Food & Wine Adventures

Feel at home on your Food & Wine Adventure in Uzès, a small town on the edge of Provence in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, 30 minutes west of Avignon. Note that we do not say Provence, because Uzès is not officially in Provence. Uzès is in the Gard (30), a department in Languedoc, which neighbors the Vaucluse (84) in Provence. The Languedoc has many similarities to Provence, including the cuisine, weather and landscape.

Uzès is rich in architecture and religious history. The small town is also home to one of the most beautiful markets in the South of France. The Saturday morning market sprawls throughout the cobblestone streets displaying clothes, jewelry, linens, pottery, flowers, plants and many produits du terroirs. The main market is in the Place aux Herbes, which is a magical place to be, even on an off market day. It is an ideal spot for sipping a glass of wine in one of the outdoor cafés and just taking it all in. It is the vision most people have of the South of France and you will be living it! Besides the markets, there are numerous restaurants, wine bars, outdoor cafés and boutiques to discover. Uzès is touristic, but less traveled than the more well known villages in Provence. Uzès is busy year round, buzzing with locals and tourists, including many expat English and Americans. If you love Provence, we promise you will love Uzès and everything it has to offer.

Food & Wine Adventure: 8 days/7 nights 2500€

Itinerary

Day 1/Thursday Christophe and Dominique will greet you upon your arrival at the Avignon TGV train station at 2:30 pm. See Before You Go for more details. Transfer to your luxury, historic hotel in the charming village of Saint Victor des Oules, located near the town of Uzès. You will be welcomed by the Vieljeux family, owners of this 18th century château since 2004. Warm hospitality, beautiful gardens and an on site restaurant will assure a comfortable and enjoyable stay for the start of your adventure. Begin your journey with a walking tour of Uzès, a city with a prestigious past, rich architecture and a famous outdoor market. Climb to the top of the Duché's Tower for an exquisite view of the city and its surroundings. This evening we will celebrate your arrival with local cheese and wine at one of our favorite wine bars. Itineraries, maps and basic French translations will be given to each guest at this time. We will relax and get to know each other before heading to dinner in downtown Uzès. Day 2/Friday Gourmet breakfast. Wander along the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct built in 19 B.C. We will guide you through one thousand-year-old olive trees to a scenic view of the famous aqueduct that carried water from Uzès to Nîmes. This afternoon you will enjoy a truly unique experience starting with a traditional horse and buggy ride through beautiful vineyards and fields. You will be guided to a magical spot where a Provençal picnic will be served. The adventure will end at a local winery for a wine tasting of local, organic wines. A day you will definitely remember! Dinner will be at one of our favorite local restaurants, run by a young, dynamic couple that serve incredible food and local wines. Day 3/Saturday Gourmet breakfast. Grab your market basket because you are off to the Uzès Market. You will find wonderful local olive oils, honey, lavender and soaps, all great gifts to take home. We will be happy to guide you around or you can wander on your own. Lunch on your own in Uzès. The town offers a large selection of dining opportunities from simplistic to sophisticated cuisine. We will be happy to make recommendations, as well as reservations. Pierre Vivier, French pâtissier-chocolatier, will await you at the Villa for a decadent cooking class with chocolate. He will teach us the wonders of making delicious French chocolates. The cooking class is recreational and is designed for all interest levels from the beginner chef to the more experienced. Relax at the Villa St Victor like a true Frenchman with a game of pétanque and a cold pastis. We will teach you the rules of this traditional game played all over France, but mostly in the South. Guests may choose to join in the pétanque games or relax by the pool. The vibrant colors of the sunset at your 18th century château hotel will be the setting for dinner this evening. Chilled rosé wine, good conversation and a Provençal-inspired menu prepared by Chef Stéphane Vieljeux will make for a perfect evening at the hotel. Day 4/Sunday Gourmet breakfast. Luggage will be transferred to a charming bed and breakfast in the heart of Avignon. Your accommodations will be a minute's walk to the Palais des Papes, restaurants, boutiques and cafés. Meanwhile, we will take a drive through the garrigue to the medieval village of Les Baux de Provence. This hilltop village is the essence of a typical Provençal village with small squares, shady pavement cafés, narrow streets and shops. After a guided tour of the ancient ruins, you will have time to wander and shop at the local boutiques. Lunch today will be in true French style, a gourmet picnic of local products and wines. The French, who invented the word pique-nique, are expert picnickers serving wine in glassware and eating delights such as pâté, cheese and baguette. After settling into your bed and breakfast, you will take a walking tour of Avignon where you will learn about the history and life of the city. Avignon, home to the popes in the 14th and 15th century, is one of Europe's most interesting cities. Music, art, theater, shopping and gastronomy are among the many things you will discover in Avignon. This evening's dinner will be in the charming, Provençal village of L'Isle sur la Sorgue. The setting in a charming town on a river accompanied by delicious food and excellent wines will assure an exceptional evening. Day 5/Monday Gourmet breakfast. Drive through the twisting vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape to discover a well-known château winery. A 15th-century family-owned winery, run by the Brunel Family, is where we will discover the production of wine from the vine to the bottle. The Brunel's will take us through their vineyards, winery and let us taste their wine straight from a barrell. An unforgettable experience with wine! Our wine experience will be followed by lunch with an extraordinary view! We will feast on a Provençal meal accompanied by Châteauneuf du Pape wines. After lunch, we will visit and wine taste at another château winery with exceptional wines and gorgeous scenery. Dinner on your own in Avignon. The town offers a large selection of dining opportunities from simplistic to sophisticated cuisine. We will be happy to make recommendations, as well as reservations. Day 6/Tuesday Gourmet breakfast. A week in the South of France cannot be complete without visiting Gordes and Roussillon, the picturesque villages of the "Luberon" area of Provence made famous by Peter Mayle's books A Year in Provence and A Good Year. The hilltop village of Gordes and vibrantly colored village of Roussillon are some the most beautiful villages in France. A leisure lunch at a traditional café with local dishes and wines will allow you to rest your feet after visiting the hilltop villages. This evening guests embark on a culinary adventure with a hands-on cooking class in an authentic 19th century kitchen with the original wood stove. This spectacular setting creates the perfect inspiration for preparing an irresistible meal you will enjoy for dinner paired with local wines. The cooking class is recreational and is designed for all interest levels from the beginner chef to the more experienced. A truly unique experience! Day 7/Wednesday Gourmet breakfast. Goat cheese is one of the famous products made in France. This morning you will discover a local goat cheese farm where you will get to see the process of making goat cheese and have the opportunity to taste different goat cheeses. Lunch on your own in Avignon. The town offers a large selection of dining opportunities from simplistic to sophisticated cuisine. We will be happy to make recommendations, as well as reservations. Afternoon free for shopping along the Rue de la Republique or visiting more of Avignon or a magical tea time with French pastries. With the ideal location of your bed and breakfast, you will be able to enjoy this afternoon at your leisure. We will be happy to recommend and/or reserve any other activities you would like to participate in. For your last evening, we will dine at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Christian Etienne. Lobster, foie gras, truffles... whatever Christian chooses to serve will be a one-of-a kind experience. This will be the perfect way to end your Food & Wine Adventure in France! Day8/ Thursday Gourmet breakfast. Return to Avignon TGV train station at 10:00 am.

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