Food and Wine in Provence and the Rhone Valley with The Corkscrew

Tour Type:

Easy Exploring

Comfort Rating:

Casual/Premier

Activity Level:

Really Easy

Duration:

7 Days

Join Danielle and Dave Anderson of The Corkscrew on a remarkable journey across the southeast of France!

Join us on this special private tour as we experience the annual grape harvest in France while exploring this amazing destination. Led by The Corkscrew owners Danielle and David Anderson, we’ll discover the best that Southern France has to offer, at one of the most exciting times of the year!

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Day 1 - Bienvenue à Lyon

Plan to arrive in Lyon by midday today, and make your way to your gorgeous 4 Star hotel in the city center. Your Go Get Lost adventure starts in the late afternoon with an orientation meeting at the hotel, where you'll meet your Tour Leader and traveling companions. Afterwards you'll enjoy a walk to your Welcome dinner. Lyon is considered by many to be the food and wine capital of the world...or at least of France. There are hundreds of excellent restaurants here, and tonight we'll sit down to one of them for an extraordinary dinner! The French have elevated cuisine to an elite level...relax and enjoy.

Day 2 - Bienvenue à Lyon

After breakfast today you'll meet your Tour Leader and start your day with a walk through the old town of Lyon. Paris may be the most beautiful city in France, but Lyon is surely the city that characterizes French cuisine. As you stroll through the town you'll be introduced to many of the classic and typical foods of the region, along with some interesting specialties from the local Bouchon eateries such as cheeses, sausages and chocolates. At midday you're free for some time to stroll on your own, then we meet again in the late afternoon for a private boat tour on the Rhone where you can admire the city from a different perspective, and see the heart of Lyon from the water!

Tonight you're free to explore the city on your own. Wander the streets, discover some of the amazing restaurants and nightlife Lyon has to offer, and try to get lost!

Day 3 - The Northern Rhone Valley

After our delicious French breakfast we'll check out of our hotel, board our private coach and relax for a scenic drive into the countryside south of Lyon. Here near Vienne we find one of France's smallest but most highly regarded wine regions, the Northern Rhone Valley. Possibly the oldest vineyard area of France, the grape terraces were painstakingly carved into the narrow, steep hillsides. Syrah is king here, especially in the Cote-Rotie region, but classic whites from the Viognier grape also figure prominently in the adjoining Condrieu region. We'll visit two of the highly regarded wine estates of the region, including the famous Guigal vineyard and Domaine de Corps de Loup. At both we'll enjoy a tour of their production facilities, cellars, and of course a private tasting of their wines. Lunch will follow at a great location in Condrieu alongside the river.

After lunch we'll have a scenic drive through the French countryside to one of the most famous chocolatiers in all the world...Valrhona. Their expertise is renown...chefs regularly make the pilgrimage here to hone the fine art of le chocolat. We're no different, and we'll have the maestros of chocolate lead us through a private wine and chocolate pairing class. After Valrhona we'll continue our way south through the famed Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Joseph wine districts, as we continue on into the Drome Provencale region south of Montelimar, known for its beautiful landscape and picturesque villages. Here we'll find our home for the evening, a 4-star hotel in the countryside, complete with swimming pool.

This evening we'll gather for a group dinner at the excellent hotel restaurant. After dinner will be the perfect time to gather and go over the days events, perhaps over a bottle of amazing wine you picked up at one of the wine estates today!

Day 4 - Drome Provencal

We'll have a later morning start today as we head south down the Rhone Valley to explore the medieval villages of the Drome Provencal, considered to be the northern gateway to Provence. Like its famous neighbor, this region is full of ancient villages, lavender fields, orchards, olive groves, and of course vineyards! The temperate Mediterranean climate is perfect for the growing of grapes. Best of all, many tourists pass by this idyllic region on their way to more well-known destinations, so Drome Provencal still retains a peaceful and relaxed vibe. Along our route we'll stop at one of our favorite Domaines in the region for a visit and wine tasting, then head for lovely medieval village of Grignan to visit their stunning Renaissance castle. We'll have some free time to wander on our own and find a local bistro for lunch, then later in the afternoon we'll head back to our accommodation in the countryside, with time to relax in the garden or by the pool. Tonight we'll meet for another wonderful French dinner at the inn, complete with local specialties and vintages of the area.

Day 5 - Chateauneuf du Pape

Today is dedicated to exploring the superb wines of the Chateuneuf du Pape AOC, likely the most renown of all Rhone valley wine regions. We'll start with a visit at Close de Caillou in Courthezon where we'll enjoy a mix of wines from their Chateauneuf du Pape AOC and from Cote du Rhone AOC. The domaine has an unusual balance of terroire, mainly rolled pebbles soil on the hills, but also with some sandy and safres soil, giving a very elegant and fineness to the wine. With a good filtering during violent rain, with a lot of sun and cleaned by the wind, this is one of the best terroir of the appellation. Also one of the earliest…the vineyard is rich of traditional red varieties, such as Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise and also some white varieties: Viognier, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, without forgetting the native Grenache.

