RougeVin - Into the Vines - A Weekend in Provence

One arrival at Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport, make your way through customs and immigration to the arrivals hall, where you will meet your transfer driver.* Take in the stunning landscapes of Provence as you wind your way to Lou Calen in Cotignac, where you will spend two nights in a Bessillon Room.**

Renowned as one of France's most beautiful villages - an official member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France since 2022 - Cotignac nestles at the foot of a dramatic limestone cliff known as Le Rocher (The Rock) in a region wooded with cypress, elm, and fir trees. Two 12th-century Saracen towers and the ruins of a  medieval fort stand sentinel over the village from the clifftop, and Le Rocher is home to numerous troglodyte (cave) dwellings - many carved out by a waterfall from the Cassole River which once gushed from the rock face, diverted in the 10th century - used for storage and as refuges by the villagers during invasions. Ancient brick and stone buildings - many continuously occupied since Roman times - line narrow winding streets, overlooking classic Provençal landscapes.Cotignac has long been a place of pilgrimage, thanks to Marian apparitions reported in the 16th and 17th centuries - pilgrims still visit the sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary just outside town - while contemporary visitors are drawn by the vibrant weekly markets, wine tastings, and summer festivals. The heart of the village is Le Cours Gambetta, lined with outdoor cafe terraces, restaurants, galleries, and local shops shaded by century-old plane trees centred on two bubbling fountains - the beautiful Fontaine des Quatre-Saisons, taken from a convent in Aix-en-Provence during the French Revolution, and the white-marble dolphin-style Fontaine de la Cascade. 

Situated on over 8 acres of expansive grounds at the heart of the village, Lou Calen (“oil lamp” in Provençal) blends history with relaxed contemporary luxury, seamlessly interwoven into Provencal village life. There are only 35 rooms and suites scattered across the estate, tucked away just behind Le Cours Gambetta - a secluded oasis mere minutes away from Cotignac's best restaurants, shops, and galleries. After more than 20 years of closure, the iconic hotel-restaurant created in the early 1970s has been reborn as an eco-responsible hotel estate centred around wellbeing of people within nature. Lou Calen is an ideal place to recharge your batteries and (re)discover the simple pleasures of Provençal living.

This afternoon, relax at Lou Calen. Explore the grounds, discovering the lavender field, olive groves, vines, and kitchen garden. Try your hand at pétanque or tennis. Relax beside one of three sparkling pools, or indulge in a massage. Taste locally produced olive oil. Alternatively, take a stroll in to the historic village and explore its winding ancient streets, dating back to Roman times.

This evening, join the group for a pre-dinner pastis tasting over a game of pétanque, followed by a three-course dinner with wine at Le Bistrot at Lou Calen, where Yvan Franceschi infuses seasonal Provençal bistro-gastronomy with exotic flavours. Rooted in Provençal tradition, Yvan's cuisine embraces global inspiration to reinvent the spirit of the classic French bistrot -  colour brings life to bistronomy, transporting you from Provence to Asia via Italy. Fresh local produce is combined with locally raised meat dry-aged on-site.

* We have arranged two transfers to work with the timings of most morning and afternoon flights. If you would prefer not to wait, we can arrange a private transfer for you.

** The costings in this itinerary are based on a Bessillon Room (40 m2). If you would prefer to upgrade to a Cassole Room (35 m2 with terrace) please let us know.

After a delicious breakfast at Lou Calen, we will meet our driver for a day exploring Provence. This morning, we'll wind our way through the beautiful Provencal countryside to Domaine des Peirecèdes, where we'll step into the world of a fifth-generation family estate. Since 1900, the Peirecèdes vineyard has been lovingly nurtured, with Alain and Véronique Baccino establishing the winery adjacent to the historic bastidon in 1991. Today, the unusual father-daughter pairing of Audrey and Leslie carry on the family legacy - Audrey, an oenologist, crafts the wines with finesse, while Leslie manages the estate’s administrative and creative ventures.

We'll stroll through the vineyards spanning sixty hectares, from the Maures hills to the coastal slopes, before enjoying private tastings with the winemaker. Don’t miss the art exhibition hosted on the estate!

After our tasting at Domaine des Peirecèdes, we'll savour a refined three-course Provencal lunch* at Le Verger des Kouros, where local flavours meet culinary artistry in the nearby town of Cuers.

This afternoon is yours to explore Lou Calen and Cotignac at your leisure. Explore Lou Calen's more than 8 acres of grounds, or ramble through the medieval village. If more wine tasting strikes your fancy. Chateau Mirabeau has a tasting room with their full range of wines a short walk away on Le Cours Gambetta.

This evening, you have the option of joining the group for a four-course gourmet dinner with wine at Le Jardin Secret,** Lou Calen's Green Michelin Star retstaurant. Housed in a former farmhouse surrounded by fertile land, the kitchen garden leads the way: each morning, Chef Benoît Witz draws inspiration from a freshly picked herb, a flower in bloom or a sun-ripened vegetable. Working closely with local producers, he creates a single daily menu built around carefully sourced meat and fish, alongside a vegetarian version in which vegetables take centre stage. An instinctive style of cooking that reflects Provence, simply and through the seasons. 

Alternatively, take the opportunity to explore Cotignac's culinary delights with a booking in one of the local restaurants.

* NB Beverages are to your own account

** Please let us know if you would like to join the dinner at Le Jardin Secret (at additional cost)

Following a light breakfast, we'll meet our driver for our transfer to Château Sainte Croix, where our day will begin with an adventurous twist:  quad and scooter rides through the chateau's beautiful vineyards. We'll continue with a private vineyard tour and an exclusive wine tasting with the winemaker.

Established on the ancient lands of the Thoronet Abbey in Carcès, the Pélépol family estate began its journey in 1924, when Fernand Pélépol acquired the first 5 hectares of vines. Today, Florence and Stéphane - the fourth generation - continue this family adventure, expanding the estate’s horizons. The vineyard is home to thirteen distinct grape varieties: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle, Sémillon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Carignan, Colombard, Clairette, Mourvèdre, and Muscat.

Blending deep respect for the traditions and expertise passed down through generations - best expressed by the manual punching down (pigeage) performed during the barrel-aging process - and modern innovations such as cold stabilization (stabulation à froid), a winemaking technique that involves chilling the juice and delicately stirring the lees to naturally extract the maximum intensity of fruit aromas.  To preserve the absolute freshness and aromatic purity of the grapes, most of the harvest is conducted by machine during the coolest hours of the night. However, for specific cuvées such as the flagship red Le Patriarche, the grapes are exclusively hand-harvested to ensure a meticulous selection. 

Following the tasting, we'll enjoy a four-course gourmet lunch with wine among the vines prepared by a private chef.

Conclude your Provençal escape with a visit to the Château’s cellar, savouring the final tastes and aromas of this remarkable region before heading back to Lou Calen, where you can relax prior to our transfer back to Nice departing at ~1700 hrs. *

* If you need to leave earlier, please let us know and we can arrange a private transfer (at additional cost)