Launched in 1995, Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) Les Baux de Provence was a bold step for a dozen winemakers. They joined forces in an attempt to carve out a unique identity in the ocean of mediocre (at the time) Provencal wine. These wineries had fallen under the umbrella of the …

The other evening I witnessed the most beautiful sunset I’ve yet to see in Provence. Sadly, the camera cannot truly do justice to the intense colours we saw- but I’ll share these images with you anyways! First, while wandering the garrigue landscape admiring the variety of herbs we came upon …

The first weekend in June was the ‘portes ouvertes’ of the 12 vineyards that comprise the small appellation of AOC Les Baux-de-Provence here in the Alpilles. They were celebrating the 20th anniversary of the creation of their small AOC. These vineyards are located next to some of the most stunning …

A few years ago now we headed across to Les Baux-de-Provence with our boys, after having seen the spectacular site in the helicopter footage during the coverage of the Tour de France, which unsurprisingly is essential viewing in our house! Les Baux-de-Provence sits atop a rocky promontory on the Southern …

This month we celebrate Wine Pairing Weekend (#wineWP) with a declaration of our indulgence on Open That Bottle Night (#OTBN), an evening set aside to encourage wine lovers to pop open a bottle that’s been considered “too special” to drink on a regular night. The event was first celebrated in …

Contributor blog post by Jill Barth: This summer the winemakers of Les Baux-de-Provence celebrated their 20-year anniversary as an appellation. The winemakers group, Les Vignerons de Baux, hosted a party at the Carrières de Lumières in Les Baux-de-Baux (a medieval commune famous for its towering citadel). The setting was particularly …

Do particular foods make you think of the holiday season? For me, the appearance of cranberries in the supermarket is a sure sign that Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities are around the corner. The cranberry tart recipe below is from Moulin Castelas, a beautiful olive plantation and mill near Les Baux …

Winter Festivals and Events in Provence So many images of the Provence and the Côte d’Azur are summer scenes with ribbons of blooming lavender fields, glasses of rosé with beads of condensation, and beautiful people in straw hats enjoying their holidays. Perhaps wintertime in Provence garners less attention, but it’s …

In Provence, Christmas is a festive season lasting over two months with many holiday traditions. While there are commercial aspects to the holidays in Provence and the rest of France, many old customs continue today. At this time of year, there is vin chaud, little saints (santons), thirteen desserts, holiday …

The Alpilles (miniature Alps) run from east to west for 30 kilometres, starting at the edge of the Durance River and the town of Orgon to the western edge near Fontvieille. Although the Alpilles are not high, with a maximum height of 498 metres, they are dramatic with jagged limestone …