Spring Events in Provence Spring in Provence is absolutely lovely. As is the case with most of the year, the sun shines brightly, but expect the odd rain storm. Moisture in this period is critical for the grapes, olives, and almonds to start their growing cycles. In March and April, …

Provencal Getaway With long weekends on the horizon, why not plan a short break in Provence? Gather some friends or family and head south for some warm weather, blue skies, gourmet food and sightseeing. Touring Ideas in Provence Late June through August, Provence treats her visitors to flowering lavender and …

The following is an excerpt from my second book Are We French Yet? Keith & Val’s Adventures in Provence. Bad Timing Three days before leaving on a long trip to France, I swerved to avoid a squirrel while riding my bike, which caused me to crash and break my wrist. …

Relocating to the South of France is often a lifestyle choice, for those seeking a milder climate and slower pace of life. However, it is not every couple who willingly choose to spend their semi-retirement years managing a boutique, 5-bedroom B&B in a new country. In December 2010, Jane and …

Not everyone who goes to Provence makes a stop in Orange, France. I’m not sure why because it’s not that far from popular places like Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Plus, it’s an extraordinary place to visit. I’ve been to visit Orange, France three times now. For three different reasons. The first …

I posted one of my favorite recipes for a Baked Cabbage Soup; it is an addictive combination of pancetta, bread, cabbage, and cheese. More recently, Susan (from the Provence WineZine) shared a recipe for Pork Chops Gratinée, which really reminded me of the soup.

Last fall I spent some time with winemakers in Lirac, a cru located across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I covered a significant conversation with Rodolphe de Pins, winemaker at Château de Montfaucon and Co-President of Lirac AOP. …Continue reading here for Jill’s account of the Rhône Valley Wines tour of …

Sablet is located between Séguret, a village classified as a “Plus Beaux Village de France,” to the north and Gigondas, a small town renowned for its red wine to the south. From the road, Gigondas seems little more than a cluster of stone houses set on a hillside with a …

Contributor blog post by Michel: As I have told you previously, we were in Sablet last fall with our Michigan friends Steve and Mary. The wines of Cairanne have recently been elevated to cru status—placing them in the same category as those of Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape (though they cost far …

Sophie Bergeron began developing her palette early on, at four years old, when her grandfather first introduced her to wine tasting. Sophie’s grandfather ran a vineyard in Algeria before immigrating to France in 1962; she tell us that “He loved the grape concentrations in Mediterranean style wines.” It seems that …