Provence in the winter is when the region is at its most authentic – and delicious. A slower time of the year with fewer crowds, a time to savour the truffle harvest season, take cooking lessons, enjoy wine tastings, linger in cosy bistros, wander picturesque villages, visit the markets and soak up the atmosphere and golden light of Provence. It’s the perfect season to take a truffle wine and gastronomy tour of Provence.
A truly delicious Truffle Wine and Gastronomy Tour of Provence
Emily Durand of Your Private Provence tours says that in February, Provence is like a “sleeping beauty waking up. You feel spring is on the way, the days are lighter, the sun shines warmer, and everything is bathed in a soft golden light. Everyone is preparing for the spring season; people are eager again to get to the market – it’s not too quiet and it’s not too busy. February is the perfect time to visit and take a journey for the senses, truffle-scented kitchens, quiet villages where whispers of the past echo, and you feel the soul of Provence at a slower pace.”
Emily’s week-long tour of Provence in February takes you to the heart of the area through its food, wine and culture.
Immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of Provence
For the first three nights, you’ll stay in the heart of l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, in a cosy B&B that feels like a Provençal home. Discover the picturesque town with its historic mill-wheeled lined canals which have led to it being called the “Venice of Provence”, and almost 300 permanent antiques stores, making this the antiques centre of southern France, perfect for whiling away a few hours browsing.
Emily will take you to meet wine growers at 3 AOC estates: legendary Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape, where the 14th-century Popes of Avignon had their summer home; the medieval village of Gigondas; and charming Vacqueyras, an area famous for its full bodied, rich wines. You’ll stroll in vineyards and enjoy private tastings and a memorable gourmet lunch. Wine can even be shipped home, so the memories linger in every glass.
Up in the high hills of the Luberon (a natural park and mountain range), you’ll meet truffle hunter Nicolas. Buckle into his 4×4 and head to secret truffle woods, where you’ll follow his dog, nose-twitching as it hunts for winter’s “black gold” between tufts of lavender and thyme. Then, return to Nicolas’ snug farmhouse kitchen with its wood-burning stove and savour a truffle-rich meal that he will prepare for you.
The late afternoon is the perfect time to experience hilltop Roussillon, where the ochre cliffs soar beside the town, and the streets are lined with buildings coloured burned orange and dusty rose. And nearby, you can’t help but fall in love with the timeless beauty of Gordes (which the eagle-eyed may recognise from the film A Good Year). With cobbled streets, stunning stone houses, photogenic alley ways without the tourists, and spell binding views over the countryside – it’s easy to see why Gordes is officially one of the most beautiful villages in France.
You’ll also enjoy an olive oil tasting workshop, and if you think olive oil is all the same, be prepared for a surprise, the “green gold” is compared to fine wine, different oils have different tastes of wild herbs, peppery grass, and sunshine.
For the next four nights, you’ll be based in Aix-en-Provence, a city of culture and cuisine. Here you will soak up the incredible history and wonderful sites. Known as ‘The City of a Thousand Fountains’, the Roman city is built on natural springs and its numerous fountains date back over several centuries. Your home from home will be a beautiful boutique hotel in the city’s centre – perfect for strolls to explore your surroundings. You’ll visit the time warp atelier of Aix’s famous son Cezanne, where his paint brushes still sit in their jars, and gaze at Mont Sainte-Victoire, the mountain which the painter immortalised in his art, as you take a gentle wander of the pine-scented countryside which looks like a living canvas.
You’ll enjoy cooking workshops and learn to make French patisseries at a workshop in a professional kitchen – fling on an apron, wield a piping bag and a rolling pin, and create your own delicate French patisserie. And you’ll also take a market tour with a chef to select the best of the day’s produce before you head to his stand at the popular Halles gourmet food court in Avignon.
In Cassis, with its pretty harbour, houses with pastel-coloured shutters, boutiques and cafés, you’ll board a boat to explore the famous Calanques – soaring limestone coves that line this stretch of the Mediterranean Sea. Afterwards, soak up the sun at a cosy Cassis café with a market-fresh lunch and a glass of local wine as you people-watch.
The weather in February is generally mellow. Misty mornings give way to clear skies, usually warm enough in the day for a light jacket and cooler in the evenings.
This is a tour that immerses you in the culture and cuisine of Provence. Relax and savour the tastes, sights and sounds of Provence, with everything taken care of by US-born Emily, who has now lived more than half her life here in captivating Provence.
Your Private Provence’s Truffles, Wine and Provencal Cuisine Tour is exactly the winter break that will help you start the year in style and with sparkle! Book a spot on this small group tour at: yourprivateprovence.com/truffles-wine-cuisine
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