Average rating Wine Tasting in the Rhone Wine Region

Spend three days in the Rhone wine region learning all there is to know about wine tasting and the local grapes. Your hosts are a qualified wine tutor and a gourmet cook and the base for your stay, a converted Benedictine Priory. You won’t want to leave!

The Rhone wine region lies in South Eastern France between the cities of Lyon and Avignon. The region is particularly famous for its production of red wines, the majority of which are labeled with the Cotes du Rhone appellation. Probably the most famous of these reds is Chateauneuf du Pape, one of the more premium and high quality wines.

Your base for this wine tasting break is La Madelene, a beautiful converted Benedictine priory in the foothills of Mont Ventoux. With the limestone needle-like Dentelle Crags to the west, you have the perfect location for a relaxing (and educational) break.

During the course of the three days, your hosts will teach you all there is to be known about the wines of the region. Philip, having left his job in the world of advertising, has retrained and is now a qualified wine instructor whilst Jude takes care of the culinary side, serving up delicious food.

Your course begins with Philip tutoring you in the art of wine-tasting and identifying the different locally grown grapes in the on-site atelier. Over the next 2 days, you will visit several vineyards tasting some of the regions best Cotes du Rhones and Chateauneuf du Pape. The final day sees you tasting dessert wine before heading back home (with several bottles in your backpack!)

Holidays at La Madelene are not only for wine connoisseurs, but for beginners, you just need to like wine! So if you don’t know your Syrah from your Grenache, don’t worry, you will by the end of the tour!

Tours are suitable for couples and singles and older families. Clearly this is not a weekend to bring young children on. Firstly, they wouldn’t be able to drink, secondly this is a peaceful retreat and both the guests and the hosts would like to keep it that way!

Getting there

Guests can arrive by air, train, or car. By air, guests can travel to Nimes (100km), Marseilles (110km) or Avignon (40km) airports for groups of less than 4 people, you will need to drive or get a taxi from the airport. Transfers can be arranged for larger groups. By train, in the summer months you can get the Eurostar direct to Avignon.

Price includes

Accommodation, all breakfasts, lunches and meals taken at La Madelène or meals at restaurants mentioned in the detailed itineraries, tutored tastings and briefings at La Madelène, and guided tours of all domaines. The only cash needed is for souvenirs and wine purchases!

Available

Apr—Oct

Typical Duration

4 days

Comfort level

Refined (boutique or luxury accommodation and food)

Experience required

A reasonable interest is all that is needed