Discovery & theme tour

UNDERSTANDING AND TASTING THE GREAT WINES OF FRANCE - A GEOLOGY & WINE TOUR (PART 1 : BURGUNDY & THE RHONE VALLEY)

From Wed 30 Nov -1 to Wed 30 Nov -1Pre- or post-tour hotel bookings can be arranged upon request

THIS TOUR HAS BEEN POSTPONED

FROM CHABLIS to CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE in the company of Professor Peter Davies : an in-depth "Study & Experience" tour starting in Auxerre and the Chablis region, then on through Burgundy and down the Rhone Valley, the first in a series of four tours which will take in most of the great wine-growing regions of France. GREAT WINES are the the focus : the geology which helps understand their extraordinary quality - and the tasting which is our pleasure! The history and culture of the regions explored offer a backcloth for the tour.

Of interest to :
Everyone interested in French wine, geology and the regions of France!

Peter Davies

Programme leader : Peter Davies
Until his recent retirement, Peter was Professor of Geology in the University of Sydney. Peter has worked throughout the world, but keeps returning to France - where in the late 60s he first began relating the geology of the regions to the wines. One of Australia's leading scientists (best known for his work on the Great Barrier Reef), and a world expert on the formation of limestones (rocks of critical importance in the art of wine-making), combined with his knowledge of France and his gifts as a teacher make Peter the ideal Tour Leader for the series of tours to France on the theme of Geology & Wine - Understanding and Tasting the Great Wines of France

PLEASE CONSULT THE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS

FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME 

 18 August - 2 September 2010 

 

 GENERAL PRESENTATION :

"The magic of French wines is matched only by the diverse and uniquely magical landscape - a direct result of all the global, regional and local processes which have produced it. Reflecting a history of deep seas, tropical archipelagoes, coral reefs, moutain building, the collision and rifting of continents and the climatic changes of the Ice Ages - such processes have collectively produced the most diverse environs - brilliantly suitable for the growth of Vitis Vinifera. For 2000 years, vignerons have teased the secrets from this Land of a Thousand Wines." (Peter Davies)

Throughout the tour : Specialist Local Guides will provide detailed English commentary for most of the places visited and during all wine-tastings. In Burgundy, the presentation of wines will be given by the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne, and in the Southern Rhone region by the Académie du Vin.

THE TOUR WILL ONLY TAKE PLACE IF THERE ARE 20 PARTICIPANTS SO PLEASE SHOW YOUR INTEREST BY COMPLETING AND RETURNING THE ATTACHED REGISTRATION FORM

 

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

Days 1 - 5 : prelude in Auxerre, Chablis and Vézelay

After an initial welcome and get-together in Paris, we go by coach to the cathedral town of Auxerre in order to explore the region of CHABLIS (Grands Crus, Premiers Crus, Petits Chablis).

For cultural relaxation, historic Auxerre, the Abbey of Pontigny, and especially Epoisses (the greatest of the Burgundy cheeses), to be tasted in the Château of Epoisses.

Chablis is followed by a full day in and around Vezelay : the World Heritage village and basilica, lunch in Marc Meneau's restaurant L'Espérance, and the story of the AOC Bourgogne Vezelay. (The wines of Vezelay were celebrated for nearly a thousand years, but the vineyards were completely destroyed by the phylloxera outbreak of 1884.)

Days 6 - 8 : the great wines of Burgundy

Based in the renowned wine-capital Beaune, (the hospices boasts the most photographed rooftop in Burgundy!) a programme of exploration through the Côtes de Nuit, the Côtes de Beaune, the hill of Corton.

For nearly three days you will be offered a succession of magical names and tastes : Clos Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée, Meursault, Montrachet, Auxey-Duresses, Volnay, Pommard....and at the end of the stay a seminar organised in cooperation with the BIVB in Beaune.

 Day 9 : around (and even climbing up!) the Roche de Solutré

The wines of Pouilly, Fuissé, St Verand, Chasselas, and a climb to the top of Solutré for one of the most magnificent views in Burgundy!

Day 10 : the geology and wines of the Beaujolais.

The day's excursion will take us through all ten of the Beaujolais village appellations : Saint Amour, Chénas, Moulin à Vent, Morgan, Juliénas and the others!

If not the greatest of wines, the Beaujolais is arguably the best known of the French-wines world-wide, especially on the 3rd Thursday in November! And the scenery is superb!

Day 11 : a day of relaxing travel from Burgundy to the Rhone Valley, with a programme of interest for everyone, including the historic site of Cluny and the superb Château of Cormatin!

In the late afternoon we drive south past the city of Lyon, following the Rhone to Tain l'Hermitage.

Day 12 : the region around Tain l'Hermitage.

An all-day excursion from Tain takes us through some superb vineyard country - the Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Château Grillet, Saint Joseph, Cornas, and finishing the day in the Hermitage vignobles.

The Hermitage is historically one of France's greatest wines. In 1856 at the Concours de Paris, three wines were designated "great wines" : Château Lafite, Clos Vougeot - and Hermitage! Walter Scott is among the list of famous people who have praised the qualities of the Hermitage wines!

Day 13 : another full day!

The morning will be spent at Suze-le-Rousse for a presentation by the Université du Vin.

