Popes and Red Wine Villages in Provence’s Rhone Valley In my view, there is no better place to begin this wine village itinerary than historic Avignon. The city was once the seat of the Catholic Church and home of several Popes during the Middle Ages. I have chosen seven of …

Vaucluse Villages We go often to Vaison-la-Romaine, sometimes it seems almost every day. We go for Tuesday morning market, buy basic household supplies at “Brando Vaison Ménager”, pick up cheese at an amazing shop called “Lou Canesteou”, visit friends, or simply pass through on the way to Nyons and other destinations …

Finding a way forward while staying in place Dear Friends, During this pandemic, I find myself in my art studio sanctuary. I am using this time to reflect on my wanderlust and travels while revisiting my photo collection of times past. For now, I am enjoying Provence (virtually), reflecting on …

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 rainstorm. Moisture in this period is critical for the grapes, olives, and almonds to start their growing cycles. In March and April, expect …

Magical Lavender Spotting a lavender field in flower for the first time is magical, but it’s the fragrance that is heavenly. The tiny plants stretch towards the horizon, like small purple streams. It’s little wonder why you see so many images of people posing against this stunning backdrop. Lavender fields, …

By David Scott Allen for Provence WineZine Wine Club Surprises I joined The Wall Street Journal Wine Club to access some off-the-beaten-track wines. No, I am not advocating that you join, nor is this post about the club. It’s about the fact that every quarter I get a really nice …

By David Scott Allen: White Wine Pairing As you may recall from my reviews over time, I have become a big fan of Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc. It is one of those wines that says “special occasion” to me. Thus, I decided to treat myself for my birthday and get a bottle. …

An Address in Provence Michel and Shirley live in California’s wine country north of San Francisco but even surrounded by those beautiful vineyards they felt a tug to Provence. The couple searched for several years before buying a house in Sablet, a village in the Vaucluse. Perhaps it was Michel’s …

Wine Cheese and Chocolate Even Santa and his elves would have a tough time creating this magical wine pairing experience at Domaine de Palerme. Book your Christmas holiday stay at this private home near Isle sur la Sorgue and enjoy a complimentary evening of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine tasting. The evening includes …

Wine Trip You like LOVE French wine and want to increase your understanding of wines of Provence and the Rhône Valley. If so, then Ken Jourdan has the answer, book his Romancing the Rhône Wine Tour. This trip provides a comprehensive wine tour of the Côtes du Rhône wine region …