Our first tour will be conducted in July 2005.  We currently plan one tour, Saturday July 9 to Saturday July 16, 2005.  If there is enough interest we will conduct a second tour, July 23 to July 30, 2005. 


The tour will be structured as outlined below.  We will provide details of specific hotels, restaurants and vineyards to all guests, once they have paid their first deposit.  In the meantime we reserve the right to amend the contents of this itinerary or the sequence of specific activities:

 

Arrive Avignon Gare Courtine. Pick up by winesights.com private bus.
Arrive at our hotel. Check in, rest time before dinner

Champagne reception followed by dinner at hotel. Early to bed to help jet-lag adjustment.

Vineyard visit in Vacqueyras
Lunch at Cairanne vineyard
Visit to Rasteau "discovery"

Dinner at hotel — guest speaker from one of the prominent Côtes du Ventoux vineyards

Market at one of the most extensive village markets in Provence
Lunch at a local restaurant in Mormoiron (chef formerly at the Savoy Hotel, London)
Vineyard visits in Côtes du Ventoux
Free evening

Trip to Pont du Gard
Lunch at fabled Avignon restaurant
Avignon — Palais des Papes
Boat ride up the Rhone from Avignon to Châteauneuf du Pape
Dinner at hotel — guest speaker from premier Châteauneuf du Pape vineyard

Gigondas tastings in the morning — small "discovery", major négociant
Late lunch at Sablet
Back to hotel — relaxing late afternoon
Dinner at Orange — hosted by Sommelier/wine merchant from Orange

Evening performance at Les Choregies (Theâtre Ancient Orange) — home by 3:30AM

Châteauneuf du Pape premier vineyard 1
Lunch in village centre — Châteauneuf du Pape
Châteauneuf du Pape premier vineyards 2, 3
Back to hotel
Free evening


Early rise to drive to Bourg St. Andeol for two discoveries
Lunch at Bourg St. Andeol vineyard
Visit to organic vineyard near Camaret-sur-Aigues
Wrap-up dinner at Hotel with guest sommelier

Breakfast at hotel
Return to Gare Courtine to meet outbound train schedule

 
This is the itinerary for our first tour.  We have assembled a unique group of vineyards and growers to present to you and we are excited about the opportunity to introduce our first guests to the southern Rhône:  its people, its culture, its climate, history and of course, its wines.


The price of this tour is $C4,520 per person plus applicable taxes, based on double occupancy.  This price includes the cost of all accommodation, meals (all breakfasts, lunches and dinners except for the "free" evening dinners, which will be for the direct account of our guests) and ground travel arrangements from your arrival in Avignon (Gare Courtine) until you return to Avignon (Gare Courtine).
 
Due to the small size of each tour group we regret we are unable to accommodate individual travelers or provide for single occupancy accommodation.

While winesights.com does not supply travel to and from Avignon, we have made arrangements with a well-established travel agent based in Toronto to handle the air and rail arrangements for our guests.  Our travel partner is Renaissance Travel, a specialist in travel to and within France.  Renaissance has been in business since 1982 and has worked with winesights.com to coordinate the tour itinerary so that your travel arrangements will be seamless. You can learn more about Renaissance Travel by clicking here.
 
Please contact us for more information.