dentelles de Montmirail
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dentelles de montmirail
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Rhône Valley
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raisins, grape
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Vine of the Southern Rhône Valley
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Valence
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facteur cheval
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La Palette, café, bistrot, paris
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paris, hotel de ville