Contributor blog post by Mirabeau Wine: Sir Francis of Assisi established the tradition of nativity scenes in 1223 with live enactments by people and animals during the midnight mass on Christmas eve in his church of Greccio, Italy. The tradition halted after the French Revolution, when many churches were closed. …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Cézanne finds himself marooned between the Foire aux Santons and woolly jumpers at the textile market. It seems strange having the Aix-en-Provence Christmas markets starting up against such a bright blue sky and warm sun, but there we are – the chalets are built and the children’s …

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 …

shared by our contributor Phoebe Thomas. She makes this French January treat, a delicious, buttery, frangipane pastry, called la galette des rois, which translates to the King’s Cake at home with her kids.

Happy Holidays! Seasons greetings to all our readers and the terrific contributors. May the holidays allow you the time to sample some wine from Provence, share a Provencal-inspired meal with friends and family, but mostly enjoy a chance to relax.  

This holiday menu is not exclusive to the Christmas season; however, the heavier flavours lend themselves to cooler evenings and Rhone Valley red wine blends. This meal combines some real Provencal classics including garlic aioli, local lamb with herbes de Provence, tomatoes, a hint of Pastis and a not too sweet dessert. …

The Christmas Kalends of Provence, by Thomas Allibone Janvier, was first published in 1902 and republished many times since. The edition I am using is a facsimile published by Bibliobazaar, 2007, Charleston, South Carolina. Reviewed by Mary-Jane Deeb A few years ago my publisher, Paraclete Press, gave me a small …

Admittedly, it was his mouthwatering food photos and tempting wine pairings on Provence WineZine that first attracted me to David Scott Allen the face (and chef) behind Cocoa & Lavender, a weekly food blog based in Tucson, Arizona. However, “food porn” alone is not enough to build a lasting friendship (although some …

Contributor blog post by Margo Lestz: As the holiday season approaches, I hope everyone is getting ready for some happy times with friends and family, or maybe just a nice, quiet break from the normal routine. Whatever type of season you are planning, I hope it is filled with joy. As …