PROGRAM

Destination Provence, a tour operator located in the Rhone Valley, offers a week’s discovery of wine, through wine tasting courses in a luxury and gourmet hotel, alternating moments of relaxation and leisure.

You will be welcome on Monday Morning in a 4 star Restaurant Hotel, part of the “Relais et Chateaux de France”, located at the top of a charming village in Drôme Provençale.

The main building of the castle was rebuilt in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and encircles an eleventh century tower. The private 10 hectare park houses a heated pool and a tennis court. Sometimes, depending on the outing, you can see deer running in total freedom.

The Castle provides its customers with the comfort of today in a historic setting. Each room has its own character. The rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with color TV, a mini bar and a private bathroom. Absolute comfort and charm! This will be your home during your stay. Make yourself at home!

The Training venue:
Built on a rocky promontory, the Castle of Suze la Rousse is a spectacular military structure protected by its medieval towers and its bulwark. The construction of the Renaissance court in the mid-sixteenth century transformed the fortress into a pleasant mansion. The Castle has a remarkable interior and a 23 hectare wooded parkland. It now hosts the prestigious Wine University. Training Centre, wine tasting, research facility, the University is the ideal place to pass on the knowledge of wine.

Training:
Four half days will be devoted to the discovery of wine for an enological training.
 Introduction to wine tasting: Principles, methods, flavours and fragrances.
 Introduction to wine tasting: wine making, a concept of balance and care.
 Introduction to Wine: Diagrams wine - white, pink, red. Vocabulary base.
 Hierarchy: vintage tasting, variety of grapes, evaluation.
The training will end by awarding a certificate issued by the Wine University.

The lecturer:
After twenty years of experience in the world of wine and traveling to the far corners of the world, Philippe Dupond, enologist, is a specialist in teaching groups and giving training courses. With its experience in the field, he has a pedagogical approach, and being bilingual, you will discover with him the hidden pleasures of various classifications: vintages, Côtes du Rhône Villages, regional A.O.C. appellations. He regularly gives courses at the famous University of Wine in Suze la Rousse. He will accompany you throughout the week, during your training and visits.

Visit of wineries:
 It is in the “Pays de l’Hermitage” that you will find one of the largest wineries of the Rhone Valley. La Maison Chapoutier invites you to visit its cellar and winery, where you will taste the best wines: Condrieu, Chateauneuf du Pape red, Hermitage, Cote-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage….

 In the Region of Condrieu, in the town of Ampuis, you will visit the area and enjoy tasting of vintage wine at one of the main wine producers of Cote-Rôtie.

 The trip will also lead you to Chateauneuf du Pape for a visit to the vineyard around a wonderful castle including wine tasting. These well known red wines are complex, powerful and velvety. The white wines are extremely delicate.

 In the Region of Chateauneuf du Pape, we will propose you to stop in village vaults for a special wine tasting of winning awards bottles with wine specialists.

Additional features:

 One afternoon will be dedicated to the black diamond: the truffle. With the assistance of a local truffle farmer, you will walk around truffle area and make your own research. You will learn everything about this so special mushroom and of course there will be truffle tasting in the castle restaurant for dinner. The chef will open his kitchen doors for you and will share some of his tricks about preparing truffles.
 Meal is an instant favoured to make the most of the knowledge of wines. Your teacher will offer a dinner with at the Chateau Rochegude, and you will be introduced to various wines of the Rhone Valley.

The meals:
For lunch, we selected places in luxurious and charismatic establishments combining gastronomy and refinement that will reveal the flavours of Provence.

Breakfasts and main dinners will be served in the Castle Restaurant. The “Chef” will be pleased to share with you a local cuisine he learnt through generations.

Depending on the season, truffle will be on the menu.

A personal time to escape:
You are free to choose in our VIP program many activities for your spare time including: trip to Avignon, Lyon, Golf or simply resting in a beautiful and relaxing site.

Price per person: contact us

Limited to 4 persons minimum, and maximum 20 persons

The price includes:
 Accommodation in a 4 stars hôtel
 Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner
 Enological training
 Visits to wineries and wine tasting
 The visits mentioned in the programme
 The activities mentioned in the programme
 Transportation as per programme

The price does not include:
 Transportation from your home and transfer (optional)
 Travel not mentioned in the programme (optional)
 Activities not included in the program
 Tips and personal expenses
 Services not mentioned in the programme

The options:
 Single room
 The transportation from your home (station or airport)
 Rental of a personal vehicle
 Complementary Activities
 VIP day
 Transportation from your home and transfer We are at your disposal to fulfill any additional requirement or wishes. Do not hesitate to call on us!

Booking: Contact our office