2010 Grape Harvest Adventure

Have you ever dreamed of picking grapes in a picture-perfect vineyard in the South of France? Come join us this fall and make the dream come true! We have arranged a week that you will never forget! Not only will you be able to experience working alongside the winemaker, but we will take you to visit a local goat cheese producer, have private wine tastings, meet locals and of course, wonderful meals in local restaurants. We have even included an elegant dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant! You will be inspired by the beauty of the countryside, regaled by the service, and experience France in a personal way that will have you dreaming of coming back again and again!

Grape Harvest Adventure: 8 days/7 nights
September 12-19, 2010 2300€

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Day 1/Sunday/September 12th

Dominique and Christophe will greet you upon your arrival at the Avignon TGV train station. See Before You Go for more details. You will be transferred to the charming Bed & Breakfast that is owned and operated by the winemaker and his wife. Both speak English and will help you settle in and get ready for a casual dinner at the B&B.

Day 2/Monday/September 13th

After a good nights' sleep, you will have an early breakfast and then head to the vineyard for a full morning of picking grapes and learning about the grape harvest. There will be a well deserved lunch at the B&B, and then an afternoon working in the cave at the winery with the winemaker. He will even help you to assemble your own bottle of wine that you can bring home with you at the end of your trip! In the evening, a casual dinner at the B&B, and off to bed.

Day 3/Tuesday/September 14th

After breakfast, we will visit a local goat cheese farm, where the owners make delicious, fresh goat cheeses. You will be given a tour of the facilities and a tasting. Leisurely lunch at a local café, and then a visit and wine tasting at a winery in the Pic St. Loup appellation. You will have time to rest up or take a walk in the beautiful countryside in the afternoon, then dinner at Le Renquet, a nearby Michelin-starred restaurant, where the chef is well known for his use of local ingredients, including the fresh vegetables from the on-site garden.

Day 4/Wednesday/September 15th

After breakfast, we transfer to Uzès. After settling into the beautiful Bed & Breakfast, located on a quiet street in the heart of this enchanting médiéval town, you will be treated to a guided tour of Uzès. You will have lunch on your own in Uzès, which offers a large selection of dining opportunities from simplistic to sophisticated cuisine. We will be happy to make recommendations, as well as reservations. Then meet again at the B&B for an activity you won't want to miss – a traditional horse and buggy ride in the vineyards, where we will stop at the perfect setting for a wine tasting. This evening there will be a casual, but delicious dinner at a restaurant surrounded by vineyards in the village of St Hilaire d'Ozilhan.

Day 5/Thursday/September 16th

Today after breakfast, we head to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where we will visit the beautiful old winery Vieux Telegraph. The wines of Vieux Telegraph are some of the most respected wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After a private tasting, we will go into the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for lunch at Verger des Papes. After lunch, a short tasting at Mont Redon, and then we return to Uzès. You will have time to relax a bit, wander the quaint streets and do a little shopping before having dinner 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.

Day 6/Friday/September 17th

Following breakfast, we will journey to a local winery where we will meet the owner and have a private tour of his gorgeous domaine. Lunch will be in the small town of St. Remy de Provence on our way to Gordes and Roussillon, the picturesque villages of the "Luberon" area in 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. Dinner tonight will be at one of our favorite local restaurants run by a young, dynamic couple that serve incredible food and local wines.

Day 7/Saturday/September 18th

You will want to have an early breakfast today before discovering 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. While you are wandering the market, we will be shopping for local cheeses, olives, breads and more for our picnic at the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct built in 19 B.C. After our French-style 'pique nique', we will head back to Uzès for an afternoon at your leisure, where you can read in the garden of the B&B, shop at the boutiques or have a relaxing massage. Tonight we will be welcomed into a local home where we will have a cooking demonstration by a local chef, trained in Michelin-starred restaurants. The demonstration will be followed by a wine paired dinner looking over the beautiful French countryside.

Day 8/Sunday/September 19th

Return to Avignon TGV train station early morning.