Vineyard Region: Languedoc
Appellations:
Fitou
Corbières
Rivesaltes
Maury
Lodging: Guest house on a wine estate
Fitou, a name unfamiliar to many outside France, was the first region in the Languedoc to
be granted AOC status. The wine is produced in nine coastal villages from traditional
grape varieties: carignan, black grenache, syrah, mourvèdre, maccabeo.
This corner of the world was witness to a grim chapter in the history of the medieval
Catholic church. It was here, in the Languedoc, that a rival theology developed, a sect
whose beliefs were perceived as a direct challenge to Papal orthodoxy. They were known
as the Cathars, and Rome’s response to their heresy was a ferocious Crusade whose bloody
battles dragged on over two centuries.
High in the hills of Corbières is the fortified village of Cascatel, its hillside covered with red
tile roofs, whitewashed houses, green and blue shutters. The Domaine de Grand Guilhem,
a 30-acre wine estate with a 19th century manor house, also offers accommodations for
travelers.
Cathar Country of Languedoc-Roussillon
Bold red wines, rugged hillside vineyards, Mediterranean sunsets
Itinerary
Day One
- Arrival by car or train. (The high-speed TGV stops in Monpellier, where car rentals are available.
There is also scheduled airline service to Marseille and Toulouse. ) We provide you with a detailed
map to the guest house.
- Settle in at the farmhouse, meet your hosts over an apéritif of the local Muscat de Rivesaltes.
- Dinner at a gastronomic restaurant, with an emphasis on the harmony of food and wine.
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Day Two
- Traditional home-made breakfast.
- Hands-on introduction to viticulture, in the vineyards of the domain.
- Picnic with the family, as they plan your visits for the days ahead.
- Afternoon visits to local wine makers.
- Dinner tonight at a restaurant that features regional specialties.
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Day Three
- Traditional home-made breakfast.
- More science today: the chemistry of winemaking.
- Lunch with a winemaker at a local bistro.
- Now it’s time to put your experience to the test: a blind tasting with seven wines.
- Dinner at a gastronomic restaurant with an emphasis on the symbolism of wine.
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Day Four
- Final home-cooked breakfast at the vineyard.
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Departure.
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Included in the program:
- Three nights double accommodation in a chambres d’hôtes (guest house / Bed & Breakfast)
- Three breakfasts at the chambres d’hôtes
- Two home cooked farmhouse lunches (appetizer, main course, regional wine, water, coffee)
- Three restaurant dinners (appetizer, main course, regional wine, water, coffee)
- An English-speaking host on days two and three
- Tasting & entrance fees for activities described in the itinerary
OPTIONS: This program is also available with a full-time, English-speaking driver-guide. Services
begin with pickup in Marseille or Montpellier on the afternoon of Day One and end with return
transfer on the morning of Day Four. Please inquire for price.
We would be happy to assist you with a low-cost rental.
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Wine Holidays 
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