Approaching Europe
CONTRAST TOURS
THE PROVENCE WINE TOUR, SEPTEMBER 2023 at HARVEST TIME
WITH GIORGIOS BAKATSIAS
WITH GIORGIOS BAKATSIAS
SEPTEMBER 22 - OCTOBER 6, 2023
In collaboration with The Giorgios Hospitality Group
Limited to 12 participants
Plus Giorgios, René the other Driver, and Myself
Plus Giorgios, René the other Driver, and Myself
12 Spots Available
ABOUT THIS TOUR:
View of Hotel in Nice's rooftop with pool and jaccuzzi.
Le Démon sur la Baie des Anges
Visite at Domaine Richeaume, Sylvain the Wine Magician
Arles and the Rhône River
The road to Chateau Romanin
Slow Down, Harvest!
Our Hotel in the Rhône Valley, a 12th Century castle, restored by Violet le Duc.
Lunch with Denis and Solange Brihat
Denis Brihat showing his work
Southern Rhône Valley Vine close to Harvest Time
In the Grotte Chauvet.
Pont d'Arc
Gorges de l'Ardèche
Gorges de l'Ardèche
Chez Moi
Des Amants dans mon Café
Des Amants dans mon Café
Bleu de Nice
Giorgios During the September 2017 Provence Wine Tour
Chateau Saint Maur, Cru Classé de Provence, Cogolin
One of the most famous cafés in Saint Tropez
Pink Flamingoes in Camargue
View from the rooftop of Domaine Scamandre
Cranes Flying over The Rhône in Camargue
Corinne Depeyre
Mont Ventoux, looking toward the Alps, Italy.
Northern View from the Mont Ventoux
Robin Grangeon, Domaine du Parandou
Cairanne, the Dentelles de Montmirail and the Mont Ventoux, seen from Patrick' Galant's vineyard
Elegant Lunch with Chateauneuf du Pape White.
From the Road to Chateauneuf du pape
Supreme Wine Tasting Experience with François-Xavier Vidil at Maison Aimé Arnoux
Dinner with Provençaux in Vacqueyras
Roland Terrasse, owner and vintner of Chateau Rochecolombe
La Tartine
Paris Dinner
Salut l'Artiste
This Wine Tour in Provence is designed to deliver the absolute ultimate exploration at harvest time, in the exquisite company of Giorgios, of the French province favored by most tourists, and the one at the origin of wine production in France. This is also where you will find the richest collection of roman and pre-historic vestiges. History and Art are omnipresent in this tour, that often operates as a time machine. We'll for instance go 38,000 years back, visiting the oldest cave paintings site in Europe, a fascinating experience, opening our minds to a vision of very early European life, that defies conventional intuition.
Of course this being a wine tour, we'll have quite a few visits with some of the best winemakers of France's South East, Provence. This is my native region, so you may bet that the producers I represent are second to none. These winemakers will open their house and heart for us, we will share meals together, and unforgettable teaching moments. The quality of the food experience during the tour is crucial, and you may expect excellence, authenticity, with sharp wine pairing.
All the hotels we go to are of the 4 stars category or equivalent, and provide rare charm and character.
Being a professional photographer with a career spanning over more than 50 years, photography and art have a strong place in my tours. In this tour, we will notably visit and have lunch in his house, with my mentor, Denis Brihat, a world famous photographer who has known, and of course photographed, Picasso, Jean Cocteau and other luminaries of that golden age. I will bring my portfolio with me, in order to foster discussions about photography and art, also showing where some of my most important photographs have been captured, how and why. The second driver, is my friend René, from my second school of photography. He is a photographer in his own right, totally capable of offering an "alternative" view, to mine that is! And then we will have an extended stay in Arles, the French modern epicenter of photography. So if photography has interest for you, you are on the right page, and we are on the same one.
Of course this being a wine tour, we'll have quite a few visits with some of the best winemakers of France's South East, Provence. This is my native region, so you may bet that the producers I represent are second to none. These winemakers will open their house and heart for us, we will share meals together, and unforgettable teaching moments. The quality of the food experience during the tour is crucial, and you may expect excellence, authenticity, with sharp wine pairing.
All the hotels we go to are of the 4 stars category or equivalent, and provide rare charm and character.
