Welcome to La Madelene : Rhone Wine Holidays

Quick Summary

Tour:

 Complete Southern Rhone Tour

Duration:

 6 Nights

Price:

 From 1800 Euros

Special Partner Price:

 From 1300 Euros

Appellations Visited:

 12 Domaines at Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Lirac, Tavel, Cairanne, Seguret, Beaumes de Venise.





























The Complete Southern Rhone (6 nights)



"The finest values of the entire Rhone Valley,if not all of France, for distinctive long-lived red wines are in Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas." (Robert Parker)


Price per person: From 1800 Euros
Special Partner Price: From 1300 Euros

Sunday:


Arrive at

La Madelène

late afternoon/early evening; settle in, perhaps swim, meet your fellow guests, introduction to weeks programme, champagne on the terrace, dinner chez

La Madelène

, alfresco on our terrace if the weather permits or in the old chapel dining room.

We will taste two fine examples of
Chateauneuf du Pape
during the dinner:
Chateau Beaucastel 2000
and
Domaine de la Mordoree's cuvee Reine du Bois 2005.


Monday:


To ensure you recuperate swiftly from your journey to us we deliberately keep the first day's schedule light and local. After a leisurely breakfast on the terrace take the introductory briefing on the Rhone valley in our Atelier (workroom) followed by a tutored tasting allowing guests to compare and contrast the major grape varieties of the region- Syrah, Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier.We include a short introduction to tasting technique so all our guests have a common language for the days ahead. It's still early but don't worry spittoons are provided! Pre-lunch swim/walk/relax followed by aperitif and lunch alfresco.

In the afternoon we visit two of our local jewels - the renowned
Gigondas
made by brilliant maverick winemaker and negociant
Louis Barruol
of
Chateau de Saint Cosme
and, just up the road, one of my favourite
Gigondas
and
Rasteau
producers
Jean-Pierre Meffre
at
Domaine Saint Gayan.
We return to

La Madelène

at around 6pm in time to rest before being escorted to one of our favourite local restaurants such as Le Laurier in the pretty village of Faucon with views up to Mt. Ventoux, which specialises in imaginatively prepared Provencal cuisine.

Tuesday:


Your third day takes you straight to the lion of the southern Rhone:
Chateauneuf du Pape
. Your 9.30pm post-breakfast session in the Atelier will walk you through the background to this prestigious appellation and allow an oppoprtunity to taste a selection of my favourites, both reds and whites.

We set out for the village of
Chateauneuf du Pape
at 10:45 am where we will visit and taste at three of the great names. First,
Domaine Nalys
, famous for its experimental approach and its white wines. Lunch today is at the restaurant within the spectacular
Chateau des Fines Roches
wine estate after which we move on to visit/taste at it's neighbour
Chateau La Nerthe
with it's stunning 18th century chateau and ancient cellars.

On our way home, we stop at the tasting rooms of
Domaine Solitude
, a historic producer whose lineage is traceable to servants of the Avignon popes. We return to

La Madelène

in time for you to recharge, perhaps swim in our pool, or play petanque on our court and get ready for your aperitif on the terrace before we serve a four-course dinner on the terrace or in the old chapel dining room. We start and close this dinner with a comparitive tasting of some of the Rhone's finest white wines -
Saint Cosme's Condrieu 2006
and
Chateauneuf du Pape Domaine de la Solitude's Cuvee Barberini 2003
and to accompany dessert
Beaumes de Venise Muscat from Chateau Durban and Vin doux Natural from Rasteau.


Wednesday:


Our mid-week day is devoted to the two Crus of the Southern Rhone's right bank
Tavel
and
Lirac
. The morning briefing will feature a tutored tasting of these delightful wines including a comparative tasting of Rhone roses. Late morning we will depart for the
Gard
, remembering to take with us a loaded picnic hamper to consume next to the Pont du Gard (or lunch in Uzes depending on the weather). Swimmers can cool off in the river beneath this dramatic Roman aqueduct.

After lunch we will retrace our steps via the villages of Tavel and Lirac to visit the tasting room at
Domaine Mordorée
, a powerhouse of modern winemaking across a number of appellations amongst which is surely France's finest
Rosé
. We also visit
Domaine Maby
where innovative young winemaker Richard Maby continues the family tradition of making superb red and white
Liracs
as well as his own award winning
Tavel rosé
. From the Gard you are transported to the city of Avignon where you have an evening at your own leisure. We will provide restaurant recommendations, reservations if required, and you will be chauffeured back to

La Madelène

by taxi at our expense later that evening.

Thursday:


This is the day for exploring the Crus of the Dentelles de Montmirail - the fabulous escarpment that acts as a backdrop to some of the Rhone valley's most characterful wines. After a post-breakfast briefing on the area and some tutored tasting to limber up, we make for the beautiful
Seguret
- one of Frances officially designated prettiest villages - to sample the wines at
Domaine de Mourchon
owned by Scotsman Walter Mc Kinley.

After lunch in the heart of the village of
Seguret
at
La Table du Comtat
we move on to Cairanne, a wine making area very much in the ascendancy . . . surely the southern Rhone's 7th AOC Cru in 2008?. We visit and taste at
Domaine Rabasse Charavin
run by the talented Corinne Couturier, and we end the afternoon at
Domaine Alary
where we sample the superb Vin du Gard wines of father and son team Denis and Daniel Alary. Returning to

La Madelène

you have time to freshen up before we reassemble to sit down to a four course dinner on our terrace. The dinner will feature a comparitive tasting of the best from Gigondas including
Cayron, Santa Duc, Redortier.


Friday:


After a leisurely breakfast we have a tasting session in the Atelier where we focus on white wines - comparing and contrasting the Southern Rhone's rich array of white varieties: Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette, Muscat and Grenache blanc as well as the increasingly important Viognier. Before lunch we visit
Domaine Goubert
, one of
Gigondas's
oldest properties and where wine-maker Jean Pierre Cartier crafts some of the finest Viognier outside of Condrieu. We lunch at one of the lively open-air brasseries in Vaison La Romaine's
Place de Montford.
You will have time to wander around this fascinating town and take in some shopping. In the afternoon we make for the village of
Beaumes des Venises
for a visit and tasting at the excellent and stunningly situated
Chateau Durban
- the premier producer of Muscat based dessert wines and now also producing highly regarded Cru status reds. Our last evening meal together is at
L'Oustelet
, Gigondas's finest - certainly the prettiest - restaurant.

Saturday:


After breakfast we have a wrap-up session answering any remaining questions you have and we usually conduct a light-hearted blind tasting competition! We also like to get your feedback on the week.

Price per person:


1800

euros, room sharers:

2000

euros singles

Special partner rate:


1300

euros

Partner rates apply to partners sharing your room who do not wish to participate in the wine tours. Partners will receive all La Madelène meals offered to full paying guests as well as evening restaurant meals. On 6-night tours a light lunch is available to partners when course participants are taking a tour