In the afternoon our coach excursion will take us through all the famous appellations of the villages around the Dentelles de Montmirail : Vacqueyras, Sablat, Beaumes de Venise, Gigondas...

Days 14 - 15 : in the region around Orange and Avignon

The last two days of the tour will offer in particular an exploration of the Tavel region (visiting Roquemaure and Lirac in addition to Tavel).

The whole tour culminates, understandably, in Chateauneuf du Pape. It is here that we will have an aperitif wine-tasting followed by the Farewell Lunch in a restaurant which looks right out over this part of the Rhone Valley.

Programmed cultural visits while we are based in Avignon will include the two World Heritage sites of the Roman Theatre in Orange and the Palais des Papes in Avignon. And of course, everyone will be offered the opportunity to dance on the celebrated Pont d'Avignon!!

Day 16 : Return to Paris by TGV 

 

 Subsequent Geology & Wine tours are planned as follows :

2011 : Champagne & Alsace

2012 : The Loire Valley from Nantes to Pouilly-sur-Loire

2013 : From Cahors to Bordeaux

 

                      IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR WOULD LIKE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS TOUR, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US BY EMAIL :

If you are in Australia or New Zealand,

contact Anthony Roseworn of ABC Travel, Sydney : Anthony.R@abctravel.com.au

 

Everyone else, contact

Annie & David BANCROFT : cpederf@cpederf.com

Documents :
UNDERSTANDING AND TASTING THE GREAT WINES OF FRANCE - a Geology & Wine Tour (Part 1 : BURGUNDY & the RHONE VALLEY)

Click on pictures to enlarge

Our tour starts here, in the heart of one of the world's most famous white wine regions : Chablis In the little town of Chablis itself, flowers everywhere - with numerous possibilities for tasting and buying the wine!Not far from Chablis, we visit the small village which produces Burgundy's most famous cheese : Epoisses. There will be a tasting here in the château of EpoissesIn the gardens of the Epoisses château, you can visit the celebrated 16th century pigeon-house, with space for 3000 pigeons!One of the cultural highlights - and a sheer pleasure - of the tour will be the climb up the "Sacred Hill" of Vezelay, through the village to reach.......the great romanesque Basilica which can be seen from many miles around : both village & basilica are classed World Heritage sitesAfter the cultural highlight, a gastronomic one! Lying at the foot of Vezelay is one of France's most celebrated restaurants where we have lunch......and before leaving, time to wander through the restaurant's lovely gardensFor many wine-lovers, amateurs & professionals alike, the greatest of all the wine regions are the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune, where every village carries an illustrious namePommard - a favourite wine of Henri IV, Louis XV and Victor Hugo!While in this great wine region, we will be based in the prestigious "cité du vin" of Beaune, with time to visit the celebrated "Hospices" as well as the Burgundy Wine MuseumAnother high point, almost a pilgrimage rather than a visit! The Clos de Vougeot,with its great 12th century cellars - and its great wines!Further south, after passing through the Maconnais, those who would like to stretch their legs can climb to the top of the most famous landmark look-out point in Burgundy, the "Solutré Rock"......which in turn looks out over the most celebrated of the southern Burgundy vineyards, Pouilly FuisséOn the way down to the Rhone Valley south of Lyon, we will spend a whole day in the quite unique wine region of the BeaujolaisIn the Beaujolais, each village & vineyard tempt the photographer - and each wine the palate!We will pass through all the Beaujolais villages famous for their "appellation", including the Moulin à Vent......while here it's not difficult to guess you are strolling through the village of St Amour!The final part of the tour, which offers great contrasts with Burgundy, follows both sides of the Rhone river corridor from Lyon to AvignonFor the first part of the Rhone Valley exploration we will be based in Tain l'Hermitage, with easy access to the well-known vineyards on both sides of the RhoneOn the other bank of the Rhone, you almost need to be a mountain goat to gain access to the vineyards! Here we are in the region of CornusOne of the very fascinating aspects of studying the great vineyards which produce such different wines within such short distances, relates in addition to the geology, to the different methods of cultivation and pruningOn the way to the Southern Rhone region, there are plenty of fascinating things to see!Here at a seminar in the château of Suze-le-Rousse amateurs and professionals alike will learn a great deal about the Rhone Valley winesThe last few days of the tour will be spent in one of the loveliest parts of Provence, dominated by two landmarks : here the Dentelles du Montmirail, as the foot of which are such famous villages as Sablat, Vacqueyras, Cairanne, and Gigondas......and the Mont Ventoux, well-known to followers of the Tour de France, highest point in the region overlooking the wines around the historic town of OrangeAnother cultural highlight, the World Heritage site of the Roman Theatre at Orange (the annual "Foire aux vins" of Orange being the most important for the wines around the Dentelles and Ventoux)Typical view of the many villages famous for their wines close to Orange, at the foot of the Dentelles and VentouxThe last of the cultural highlights of the tour feaures a visit to Avignon, with a guided tour of the World Heritage site of the Palais des Papes......at the end of which visit you will have time to go and walk (or dance!) on the celebrated bridge -"Sur le pont d'Avignon...")The tour ends here, in the village which gives its name to the most famous wine of the southern Rhone region, Chateauneuf-du-Pape......and the last meal (and glasses of wine) we have together will be in this restaurant at Chateauneuf-du-Pape, overlooking the Rhone Valley!
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