Being a professional photographer with a career spanning over more than 50 years, photography and art have a strong place in my tours. In this tour, we will notably visit and have lunch in his house, with my mentor, Denis Brihat, a world famous photographer who has known, and of course photographed, Picasso, Jean Cocteau and other luminaries of that golden age. I will bring my portfolio with me, in order to foster discussions about photography and art, also showing where some of my most important photographs have been captured, how and why. The second driver, is my friend René, from my second school of photography. He is a photographer in his own right, totally capable of offering an "alternative" view, to mine that is! And then we will have an extended stay in Arles, the French modern epicenter of photography. So if photography has interest for you, you are on the right page, and we are on the same one.
ITINERARY:
* Friday September 22: Departure from RDU (or wherever you depart from) to JFK or Atlanta, and then to Nice via direct flight, or whatever other flight arrangement suits you.
Unless you have elected to come enjoy Nice early, which is of course possible, see option's page for "Pre Tour additional nights in Nice."
* Saturday September 23: Arrival in Nice International Airport after a striking descent on the beautiful Bay of Angels.
This day will be dedicated to acclimating after the trans-Atlantic flight. Lunch at a restaurant on Nice's downtown beach. After lunch, relaxing stroll in Old Nice up to the Castle, to capture the view seen on the photograph "Le Démon sur la Baie des Anges," (see on left).
You may also lounge by the pool on the hotel's rooftop, where we will have a "Welcome to All" glass, before heading for dinner.
Dinner in the old town.
Unless you have elected to come enjoy Nice early, which is of course possible, see option's page for "Pre Tour additional nights in Nice."
* Saturday September 23: Arrival in Nice International Airport after a striking descent on the beautiful Bay of Angels.
This day will be dedicated to acclimating after the trans-Atlantic flight. Lunch at a restaurant on Nice's downtown beach. After lunch, relaxing stroll in Old Nice up to the Castle, to capture the view seen on the photograph "Le Démon sur la Baie des Anges," (see on left).
You may also lounge by the pool on the hotel's rooftop, where we will have a "Welcome to All" glass, before heading for dinner.
Dinner in the old town.
* Sunday September 24: We'll leave the hotel by 10:00 and drive to Chateau Saint Maur in Cogolin, near Saint Tropez, a producer of exceptional Vermentinos. We will have a tour of the estate, which expands 100 ha in the heart of the French riviera, followed by a lunch with Riviera fare, and some of the best whites produced in the whole south east.
We will then go spend some time in Saint Tropez, the mythic and beautiful small port on the Mediterranean, made famous by Brigitte Bardot. You will be able to explore the village or play pétanque on the famous Place des Lices, where so many stars have played before, and possibly may come to challenge you in 13 points, your chance to win back your tour ticket price!
We will eventually head to our hotel at the edge of Ramatuelle, near Tahiti beach, and will enjoy a dinner of rare quality.
* Monday September 25: After a memorable breakfast Riviera style in the charming environment of this Riviera Maison de Famille, we will head toward Aix en Provence and Domaine Richeaume, see photograph on the right.
The estate sits at the foothills of the Montagne Sainte Victoire, which was Cezanne's favorite subject, and mine too when I was living in a nearby village in pre-historic times, at the very beginning of my photographic career.
Domaine Richeaume is a ground breaking estate which has innovated and set trends in the region for the past 45 years. The production of the Domaine is absolutely stunning, with reds that are rich, deep, strong in fruit, notably black currant, refreshing but profound whites, and powerful yet all in finesse rosés. All the wines are biodynamic.
After the visit we will have lunch on the square of the village, of course with Richeaume's wines.
After lunch we will take a little road offering a stunning view on the montagne Sainte Victoire, see photograph on the left, and then will head to Arles, where we will stay three nights and spend as many hours as possible, roaming the streets filled with history, quite urban shops, and a haunting presence of photography since this town is the theater of a major yearly photograhy festival. The city also sits on the edge of the Rhône river and Camargue is definitely in the air.
You have the choice of two hotels of different styles and equal supreme quality in this tour, both a short walk from each other, in the very epicenter of Arles, see tour options page.
Dinner in one of Arles most atmospheric restaurant.
* Tuesday September 26: We will enjoy Arles with a late departure after a breakfast on the central square next to our hotels (weather permitting), and then a bit of free time in its streets before heading to Camargue.
Camargue is the estuary of the Rhône river, the largest river in France. It is a swamp, not unlike the bayous of Louisiana, only under a different climate, and therefore with a vastly different vegetation and wild life, alligators are somewhat uncommon in Camargue! On our way to the Saintes Maries de la Mer, we will drive the forbidden road by the big swamp, where one may see pink flamingoes.
