Truffle & Wine Tour
Join our Truffle & Wine Tour for a unique and authentic tour in Provence
Dates possible in January/February ( the Truffle season), contact us for details.
This 3 night, 4 day Truffle & Wine tour is an opportunity to see the culinary world of Provence, taste the delights of truffles at the best time of the year, discover new wines while meeting the wine growers and enjoy the cultural heritage of Provence during the less touristy season. You will leave the tour feeling like you have experienced Provence like a local.
You will stay 3 nights at a stunning C18th Provencal ‘Mas’ ( distinguished countryt house) on a wine estate. Your hosts, Philip and Jude will delight you with cultural and culinary experiences.
Highlights of the Truffle & Wine Tour
Truffle hunting with a professional & his dog in the remote hills of the Luberon
Truffle based meals at the accommodation as well as at the table of the truffle hunter in the Luberon
Truffle cooking lesson with the Truffle Hunter
Visit to the Richerenches truffle market to see the pros in action and tour the Medieval village on market day including an oyster brunch
Truffle dishes and Wine pairing
Top winery visits & tastings with the wine makers including top Chateauneuf du Pape estates
Tour includes:
3 nights lodging in a stunning C18th 'Provencal ‘Mas".
3 gourmet dinners themed around truffles with fine wines from the region
1 champagne & hors d’oeuvre greeting on day 1
2 delicious lunches (one at a local wine maker’s house who is also a superb chef & one lunch at the home of the truffle hunter’s house after our truffle hunt)
3 continental breakfasts
Transportation while in Provence to all excursions on itinerary (transportation to and from the accommodation is not included)
Tour does not include:
Transportation to and from Provence
Transportation to and from the accommodation and the train station/airport
Lunch on the last day of tour finishing after the morning market in Richerenches
“The most learned men have been questioned as to the nature of this tuber, and after two thousand years of argument and discussion their answer is the same as it was on the first day: we do not know. The truffles themselves have been interrogated, and have answered simply: eat us and praise the Lord.” — Alexandre Dumas
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at the accommodation between 4 and 6 pm
Champagne reception with Provencal aperitifs around 7pm
4 course dinner with fine Rhone wines from the owner’s extensive wine cellar
Accommodation in one of the elegant rooms
Day 2
After a leisurely breakfast, we will take a back country road to a remote part of the Luberon to meet Nicolas, our local professional truffle farmer. The “hands on” hunt is preceded by a light talk (in English) from the truffle hunter on the history of truffle farming in the area, the technique for hunting and importantly what to look for in a top grade truffle and how best to prepare them. Aperitif in the sunny courtyard and lunch (superb truffled eggs/salad/dessert) prepared by the Truffle farmer and his wife at their magnificent Mas (Provencal farm house). Afternoon visit to a couple of small, authentic Luberon villages before going to Chateau Canorgue for our Luberon wine tasting (Chateau Canorgue was used as the setting for Ridley Scott’s
“A Good Year” movie. Evening truffle themed dinner at one of our local favourite restaurants.
Day 3
On day three of our truffle and wine tour tasting day, we visit three different top notch Southern Rhone wineries across the day. We start in the village of Gigondas with a tasting at Chateau Saint Cosme the oldest producing estate in the appellation and a visit to their unique cellars with their Roman stone fermentation cuves. On to Clos du Caveau at Vacqueyras where our visit is hosted by owner/winemaker Henri Bungener, a personal friend, who after showing us around the winery will serve a 5 course lunch for us! Henri is a noted amateur chef as well as a first rate wine maker – a great opportunity for guests to chat informally with a wine maker over a meal. In the afternoon we visit the medieval village of Seguret one of France’s “plus belles villages” before taking our apero hour tasting at Domaine de Mourchon high on the hill above the village.
Evening dinner at the accommodation, another delicious Provencal meal prepared by Jude accompanied by fine wines
from Philip’s cellar.
Day 4
Morning visit to world famous Richerenches truffle market in the Drome – opportunity for guests to select (with their new found knowledge!) quality truffles and purchase to take home. Oyster brunch on the terrace of a picturesque café in the village .
The tour finishes with this visit or you can have your tour continue with Emily Durand, our tour partner, to visit the charming and historically rich towns of Avignon and Arles – Contact Emily ( emily@yourprivateprovence.com) for more information on how you can extend your Truffle & Wine Tour in Provence.
