Springtime in Languedoc Vineyard Tour Weekend
During the spring months the Languedoc vines are just starting to wake
up after their long winter sleep and the hillsides are covered in a
mass of beautiful wild flowers. The wild rosemary and thyme are
flowering and the air is filled with intoxicating aromas and so it’s a
wonderful time to visit this magical place.
Dates: May 11, 12, 13 & 14
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 Limoux, Corbières & Minervois
- 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 beautiful 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 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 will enjoy a simple supper with your hosts – Alison is a great cook by the way!
Day Two – Saturday Corbières and Lagrasse
Today we head for the Corbières which is a region of contrasts; wild, windswept garrigue, where cigales sing and buzzards circle lazily against a blue sky. The vineyards are perched on sides of rocky hillsides and the roads wind round and round as we make our way towards our first vineyard visit Olleuix-Romanis which is a family owned vineyard close to the village of Monseret. The vineyard is situated in the heart of the Boutenac region, an area dedicated to the culture of the vine since roman times and the only cru in the Corbières. We will take a look at their traditional winery and then taste their superb wines, the reds made a blend of Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah and the whites from Marsanne and Rousanne.
After lunch we will visit our second winery carefully chosen to give you a quite different experience from the morning visit. Our last visit of the day will be to the pretty and historic village of Lagrasse where you will have some free time to explore before heading to a goat farm to taste the cheese.
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 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 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 and Home
After breakfast we will make the short journey to the medieval Cité of Carcassonne where you will have some free time to stroll and site see and perhaps enjoy a coffee of some local food before being transferred to the airport.