We will then have lunch in a charming seafood restaurant, home cooking style, in the Saintes Maries de la Mer, a cultural mecca named after Saint Marie Magdeleine and the two other Maries, who are said to have landed there after escaping persecution in Palestine. This small town by the Rhône and the sea, is swinging at the rhythm of the Flamenco. This is where the Famous band "The Gypsy Kings" is from. Their music is always in the air in Les Saintes.
After lunch you will enjoy some free time to explore the place, absorbing its rather rare mix of "Gardian" (cowboy from Camargue), Gypsies vibes, Christian shrine atmosphere, omnipresent Toro culture, and beach resort.
We will finish the day at Domaine Scamandre. Scamandre is a Domaine created from scratch by a couple of dentists who fell in love with the region, and teamed up with a high caliber oenologist. They produce delicious organic wines following a very thoughtful and scientific process. We will visit the domaine with Nadine Renouard who founded the Domaine with her husband, and then will proceed to a festive evening at the domaine with a game of pétanque, apéritif and delicious food.
* Wednesday September 27: Another late departure and subsequent leisurely breakfast on the square as well as free time in Arles's streets.
We will then drive to and through the Alpilles, the lovely mounts north of Arles that seduced Alphonse Daudet, Van Gogh and many other artists.
Our destination will be Chateau Romanin, a 60 Hectares estate on the north side of the mountain range, east of Saint Remy de Provence. We are there in the Baux de Provence appellation, a rather new (30 years old) appellation, but a very promising one, notably for rosés and whites. Chateau Romanin is a biodynamic producer, and their white and rosés are stunning, extremely mineral and expressive, with an elegant balance and distinctive aromas. They also produce remarkable olive oils.
We will visit the cathedral chais carved in the roc, and be explained why Chateau Romanin is there and what makes the wines so different from most other wines in the region and beyond. We will have lunch with members of the staff in their reception room which offers a stunning view over the Rhône Valley up north, all the way to Avignon.
Return to Arles for more street roaming or a game of pétanque before dinner in another special Arles restaurant.
* Thursday September 28: After our last breakfast in Arles, we will leave n time to get to the Milan Winery in Saint Remy de Provence, which has gained a fair amount of recognition in modern, often "natural" wines, that are always very well made and addictive.
We will have a tasting of the whole production, and then will do a picnic on location.
After lunch we will head north to our hotel in the Rhône Valley but making first a stop at Le Pont du Gard. This Unesco World Heritage site, presents the tallest Roman aqueduct in the world, built in the 1st century and wonderfully preserved (see photograph on the left). We will enjoy a private guided visit, explaining how and why this aqueduct was built, a definitely Roman task. We will have a privileged tour of the top story of the bridge, which is not freely opened to the public, and where water was going through 2000 years ago. It will offer both a beautiful view and a captivating perspective on the history of this edifice, how it functioned, and beyond that, will shade some light on how Romans and Gauls lived 2000 years ago.
From there we will drive to our hotel nested in a 12th century castle in the heart of the Southern Rhône valley, see photographs on the left. This hotel is nothing short of magnificent, and will offer a unique chance to live for a few days in an alternative time span.
Pétanque.
Welcome Gastronomic Dinner at the castle.
* Friday September 29: Lazy late start as we are going about 10 minutes away, to the tony estate of La Présidente. This is one of the largest estates in the Rhône Valley, where it became prominent with the work of Max Aubert, its original founder. La Présidente produces some excellent Cairanne, and Chateauneuf du Pape, on 20 hectares that they owned there in one of the best locations and the vicinity of other prestigious names.
We will visit the estate, Simon Gauthier who now oversees winemaking at La Présidente, will show us some of the property and we will taste some wine in the chais. We will have lunch together in a very nice restaurant nearby with notably some white and red Chateauneuf du Pape.
This is the Chateauneuf du Pape day, and after lunch, the Domaine Durieu from whom I now import another Chateauneuf du Pape, will take us for a tour of their vineyard, in the Plan de Dieu where they have a very special plot, as well as in Chateauneuf. This will be followed by a tasting in their chais.
We will then be ready to explore a bit the village of Chateauneuf du Pape, see what remains of the castle and wander down the streets.
After this, we will drive back to the castle through the gorgeous route that leads to Orange, a town that Romans considered one of the most important towns in Gaule. That route offers one of the most beautiful panoramic view on the Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail, the background of our daily excursions.
Pétanque and another sublime dinner at the castle.
* Saturday September 30: Late start again, and a drive through the Dentelles de Montmirail, before and excellent lunch at the foot of our main destination. For given our new accommodation status, today we visit the king of the region, that we will be seeing everyday from afar, towering everything: the Mont Ventoux, that we are going to see very much up close.