Later in the morning we'll visit another producer, Bouachon in Chateauneuf. This family operation started in 1898 as barrelmakers for the local vineyards, then soon decided to produce their own wine to fill the barrels! Since then they've grown to become one of the most respected vineyards in the region. Afterwards we'll sit down to an excellent lunch in Chateauneuf du Pape. Later in the afternoon we'll drive to Avignon and check into our 4-star hotel in the city center. Tonight is free to wander Avignon...you'll want to keep an eye out for the perfect dinner spot. Luckily there are plenty to choose from in this town, they range from family-run bistros to Michelin-starred restaurants.

Day 6 - Avignon

Capital of the Vaucluse and onetime seat of the Roman Popes, Avignon is known as a city of art, culture, theatre, and museums. Wandering in the compact center of Avignon is a treat, you'll walk along winding medieval streets fronted by tiny houses, and admire the large private mansions from the Renaissance. This morning we'll have a local guide to introduce us to Avignon and all its historic and interesting sites, including the Pope's Palace. Later we'll have time free for lunch and to explore a bit on our own. Later this afternoon we'll drive to the incredible Pont du Gard, the most famous Roman aqueduct in Southern France and an impressive first-century feat of engineering. We then kick back at one of the area's local wine producers for a tour and tasting. Later we'll return to Avignon in the afternoon, where you can relax and prepare for another exquisite group meal tonight, featuring local specialties and regional vintages.

Day 7 - Au Revoir

After breakfast today your Go Get Lost tour will end. From Avignon you can take the high-speed train to Paris in just 2.5 hours. Avignon also has a small international airport, but for more flight options you could arrange a transfer to Marseille airport (1.5 hours).

HOTELS

Due to availability at the time of booking, hotels listed may change to similar hotels

Lyon - 4 Star Hotel Le Phenix: Discover this old Florentine hotel steeped in history and whose hotel vocation has continued since the 16th century. Period fireplaces and woodwork, vaulted lounges and Art Deco glass roofs make it a true architectural gem. Combining tradition and modernity, the Phénix will delight contemplatives and romantics as well as travelers who love heritage, walks, shopping and discoveries. Due to its exceptional location and the unique panorama that its mullioned windows offer you over the Saône, the Phénix has certainly become a must for Lyon hospitality. It is considered a “boutique hotel”: a small establishment emphasizing elegant and distinctive design, offering a personalized experience based on enchantment. There is a unique atmosphere with particular attention to detail and an intimate atmosphere.

Malataverne - 4 Star Hotel Le Domaine Du Colombier: Here you are on the verge of an authentic experience in the heart of Drôme Provençale. Here you are welcomed in a building that was originally a relay point for pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Since then, the completely renovated 14th century bastide has become a superb hotel restaurant to receive guests passing through Malataverne or on vacation in the Drôme. From these places shaped by time in the heart of a green setting emanates a deep feeling of well-being. Discover their 19 rooms and 4 suites, all unique. Decorated in a chic countryside spirit in soft colors , they are ideal for recharging your batteries and spending wonderful moments in this 4-star hotel in Drôme Provençale.

Avignon - 4 Star Hotel De Cambis : Nestled in the shelter of the remarkably well-preserved medieval fortifications of the city of Avignon, the Hotel De Cambis offers the ideal accommodation from which to explore the City of Popes. During your stay, this ancient city in the south of France and its superb cultural and historical heritage will be yours to discover. Just take a few steps from the hotel to be immersed in the more than two-thousand-year history of Avignon and experience its artistic world, the official and unofficial facets of its famous festival of theatre and a wealth of other attractions before returning to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the hotel. The Hotel De Cambis pays tribute to the unique identity of this region in various ways. As soon as you walk through the doors, you will be drawn into an artistic concept that revolves around the colours of wine, its sensations and emotions. When you accept the charming hospitality of the Hotel De Cambis, you will give yourself over to a whole French art de vivre and will have only one desire: to drink deep of the experience.

• 6 Nights, Double Occupancy at listed hotels (or similar)
• 6 Breakfasts
• 2 Lunches
• 4 Dinners (all group meals include water and local wine)
• 6 Wine tours and tastings
• Entrance fees to the Popes Palace and Pont Avignon
• Private boat tour in Lyon
• Food tour (walking) in Lyon
• All transportation once the tour starts
• All listed activities, tours, visits, as per itinerary
• All tips for local guides, drivers and restaurant staff...EXCEPT for your primary local Tour Leader
• Porterage in hotels
• Go Get Lost local Tour Leader for the entire tour

• Meals not specified in itinerary
• Beverages at meals unless specified in itinerary (all group meals include water and local wine)
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption and Medical Insurance (strongly recommended), call for details
• Single supplement charge
• Items of a personal nature; phone calls, laundry, etc.
• Arrival and departure transfers
• International airfare, tour begins in the morning in Lyon, France on Day 1, and ends after breakfast at the hotel in Avignon, France on the morning of Day 7
• Tip for your primary local Tour Leader
• Any costs associated with options or free time