Languedoc Wine Tour

Then head to the gorgeous village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert for a casual bistro lunch with a view and free time for a wander. This medieval, riverside jewel built around a 9th century Benedictine Abbey is one of France’s most beautiful hamlets. It is also an official stop on the Camino de Santiago (Saint James Way). You will find quirky shops and plenty of photo ops.

After some fresh air, you will fit in a second private wine tour experience this afternoon at Château Puech-Haut. This premium Languedoc estate is owned by the larger than life wine world personality, Gérard Bru. You will learn all about Monsieur Bru’s “Art of Living” philosophy and taste some fabulous wines. In the late afternoon, head on to your comfortable resort- Château Saint Pierre de Serjac. Bienvenue! You might like to relax at the spa, go for a swim (indoor or outdoor), or just settle in and unwind. There is a great restaurant, onsite.

After a morning of magnificent landscapes and impeccable wines, you will be ready for lunch! An elegant spot under the stone arches and crisp white walls will be waiting for you at 2 Michelin starred La Table Saint-Crescent. You will be pampered with a tasting menu and Languedoc wine pairings.

Then it is five minutes to the beautiful 13th-century Gothic Cathedral of Narbonne where you can visit or grab some photos of this outstanding architectural marvel. And then finally it is on to your last wine tasting of the day at Domaine Sarrat de Goundy. This very stylish cellar offers an array of wine styles in a convivial setting and finishes the day on a sweet note with their Banyuls Blanc. Head back to your resort then and free evening.

After this special oyster extravaganza, you have another fun activity right in Marseillan- a tasting of France’s finest vermouth at La Maison Noilly Prat. This historic distillery dates back over two hundred years, and their vermouth was used to create one of the first martini cocktails, the “Original Dry” back in the early 1900s. Visit the cellar and, at the end of the tour, learn how vermouth is made (with herbs and spices) and taste the full range.

Round off your afternoon with a lazy stroll around the picturesque old port of Sète with its colorful houses and fishing boats. Free time for a little shopping or a photo walk. There are many art galleries here, sidewalk cafes, etc. Tonight back at the resort, you will delight in an exceptional food and wine pairing dinner in their gastronomic restaurant.

After a morning of wining and dining, you might recline back in the comfy Mercedes and have a little snooze on the drive to Carcassonne. On arrival, your chauffeur will help you get settled into your next hotel, the magical Hotel de la Cite, set right in the medieval heart of this fortress hamlet. Featured in countless films, this is simply one of the most romantic hotels to stay in France and will create memories to last a lifetime. Free afternoon and evening to explore this medieval gem on your own and enjoy your luxury hotel’s facilities like their Cinq Mondes spa, swimming pool, Michelin starred restaurant right on-site, or their library bar with an air of Agatha Christie.

You will be ready for lunch by now, which will be organized nearby at another vineyard just outside the citadel of Carcassonne, the family-owned, friendly O’Vineyards. Visit the winery with the owner winemaker Joe O’Connell himself first and then sit down to a casual, fun lunch prepared by owner Liz. This estate is extraordinary, with sublime views of the Black Mountains and the Pyrenees, and the atmosphere is pure joy.

In the afternoon, then, visit the gorgeous Domaine de Baronarques, run by Baron Philippe de Rothschild. This superb estate in the Limoux appellation features a bewitching manor house dating back to the late 1800s, lush gardens, and pine trees. The winery and vineyards have benefitted from significant investment and expertise by the Rothschild family (who also own Château Mouton Rothschild, Opus One Winery, and Viña Almaviva) and this shows in the first-rate wines made here. You will have the opportunity to visit the celebrated estate and taste their refined wines made with a blend of Bordeaux and Mediterranean varietals.

Arrive back in Carcassone after a half-hour drive, and the evening is yours.

One of the loveliest towns included in this itinerary is next- Collioure. This village is famous for its exceptional light, which radiates from the deep blue sea here, which led to an art movement called the “ Fauvist Mouvement.” Many artists have lived and worked here, including Georges Braque, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Tsuguharu Fujita. You can see many of Collioure’s landmarks immortalized in their paintings such as the 17th-century Notre-Dame-des-Anges (once a lighthouse, and now the dominant, beautiful structure on the skyline here), the medieval Château Royal de Collioure with its rugged, dramatic coastal vistas, the 14th century Moulin de Collioure and so many more. You have a major treat next- a gourmet Michelin starred lunch in the most beautiful setting right over the half moon bay, the shore, and the hamlet of Collioure at La Balette. Bliss.

End your afternoon on a sweet note at Banyuls- sur-Mer at Clos Castell, a “Vigneron Indépendant” whose wine estate includes a partially renovated medieval castle. Learn all about these idiosyncratic dessert wines on a casual tasting. Then carry on to your last hotel of the trip, which is located on its private island. Free evening to enjoy the spa facilities, the beach, etc.

We hope you have had the food and wine journey of a lifetime on this route through the Languedoc, the “undiscovered” Riviera.