WINE CRUISE

Avignon – Aigues-Mortes

Reverse itinerary on alternate weeks

 Wine Cruise in the South of France  Cruise Route: River Rhône, Canal du Rhône à Sète
Highlights:  wine tasting at Chateauneuf du Pape,  Avignon - Pope’s Palace, visit of Pont du Gard, tasting of organic wines in the Chateau des Coccinelles,  Arles – Sommelier a bord,  Mas des Tournelles – Gallo-Roman wines,  Aigues Mortes

Sunday: After a late-afternoon rendezvous at the TGV station of Avignon, you will be transferred to your inviting barge moored in Villeneuve les Avignon. You will be welcomed aboard with a champagne toast, followed by the first of many gourmet meals.

Monday:  After a short cruise we will moor at the town of Avignon.  A walking tour of the town leads us to the covered market and the Popes Palace. Lunch will be served on the barge. The afternoon we drive to Chateauneuf du Pape, after a stroll through this little town, we go for a wine tasting at a wine cellar in a beautiful setting. We will park in front of the vestiges of the secondary Popes residence, a panoramic view over the Rhone Valley. You will be invited to discover the wines, tell which flavors you taste and all wines will be explained. You will be invited to ask any question you may have and you will get answers on all of them!  Depending on which state you live, they can ship to the US. We return to the barge for dinner, while we cruise away from the famous Avignon bridge to moor opposite of the town.

Tuesday:  Morning visit to the Pont du Gard. On our way back to the barge, we visit the chateau des Coccinelles in Domazan.  Proprieté biologyque. In family ownership for three generations, the Fabre family cultivates its wines in through organic farming, and the name of the estate. “Ladybirds” refers to it. After lunch we will cruise down the river to the Provencal village of Vallabregues. Before dinner, if you wish we can play ‘boules’ as the French, and drink a ‘Pastis’ as the French.

Wednesday:  The morning cruise leads us to the town of Arles, We will moor at the town and by foot, you can go to the Place du Forum with the café van Gogh, the Roman Amphitheater and the Arena.  At five o’clock in the afternoon  we will introduce you to the Sommelier waiting for you on the barge : "Initiation à la dégustation" développement des phases, avec tests de reconnaissance d'odeurs et de saveurs, suivi d'explications visuelles sur les vinifications des vins, dégustation appiquée sur vins de différentes régions de France. Durée 3 h. Dinner rounds out a wonderful day.

Thursday:  This morning we leave the Rhone River to turn into the ‘Petit Rhone’. We will pass the lock of St Gilles to continue our cruise on the canal du Rhone a Sete. We will moor at Gallician, After lunch we go for an wine tasting at le Mas les Tourelles, an archeological site of a roman villa where they produced amphoras at a large scale. This villa was situated near the Via Domitia,  linking Spain to Italy.   Many sorts of wines existed in roman antiquity.  Like testifying the passages of Pline the eldest, the blend of wine, honey and a certain number of plants and spices  are used in making this famous wine, which was often served to the « gustatio » (before the meal as an aperitif).

Friday: You could go to the local ‘cave cooperative’ in Gallician to taste some of the Costières de Nimes wines. We will continue our cruise on the canal to the walled city of Aigues Mortes. There will be time to walk the walls, visit the tour de Constance and explore the shops for souvenirs.  The lively square of Saint Louis has a variety of restaurants and bars to relax . A festive farewell dinner awaits you on L’Estello.

Saturday morning: We will say ‘Au Revoir’ after breakfast and transport you to the TGV train station in Montpellier

L'Estello
Year 2012 Rates in US Dollars

Rate includes: 6 night cruise, all meals including wine with meals, and excursions (entrance fees not included)