This giant is famous for his testing ascent in the Tour de France, which often sorts the ultimate winner from the rest of the peloton. We will drive to the peak, and at its top we will be cousins with the clouds, and will have a breathtaking 360Ëš view over the Rhône Valley, the Alps, all the way to the Mediterranean, and Italy on a bright day, see photographs on the right.
Apart from its magnificence, the view really helps grasping the geography of the entire region, and put everything in perspective.
Pétanque.
Gastronomic Dinner at the castle, on the light side.
* Sunday October 1st: Relaxed start today as well. We go to the Luberon, the legendary part of Provence subject of countless books, notably the Peter Mayle ones (A Year in Provence), who by the way, owned some of his work and was a fan of my mentor, our host today.
Our Destination is Bonnieux where I have arranged a special lunch at my mentor's house. Denis Brihat is a photographer of international recognition, and the current spiritual heir of Edward Weston, the West coast photographer who first promoted photography as an art form, and inspired generations of photographers, starting with Ansel Adams. Denis settled in Bonnieux in the 50's after living in Biot in the vicinity of Picasso, Jean Cocteau etc... His work is unique in the history of photography, and has had a big influence on mine. His wife Solange will prepare a lunch that will be accompanied by some of the wines we visit. This will be a rare treat, blending provencal wines with world class art and delicious home cooking.
Denis will present us his work.
After this visit with one of the most senior Princes of Photography, on our way back home, we will go enjoy L'Isle sur Sorgue, a delightful small town offering a rather pittoresque all day market on Sundays, as well as lovely settings.
Provençal Dinner not too far from the Castle.
* Monday October 2nd: This morning we head to Vacqueyras and all along the way we will be graced again by the sight of the Dentelles de Montmirail that we visited a few days ago. In Vacqueyras we will be offered a very privileged visit of the Maison Arnoux, which is one of the largest winemakers in the southern Rhône Valley. The visit will be conducted by my actual brother who runs the whole operation, and is very involved in the wine making because of his extraordinary palate and understanding of wine. François-Xavier will offer us a very exclusive technical and comparative tasting, allowing us to understand the alchemy of barrel wine aging, and what parameters the winemaker plays with in order to develop the aromatic nobility of the wine. Maison Arnoux is the producer of the famed 1717 which ages in some of the very barrels that we will study during this tasting.I am pleased to report that the wines that we will be tasting, including the 1717, will be available in North Carolina around the end of the year.
We will then have lunch with François-Xavier in a nearby restaurant.
Relaxed schedule this afternoon, with maybe visit of one of the lovely villages in the surroundings, and/or depending on the group's mood, relaxing by the pool or playing pétanque at the castle. It is always possible to split the group into, one going back to the castle, and one exploring more.
Pétanque, pool etc. Dinner at the castle.
* Tuesday October 3rd: Today we cross the river, to drive to Chateau Rochecolombe in Ardèche, on the other side of the Rhône. Rochecolombe is a stellar organic vineyard, producing award winning wines. It is located in the northern tip of the appellation's geographic area, which is probably not a coincidence.
This is a more than 60 Ha estate, run very efficiently, and providing every year the best value one can find in the Côtes du Rhône appellations. We will tour a bit of the wineyard, understanding what makes Rochecolombe so unique. we'll then taste, from bottles, tanks and barrels, and have lunch with Manon, Laeticia and Roland the owner. The lunch will be catered by a gem restauranteur from the surroundings, friend of mine and Rochecolombe.
After lunch we will drive to the Grotte Chauvet, and after its visit we will drive down the Gorges de l'Ardèche, stopping at several breath taking belvederes.
The gorges are a magnificent site, where many caves can be found that were inhabited by our pre-historic ancestors, as early as 300,000 years ago. The most treasured of the caves is the Grotte Chauvet. It is a registered Unesco World heritage site, and contains some of the earliest known and best preserved figurative cave paintings in the world: 38,000 years old. It is not possible any longer to visit the actual grotte (later in the gorges, I will be able to point out where the actual grotte is), but French authorities have built a perfect replica, which is the world's reference for conservation of parietal art.
I should emphasize that this is nothing short of a life altering visit. It is beyond fascinating to dive as profoundly as such a visit allows, in the actual lives and psyche of those early ancestors of ours. This is like stepping into a time machine, that will take us far, far back in history, to the really very early stages of humanity.
Dinner post paleolithic gastronomy at the castle.
