Combining Passions into Work Born in Provence, Sophie Bergeron is bilingual (English and French) and fully conversant in the realm of local wines. Her technical studies at Université de Vin in Suze la Rousse and the WSET certification transitioned into work at several Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards, including Domaine de la Janasse. In 2016, …

It would be difficult to call Emily Durand an expat at this stage. After living in the South of France for more than two decades, Emily is wholly immersed in the region with her family. Once the kids reached school age, she decided it was her time to launch a …

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 …

Has Provence been on your travel bucket list for a while? Or, are you already a Provence fan looking for an experience away from the major tourist sights? The founder of Your Private Provence, Emily Durand, has created a wine-focused experience for an intimate group this September. Durand is an …

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 …

Nestled in the heart of Provence, you will find a true Hidden Gem – Château de Mazan. The former residence of the Marquis de Sade, an 18th Century French aristocrat, politician and writer who was infamous for his outrageous, libertine lifestyle, this stunning Château is an ideal destination for a relaxing …