Cost: : From 1,370euro per person (dbl occ)

 

Includes:

• Accommodation in **** hotel (3 nights) , double room with breakfast.
• Meals, wine incuded (3 glasses) except for Saturday’s dinner
• Permanent escort by a wine professional.
• Training and workshop of tasting
• A carnet and its tasting data sheets
• Transport in air conditioned vehicle.
• Avignon’s guided visit, tasting and lunch included
  

Itinerary

Thursday : Welcome and Presentation

Arrival at the hotel. Take the time to enjoy this remarkable environment of this XIXth century castle, its luxurious bedrooms, the panoramic terrace and swimming pool. Presentation of the tour and tasting workshop at 6:00 PM. We will then have dinner at the hotel which proposes a gourmet Menu (wines included), combining “terroir” products and refinement.

Friday : It's Harvest Time

A renowned Estate is opening its door to us during harvest. We will spend the morning in the
vineyards. The owner will explain us the terroir features, the different grape varieties used in
Chateauneuf, the harvest conditions. All around us, the employees will cut the rip grapes; indeed in Chateauneuf, the harvest is done only manually, since the machine is forbidden here. For those who wish to experience the harvest, a secateur in one hand, they will have the opportunity to pick up some grapes. Depending of the owner’s decision, some plants might be proposed to some of you, so that the harvest grapes would be separated and be processed separately and dedicated to your own bottles which would be released in a year or two ! At the end of the morning, presentation of the estate’s wines will be made and we will taste and appreciate them. Lunch will take place in a charming restaurant at the centre of the village. Beginning of the afternoon, the winemaker will authorize us to enter its cellar, in order to understand the vinification process during the harvest. End of the day, a tour in a handcraft chocolate facility will be the occasion to taste some succulent chocolates which are been proposed in some famous restaurants in France and elsewhere. A gastronomic dinner will be proposed to us at the hotel, and we will enjoy a « Découverte » Menu, a gastronomic adventure ! (wines not included).

Saturay : Visits of Chateauneuf du Pape Estates

The whole day is dedicated to Estates visits and tasting. VINIVIA’ drastic selection is based on the wine quality, the respect of the « terroir », and on the winemaker’s personality. Lunch will be taken on the top of Chateauneuf foothill where the village castle stands. This castle used to be the residence of the Popes in the XIVth century. If the weather is nice, we will have lunch on the terrace which offers a splendid view of the entire vineyards, and the whole surrounding region. Dinner at the hotel, and gourmet Menu (wine included).

Sunday : Avignon, the old city and the Pope’s Palace

A guided tour will be proposed in order to fully discover and understand this splendid mediaeval city : the old city, the chapels, places and narrow streets will relate us the history of the city during all these years. Of course, we will visit the Pope’s Palace which was the principal residence of the Popes during the XIVth century. We will better understand the way of living, the political and religious influence, the cuisine,… in these mediaeval ages, and why Avignon was considered at that time as a “second Roma” and the capital of the christianism.
To discover more wines from the region, we will finish our tour at the “Bouteillerie” (which ends our visit of the Pope’s Palace). A nice selection of 4 regional wines are proposed, as well as commented tasting. The wines will be coupled with local food such as delicatessen, cheeses, …
End of the tour after lunch.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACCOMODATION

You will stay in a luxurious hotel, which is a 19th century splendid castle overhanging Chateauneuf du Pape vineyards. Four star service type. Rooms with air conditioning are all unique, and decorated in Provence style. Oriented South so that you benefit from a marvelous view on the Vineyards, and observe at a few km from there, the Pope’s Palace of Avignon.

4 categories of rooms are available : Standard, Superior, Luxe, and Luxe with private panoramic terrace.

The hotel has its own restaurant, so that you can enjoy this place and view so unique, while you’re having a gastronomic dinner. The cuisine is indeed reputed for its quality and creativity. At the base of this fortress, you will relax while enjoying a panoramic swimming pool.
No doubt that you will appreciate this splendid environment, the refined cuisine while tasting
Chateuneuf du Pape prestigious wines.

TERROIRS AND WINES

A unique vineyard in France : Chateauneuf du Pape. You will have the chance to meet the producers and taste their wines which are exported all over the world.

CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE
At the end of the 19th century, the vine growers decided by themselves to define and adopt severe constraints in terms of vine growing and wine production. Thanks to their exceptional terroirs and to these new rules applied now for decades, and which definitively contribute to the exceptional quality of Chateauneuf du Pape Wines, the reputation of this wine region increased dramatically and became an example and a reference for other Appellations (AOC : Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) in France but for the rest of the world.

This Appellation covers 3 200 hectares, delimited in the 20’s into several sectors. The diversity of the soil is large, although the Chateauneuf du Pape vineyard is mostly known for its galets roulés, and for some sectors, sandy soil which gives elegance to the wines. Moreover, the climate is particularly adapted thanks to the sun shining during the whole year, and the windy conditions (the famous Mistral north wind of the Rhône valley). Adding the 13 authorized grape varieties particularly adapted to the soil and weather, all conditions are gathered to get matured and healthy grapes which fully express the specifities of these special terroirs. Among many other drastic constraints in production, the yields are to be very low (limited to 35 hl/ha), harvest are done manually (no machines) so that only the best and nicest grapes are selected.

The Chateauneuf du Pape red wines are reputed for the Grenache, “king” of this Appellation. But
other grape varieties are assembled with the Grenache, especially the noble ones such as Syrah,
Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Result is full body, complete wines, with a nice structure, often giving redfruity and prune characters, married with savoury, spicy notes. Wines in mouth are generous and round, well balanced in fruit and tannins, offering a pleasant complexity. Complexity is increasing over time. Do not hesitate to keep these wines for years !

The white wines usually made out from ripen Clairette, white Grenache, Roussane, Bourboulenc and Picpoul. They are elegant and aromatic, often with floral and fruity notes. Very seductive, well
balanced and crisp wines. Although Less known than the red wines, we consider them as remarkable and outstanding wines.