A trip to France

If you're planning to travel to the south of FranceProvence is a serious business. Many of the
in the near future, think about including a trip towinegrowers here have won the rights to include
one of the vineyards of the 60 winegrowers inthe prestigious "AOC" designation (Appellation
the "Côtes de Provence" region. A small, yetd'Origine Controlee) on their bottles of wines. This
beautiful area, it takes in the departments of thelabel assures the buyer of a guaranteed vintage
Var and part of the Bouches-du-Rhône.from the designated region. In order to win the
An indigo sky, azure sea and miles of white,right to become designated as an appellation wine,
sandy beaches welcome you to an area wherewinegrowers much pass rigorous tests and
limestone cliffs and medieval villages give way toinspections.
miles of sharply-scented pine forests that provideThis is a truly prestigious and coveted award, as
shelter to tranquil lakes and lazy rivers.only the Ministry of Agriculture in Paris can
Whether you stay in a bustling, crowdedbestow the title of an AOC on a wine.
metropolis with all the modern conveniences, or aAs you will discover from the first delicious sip,
turn-of-the-century country guest house filled withthe Côtes de Provence winegrowers are
17th and 18th century antiques, in Provence yourexperts in utilizing traditional methods when
days will be filled with sunshine and warmth, andharvesting and bottling their wines. Their deep
lush nights, scented with jasmine, lavender andrespect for the soil, the climate and the different
wild thyme.varieties of grapes they use comes through in
Perhaps because of the breathtaking beauty ofthe quality and taste of each bottle.
the Mediterranean Sea and the abundance ofLocated in the heart of Provence's winemaking
tourist attractions found in Nice, Cannes andregion, the "Maison des Côtes de Provence"
elsewhere along the French Riviera, Provence isboasts an outstanding selection of appellation
often overlooked by companies that offerwines.
traditional wine tasting tours, in spite of theIf you're not worried about the thickness of your
excellence of its wines.waist (or your wallet), a visit to the four-star
2600 years ago, the Phoenicians settled in what isrestaurant the "Bacchus Gourmand" is a must,
now France and created the first vineyards towhere you can savor real Provençal cuisine
honor Bacchus (the God of wine). They leftaccompanied (of course) by the perfect bottle of
behind a legacy of full-bodied wines that have aa Côtes de Provence wine.
sparkle and fullness that is as rich as the areaOr try sampling a home-cooked meal at one of
they are grown in.the many out of the way cafes you'll find tucked
In Provence, as everywhere in the Mediterranean,away on a narrow side street in any village,
you'll find the people full of warmth, spontaneitywhere your host is also often your chef, and he
and a "joie de vivre". As you will soon discover,will be delighted to recommend a wine to you.
any of these master oenologists (winemakers) willDuring your tour you can arrange to take a wine
be delighted to introduce you to the wines theytasting course at one of the vineyards where you
have become famous for; and share a little of thewill learn a complete understanding of wine: its
region's history with you.robe (color), its bouquet (perfume), its body
If you're very lucky, and your host is in the right(strength) and everything you need to know
mood, he might even share some closely guardedabout service, conservation etc.
secrets of how to blend the right food withA visit to Provence and a tour of some of these
exactly the right wine, something that mostwonderful vineyards and wineries -- and taking
French winegrowers are passionate about!home a bottle or two -- will be an experience to
As it is throughout all of France, winemaking inremember.