The retail stores and  shopping malls are decked with holiday decor signaling that it’s time to start thinking about gifts for everyone on your list. Fortunately, if there are cooks and food-lovers on your list, there are lots of options in price points that range from a few dollars to …

Head to the South of France After years of the same old holiday routines, the Christmas stockings are looking a bit ragged and plum pudding it still not your favourite dessert. Why not change it up this year and spend a week in Provence? Domaine de Palerme is available for a …

Truffle Markets It is more common to see summer truffles in the markets than in the past. However, this summer tuber may be related to the “Black Diamond,” but the taste is certainly not as distinctive. There is also a significant price differential between the summer and winter varieties. In …

There is no question that the food in Provence ranks highly in culinary circles for its “farm-to-table” style. The Mediterranean climate and arable soil are favourable towards the popular “eat local” philosophy. Produce found at authentic farmers’ markets follows the seasons, and fresh fruit arrives in waves during the harvest …

Enchanting image galleries of Provence flood the Internet. The region is like a pretty girl with an extensive wardrobe, endless photos of lavender fields, market produce, chilled rosé and turquoise swimming pools. The mild Mediterranean climate is a magnet for holiday goers seeking a chance to relax in the sun. …

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 …

With its natural abundance of local produce, Provence offers lots of flexibility for entertaining all year. The region is graced with plenty of sunny days and just enough moisture to allow for delicious foraging experiences. This holiday-inspired menu (recipe links are below) pulls together regional olives in a savoury cake …

In October, the Provencal sun takes its time rising above the horizon, like an old dog mentally weighing the effort of its next move. In the Jabron Valley, at 600 meters, about 10 kilometres from Sisteron, autumn mornings can be particularly frosty with single-digit temperatures. However, the saffron harvest at …

Winemaking as a second career? Stephen and Jeany Cronk packed up their life in the United Kingdom and moved to Provence with a dream to make a new style of rosé under their brand Mirabeau Wine. Lisa and Johann Pepin moved from corporate careers in Chicago to run les Pastras an agricultural operation …

A whale and two anchors feature on Sète’s official coat of arms, a tribute to local maritime history, and the fact that Mont St Clair makes the city looks like a humpback. Archaeologists have dated remains of human activity (discovered in 1973) to the late Bronze Ages II and III. …