This day or half-day excursion takes us to the most beautiful wine estates in Provence. An opportunity to discover the world of vines and wine, but also to marvel at the warm colours of the Provencal landscapes. And of course, it is above all the opportunity to taste some of the best wines of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region! In short, an ideal activity for wine lovers !
When Erwan talks to us about wine and oenology in general, he does it with his heart! This enthusiast has organised numerous events in the world of wine (in particular for the Côtes de Provence and the Master Winemakers of Saint-Tropez) and has ended up making his passion his profession by creating his own Vidivino structure. Today he shares his love for wine, gastronomy and Provence by taking small groups to discover the terroir of Provence.
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It's on a beautiful sunny day that our guide Erwan comes to pick us up directly at the office by minivan! That way, no need to worry about the effects of a whole day of tasting. We hit the road for our first stop : Taradeau and the Château Saint-Martin !
We arrive at Château Saint-Martin, which bears witness to a rich historical heritage where the Romans were already cultivating vines! The entrance to the estate is in the middle of the vineyards, then we arrive in front of this magnificent ochre building founded in 1740 and we enter this magnificent residence to go to the underground cellar. We are lucky enough to see vats dug directly into the rock by the monks of Lérins between the 12th and 13th centuries! These earthenware tiled vats are still in use and bring a very traditional touch.
After visiting the winery, we then move on to the new building in which there are more modern steel tanks. It is here, in the vinification cellar, that the temperatures are controlled to keep the best aromas of the wine. Erwan takes advantage of this moment to explain to us the different stages of vinification, and answers all our questions under the benevolent eye of "Saint-Martin" illustrated in a stained glass window.
Before going to wake up our taste buds, we will see the castle which has belonged to a noble family for several centuries, where the Countess is still staying today. Erwan takes us to the French gardens below the estate, a very pleasant and relaxed moment !
Saint Martin was born in 316 in Pannonia. One winter evening, meeting a poor man without any clothes, he cut his cloak in half to clothe the unfortunate man. The next night, while he was sleeping, Christ appeared to him wearing the part of the cloak he had given to the poor man. He was raised to the rank of "Saint" and his feast day is now celebrated on November 11.
Our favourite moment has finally arrived, time for tasting !
A very convivial moment during which we become wine experts (well, it depends for whom!). We have fun guessing the aromas present in the different rosé, white and red wines according to the colours and scents: Peach, pepper, grapefruit, lychee... there's something for everyone !
We learn a lot of things: how to tell the difference between a young and fresh wine and an older wine? Or how to try to find the taste profile of the wine according to its age... The more you progress in this tasting, the better you get at guessing !
A great meal awaits us after this delicious wine tasting. To accompany our meal, we choose the wines we enjoyed the most, in other words... all of them !
A little nap would not have been refused after this first stage, but we are now leaving for Trans-en-Provence, in Gérard's estate : the Clos Cassivet. Here, it's a completely different atmosphere : we forget all the standards of the French Riviera and we go off the beaten track to evolve on a small path in the middle of nature that takes us to the place called "Clos Cassivet", where our host Gérard welcomes us warmly.
We go straight to the heart of the matter: the cellar ! Gérard shares with us his passion for wine-growing. His particularity is to create wine that is as natural and healthy as possible, to give it a sincere character and to give it its image. For Gérard, the traditional side is essential ! He deliberately chooses to favour rather old barrels and does not use artificial yeasts, which gives a special and unique taste to each of his productions !
Gérard makes us taste his best wines, and he is very, very generous ! No spittoon, here we taste and finish his glass ! The flavours of his productions are surprising, we come back to the essence of the taste of wine, without being "polluted" by all the synthetic substances added in industrial productions.
We start with the rosé, then the white wine and finish with the red. Once again, we have fun guessing the year of the wines we taste, and Gérard does not hesitate to keep the suspense going... some vintages date back to before we were born ! We really feel his desire to share his passion with us and we can only salute his way of working, his involvement and the generosity he shows.
The day ends and we still have a magnificent estate to visit in a prestigious setting : the Château Font du Broc. It is magnificent! We don't know where to start, so magnificent and prestigious is the domain.
We venture into the vineyards, where a breathtaking view of the Rocher de Roquebrune awaits us. We have the chance to see the first grape buds on the vines. We hope that they will be spared by the frost because the beginning of the year has reserved us many surprises in terms of weather...
Walking through the estate's garden, one comes across a rather impressive 1200 year old tree. It's enough to make you think !
Erwan then has a breathtaking surprise in store for us: the incredible underground cellar of Château Font du Broc. We go down the stairs in a magical atmosphere before arriving 20 meters underground. The cellar is inspired by Cistercian architecture and resembles the Abbey of Thoronet. Everyone is amazed, and we spend our time taking pictures! It's the little finishing touch that makes you dream.
We go back up to the castle, where one last tasting awaits us. Once again, we taste the best wines of the estate, this time accompanied by a small chocolate tasting . We confirm ! The red wine and the chocolate complement each other wonderfully !
| In brief ! |
|---|
| The Wine Tour is an unusual and friendly activity not to be missed whether you are a wine enthusiast or a lover of good wines. Not only are the tastings a delight, but you can also discover things in a fun way and share an experience rich in history ! Our guide, Erwan, knew how to fascinate us throughout the visit in a great atmosphere! We recommend this experience 100% ! |
Between the Mediterranean and the Alps, Provence offers a delicate character and unique wines. Discover this universe with this exciting Wine Tour during which your oenologist guide will introduce you to the universe of the vineyards visited.
Price : from 550€ for 1 to 4 people
Reserved for adults only
+ more info : 04 94 19 10 60
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The Pays de Fayence (Fayence district) has many great provencal villages. All of them have a particularity such as the view from Mons or the artistic streets of Tourrettes. Do no forget to stop in Seillans that has the label of "Most beautiful village in France"
North of the A8 motorway, you will find the Pays de Fayence. Saint-Cassien lake, a real oasis of freshness in the Var, awaits you! Take a break at the Lake House before visiting the villages of Bagnols-en-Forêt, St-Paul-en-Forêt or Tanneron.
The city of Roquebrune-sur-Argens is the most westerly of the destination. It includes three districts: La Bouverie, at the foot of Gorges du Blavet; The village, overlooked by its magnificent rock, and Les Issambres, with its nautical activities by the sea.
Les Adrets de l'Estérel is a small town located at the extreme southeastern Var. Bordering the Maritimes Alpes, it is composed of large green forests. The town overlooks the bay of Cannes and has an exceptional view on the Lérins Islands and the Corniche de l'Estérel.
Puget sur Argens is a small village located in the middle of many wineries. Its commercial area, near the village, includes many shopping center. North of the village, the Bois du Defens give rise to several walks.
Welcome to Les Issambres, the district of Roquebrune-sur-Argens located on the coast. True paradise with its 8 km of beaches and creeks, this family seaside resort, already frequented at the time by the Romans, is located between the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and Fréjus-Saint Raphaël.
Frejus, located halfway between Cannes and Saint-Tropez, is at the heart of the Côte d'Azur. Based on a sandstone buttress of the Esterel massif, the town dominates the valleys of Argens and Reyran. Frejus has the appearance of a small Provencal town whose new districts extend to the sea.
65km from Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport, Saint-Raphaël is located between Cannes and Saint-Tropez. This seaside resort on the Mediterranean coast is at the bottom of the great Esterel mountains. Saint Raphael, whose city center is by the sea, is divided into different neighborhoods that have all their characteristics and their personalities.
