Culinary Tour to Provence
Whether you crave extraordinarily delicious food, excellent wine, immersive history and culture, or just want to immerse yourself in a place with endless natural beauty, Provence is for you. Throughout this personally curated tour, you'll experience the region's relaxed, elegant lifestyle and overwhelming beauty.
Travel a scenic wine route, discovering charming villages and remarkable wineries that showcase the region's rich winemaking history. Explore picturesque St. Rèmy's spectacular outdoor marketplace, where we'll find a plethora of fresh produce and artisanal cheeses. Then, join me in the kitchen, where we will cook together to prepare some favorite Provençal dishes to enjoy for dinner while sipping a glass of rosé on a terrace overlooking the olive trees. It's no wonder Provencal food is considered the best in France.
Stay at a Luxurious Private Chateau
Imagine waking up in a meticulously renovated 18th-century chateau that blends traditional charm with luxurious modern comforts. Located in the heart of Provence, this private sanctuary is surrounded by lush gardens and views of the stunning Alpilles Mountains. While delving into this spectacular region in Southern France, it's the perfect place to call home and unwind after each day's adventures!
I can't wait for you to experience Provence's beauty and delicious flavors!
Culinary Tour Highlights:
- Expertly Curated Itinerary: Unique experiences you won't find in any guide books.
- Luxurious Hand-Selected Accommodation: Stay at a breathtaking private chateau on a sprawling estate in the heart of Provence
- Culinary Immersion: Explore the abundance of incredible produce and artisanal ingredients at a world-renowned market, and master the art of Provençal cuisine through immersive cooking classes
- Wine: Discover the region's finest wineries and hidden gems.
- Leisure Time: Free time to unwind, take in breathtaking sunset views or simply unwind in your well-appointed en suite room.
About your host, Joanne Weir
Awarded the first International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Julia Child Cooking Teacher Award of Excellence
Awarded the IACP's Award of Excellence, Culinary Tour Operator of the Year
James Beard Foundation Best Cookbook Award, Weir Cooking in the City (Simon & Schuster, 2004)
* Price listed is per person and based on double occupancy. A single supplement of $1500.00 applies for solo travelers. Please inquire about availability of singe occupancy rooms. Deposit of $2,000.00 per person required to secure a spot. Airfare is not included.
See the tour terms and conditions here.
We'll stay in an elegant 18th-century chateau near Saint Rémy de Provence in the quaint village of Mouriès. This exceptional property is perched on a 50-acre estate with a lovely terrace for al fresco dining, a lush garden of mature trees, and flowers that bloom throughout the year.
This quintessential chateau was recently remodeled, using the finest materials and finishes, while retaining the original details and character. It's a spacious and luxurious estate with towering ceiling heights, original moldings, fireplaces, a stone staircase, parquet floors, and Provencal tiles. Each en suite bedroom is a fashionable mix of antique and contemporary pieces.
Click below and take a virtual tour!
We'll have plenty of room here to spread out, with ten bedrooms, three living rooms, and a large garden featuring sun terraces and a heated swimming pool at your disposal. But the thoughtful details will make you swoon, from gym equipment and a grand piano to the custom-built library. When you’re ready to get busy cooking, we'll gather in the modern country-style kitchen-- the perfect setting for our hands-on cooking classes.
Additionally, our home for the week is ideally located minutes from Les Baux and Arles, and less than 45 minutes from Avignon and Aix en Provence Our chateau is in Mouriès, a lovely little historic village surrounded by hills and olive groves at the foot of the spectacular Alpilles mountains, in the heart of the Vallée des Baux. Our village of Mouriès is proud to be France's leading olive-growing commune, with 80,000 olive trees!
Food & Wine lovers unite!
We’ll have fun in our chateau’s well-equipped modern kitchen creating delicious Provençal meals using fresh local ingredients like garlic, lemons, juicy red tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, tons of different herbs and the freshest fish.
It will be the perfect time of year to make Aïoli Provençal -- a platter of fall vegetables and fish with an unctuous sauce of garlic and virgin olive oil. Let’s celebrate the autumn harvest by cooking ratatouille, perfect with rustic bread. On a cooler evening, we can make a big pot of Soupe au Pistou, a Provencal vegetable soup topped with a pesto-like garnish called pistou. And for dessert, a pear and frangipane galette sounds delightful!
Finally, we’ll master Bouillabaisse, a ceremonial fish soup served with broth, fish, and rouille for a creamy finish. Creating this quintessential local dish will make you feel as if you truly belong here—in fact, you may never want to leave!
We'll explore the local outdoor food markets, bistros, bakeries, and some exceptional vineyards. I can't wait to take you to a personal favorite of mine, the outdoor market in St-Rémy-de-Provence. This place is brimming with fresh produce, cured meats, and local cheeses. Nothing says Provençal like the vendor with confit de canard (duck leg confit), or the stall with chickens roasting on a giant rotisserie. As the spit turns, the roasting chicken juices drip from the chickens and fall onto the crispy, golden potatoes as they roast underneath. The aromas alone will make your head spin!
Provence boasts some of the best virgin olive oils in the world, so we'll visit friends who make some of the finest. Maybe the proprietor, Katherine, can join us for lunch in the groves.
Visit world-class Provençal vineyards
Then, let's taste our way through the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence region, Provence's second-largest wine region. This is where winemakers perfectly blend red wine grapes like Syrah, Grenache, Mouvèdre, and Cinsault. These absolutely delicious wines have long deserved a place in the sun. With more than 47,000 acres, the Côtes de Provence AOC is the majority producer of Provencal wines and there are some incredible wineries in this picture-perfect part of the world. I'll have to take you to one or two of my favorites, where we will enjoy their beautiful rosé with lunch in their garden.
Are you salivating yet?
My team and I are curating truly unique excursions for this itinerary, so get ready for a jam-packed week in one of my favorite places in the world!
The price for this journey is $6950.00 US per person, based on double occupancy. A deposit of $2000.00 US per person is required to register for the journey. Limited single occupancy rooms available and a single supplement charge of $1500.00 US applies for solo travelers. Please read the Tour Terms and Conditions for more detail.
We strongly recommended that participants obtain travel insurance. Please note that travel insurance policies and their provisions vary, so be sure to read the details and choose a policy that meets your needs.
We suggest arriving in France at least one day in advance of this tour. Not only does this give you some time to adjust to the time difference, but it also provides you with more time to explore.
The closest International airport to your villa is Marseille Airport. A group transfer to and from Marseille Airport is included in the cost of the tour. The tour begins with the group transfer from the Airport to the chateau at approximately 4:00pm on the first day, followed by a welcome reception that evening. The tour concludes with breakfast and a group transfer back to the Airport the morning of the final day. Private transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.
We are committed to following Federal, State and local health guidelines to the best of our ability during this tour.
Included:
- Limited group size
- Expertly curated itinerary
- Meals- breakfast, lunch and dinner (one exception) with wine
- Luxurious accommodations for 6 nights
- Hands on and demonstration cooking classes
- Unique excurions, day trips and multilingual guides
- Tastings
- Transportation during the tour
- Group transfer from Marseille Airport to our chateau, and group transfer back to Marseille Airport at the conclusion of the tour
Not Included:
- Airfare is not included in the package price.
- One meal at a special location (optional)
- Tips for services and hospitality
- Trip insurance (highly recommended)
