For its fourth season, the Villa Carmignac presents The Imaginary Sea (La Mer imaginaire), an ideal subject for this idiosyncratic gallery:  part of it is housed in an old building with views to the sea below, while the other part is underground, a modern exhibition space beneath a glass-bottomed pool.  …

France’s second-largest city – Marseille – had an image problem, not helped by its setting for gangster and crime movies. But ask any local this city is pure magic. Situated on the Mediterranean, Marseille residents can swim at their favourite beach before work and watch the sunset at another with …

As I write this article in early October, the harvest season is still underway in Provence, but I can already tell you that the 2020 season will go down as one of the most memorable in history! Harvest Labour In particular, sourcing harvesters has been particularly problematic because of the …

Quick Getaway to Saint-Tropez Do you know the way to Saint-Tropez? I am quite certain that is not how the song goes, but I think it can easily be substituted! This summer was a super eventful one, with guests leaving, new guests arriving, big dinners, photoshoots and a little mini-break …

Relaxation in Provence A silky cocoon of soft luxury is precisely what the team at The Silk Farm Retreat delivers. Tucked away in the hamlet of Les Ferauds, in the Var, this converted farmhouse is ideal for a get-away in Provence. The Silk Farm Retreat welcomed the first guests in …

Anniversaries are always worth celebrating, and in our house, that means a meal to suit the special day. However, the dilemma was what to serve with a Commanderie de Peyrassol rosé (2016)? Wine pairings are always a bit of a gamble. Will the wine stand-up to the food or overpower …

By Elizabeth Gabay: Tasting the wines of Provence has been a bit erratic this year. While Cotes de Provence had a stand at both WineParis (11-13 February) and Prowein (17-19 March), the 2018 vintage had often only just been bottled and were still quite young and closed. My preferred time …

As France’s oldest wine region, Provence is infinitely important to the global history of viticulture. The region was settled by the Phocaeans around 600 BC, and it’s believed that the Greeks were responsible for the dawn of winemaking and grape growing in ancient Provence. These early wines were pale, made …

Minutes away from the Cote d’Azur shoreline, this tiny outcropping is a world away from the glitz and glamour of Saint-Tropez. Porquerolles is one of three islands that form the Îles d’Hyères Archipelago. Only a 10-minute ferry ride from terra firma this spit of land is only 7 km (4.3 miles) …

This recipe for Cremoso de Mote is my soft wheat berry risotto variation. It is a dish that we ate twice while visiting Easter Island in 2019. Soft wheat berries (trigo mote) are cooked risotto-style, then sautéed vegetables are added. I didn’t get an exact recipe from the chef, but …