L'Esprit du Languedoc-Roussillon

This fabulous weekend tour is an exploration of this beautiful region and the wines produced Gayda_Aug_2007_124 here which are the Spirit of Languedoc-Roussillon. During the 4 days you will visit both the Languedoc and the Roussillon and experience the diverse wines of both regions.

Dates

July 6, 7, 8 & 9

Fully Inclusive Price €525 per person (based on 2 people sharing) €100 single supplement

Without evening meals the price is €425 per person (based on 2 people sharing) €100 single supplement

The prices do not include flights.

The weekend includes

•    3 nights B&B
•    Lunch each day
•    Evening meals if you choose the fully inclusive option
•    3 fabulous days touring the region
•    All visits & tastings
•    Transport throughout in our air conditioned vehicle

Day One – Domaine Gayda & Limoux

Your weekend gets off to a fabulous start with a tour of Domaine Gayda & Limoux on the Friday when you arrive. Domaine Gayda is one of the leading and most impressive wine producers in the area and a place not to be missed!

During the visit we will enjoy a personalised private tour in the state of the art winery and learn how the wines are made and matured. We will enjoy a relaxed and fun tasting of their excellent range of wines followed by a three-course lunch with wine in their superb restaurant that overlooks the Pyrenees.

After lunch we will take the short drive to the abbey of St Hilaire where the first sparkling wine was created by the monks in 1531. This is a be Caunes_Minervois_3 autiful abbey and we will spend a little time walking through the cloisters and taking a look at the wine cellar and the other historical buildings. Our next visit is to a small family run vineyard making this fabulous fizz which you will taste before heading to your B&B in the village of Caunes-Minervois.

Your B&B is in the village of Caunes-Minervois and is owned by an English couple who have made France their home for the past 10 years. Their beautiful and comfortable house has 3 guest bedrooms each with en-suite bathrooms. The garden is extensive and includes a swimming pool for guests to enjoy.

Tonight you are dining at Hotel D’Alibert in the village where you are staying. The restaurant is in a medieval building with the most beautiful renaissance courtyard.

Day Two – The Roussillon

The Roussillon was part of Catalonia until the 16th century and the wines of this region still have a Spanish style to them. They are grown on incredible landscapes with heart stopping views of the Pyrenees. The soils and the dry, arid climate here produce wines with incredible concentration and minerality and this has attracted some of the most passionate wine makers to the region.

Today we take the motorway to Perpignan and from there we drive into the Roussillon to the village of Calce which seems to be the epicentre for top wine making in the Roussillon. Here we will visit an organic vineyard Maury_Terroir producing superb Roussillon wines. We will have a tour of the winery followed by a fabulous tasting of the range of red and white wines produced in this interesting winery. After the tasting we will take the mountain road to the little town of Maury where we will have lunch in a country auberge.

Afterwards we will visit a small domain owned by a courageous British couple who have swapped their office jobs to follow their dreams and become wine makers. We will taste their excellent wines including the sweet red wine that this region is famous for. This tour also includes olive oil tasting at an independent producer close to Perpignan.

Tonight you will enjoy supper with your hosts – Alison is a great cook by the way!

Day Three - Saint-Chinian & Minervois

The area around the village of Saint-Chinian is very beautiful with a back drop of the Cévennes mountains and hill-sides smothered in vines and garrigue that wild, herb strewn vegetation that cents the air.

We start our tour by visiting a very pretty domaine perched high up with views over to the Mediterranean on a clear day. This organic vineyard is also biodynamic which means everything they do in the vineyard and the winery is governed by the rhythm of the earth and moon. They produce red, rosé and white and after visiting the winery you will have the chance to taste them all.

After the tasting we head to the town of St Chinian to join the hustle & bustle of the Sunday market where you will a little free time to wander the stalls before heading to a country auberge for lunch. The auberge is one of the best and here you will served the local Cross Cassoulet dish, that white bean stew with duck confit and Toulouse sausage washed down with local wine. Delicious! In the afternoon we head for our second vineyard which is in the Minervois appellation. This one is also organic and produces small amounts of top class wines of all styles.

We just have time to visit the pretty village of Minerve before driving back through lovely countryside awash with colour, vineyards and olive groves with spectacular views of the Pyrenees.

Tonight you will enjoy a light supper of cheeses and charcuterie and of course crusty French bread and local wine.

Day Four – Carcassonne & Home

The morning is free for you to explore before being transferred to the airport or continue your holiday independently.

To find out more or to book the tour please call Wendy on 07880 796786 or email wendy@vinenvacances.com