* Wednesday October 4: I don't know yet about you, but my experience is that by now, I have gotten very much used to living in this prince-like way, and it is always heart pinching to have to say "adieu" to the beautiful castle and the lovely people who hosted us.
We now have to go see other skies, Parisian ones, which is not really a punishment! We'll leave the castle in mid morning in order to be in Valence my home town for a lunch at the foothill of another castle wh dominate the town, an altitude excellent restaurant.
High speed train for Paris where we will arrive 2:15 hours later.
Taxi to our hotel in Saint Germain des Près. Our four star hotel is located in the heart of Saint Germain des Près, and not far from the river. This is both a beautiful and central location, from where we can walk almost everywhere in Paris, and we do need to do some walking after two weeks of rather decadent indulgences!
The hotel is very comfortable, safe and with a great staff. Over the years, I have developed a great relationship with Marco, the Director, who provides extra care to my customers and myself, and I am absolutely certain that you will greatly enjoy your stay there. And why not, right? We are going to be in one of the very most desirable locations in Paris!
Dinner in a gem parisian restaurant, outside the beaten path for sure, that actually few non Parisian folks know.
* Thursday October 5: Free day in Paris, option to tour it with me, as well as meet for dinner, see options page.
* Friday October 6: This is the official end of the tour, unless you have chosen to extend your stay in Paris, which is always possible and desirable, especially given where we stay and what the options are.
So if you want to enjoy a bit more of this delightful city: free day in Paris, option to tour it with me today we are having lunch on the Eiffel Tower, as well as meet for dinner, see options page.
* Saturday October 7: If you are still enjoying Paris you might want to tour it with me, today we go from Saint Germain to Le Marais, shop a bit. You may certainly meet us for dinner, see options page.
* Sunday : This it folks, at least for me, I need to attend to next year's tours preparation and visit a few producers. But you are welcome to stay in Paris as long as you'd like, I can book your room for as long as you'd like, provided that this is done as soon as possible, given that our hotel is very popular! See options page.
We'll see each others again.
Vue Imprenable
ABOUT THIS VOYAGE:
Jean-Christian Rostagni
This is Your Hosts
Lineup:
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René Tanguy
This trip is for those seeking an authentic French experience exploring the French Riviera, Provence and the southern Rhône Valley. You may expect a trip that will take you in stunning comfort, quite further than what you may already know about Provence and the South East of France in general. All in the company of two deeply French photographers, and Giorgios Bakatsias who will make sure you are feeling at your best every day.
DATES: September 22 - October 6, 2023, including 3 nights and 2 days in Paris. See the Paris options here.
Limited to up to 12 travelers, plus René Tanguy and myself, your travel companions, drivers, guides, photography assistant, interpreters and hopefully entertainers, competing for your love with Giorgios Bakatsias.
$8.480 per person based on double occupancy, + travel insurance and airfare, if 12 participants and in "Harmony" room in Nice, "Vineyard View" room in Ramatuelle, "Classique" room in Arles, "Premium" room in the Rhône Valley castle, and "Superieure" room in Paris. $8,700 if 11 participants, $9,000 if 10 participants. Please see options page to see all room choices, alternatively and beyond the rooms listed here.
The single accommodation supplement is $1,290 in Tour's single or classique rooms. Price includes hotel, meals, wine during meals, transportation, entrance fees when applicable, and should be considered all-inclusive, save for beverages in your room or at the bar and other services you might want to enjoy that are not part of the group activities.
Travel Insurance is mandatory, you will be quoted a rate based on your tour cost and other parameters. See here.
Please read our Viral Policy.
Photography: I will happily provide photographic assistance and share my photographer's perspective throughout the tour. You will even be able to get a second opinion from René Tanguy, who will co-host the trip. He was in photography school with me during antiquity, and is also a photographer with a several decades-long career and an impressive list of customers, shows and books.
During this journey you will be able to compare wines from many different appellations from France's south east, see what the differences are, and get to understand why there are such differences. Our meals will always be paired with wines from the wineries that we visit. Those wines are imported by Contrast Wines, a sister company to Contrast Tours, and are available in wine stores and restaurants in NC.
The exact itinerary is subject to modification due to scheduling considerations. Please note that this is an epicurean journey, and while I will attempt to satisfy special requests when possible and if mentioned at booking, I cannot guarantee being able to accommodate all dietary needs. Please inquire if this is a matter of concern.
Please email me (use Contact Us button below) if you want to book or have any questions. You may also call me: 919-416-1111.
