Cooking or culinary holidays, vacations, tours in France:

Cooking holidays and wine tours in Languedoc
. . . wine and food - the ultimate marriage

What better way to learn about the fabulous Languedoc wine and cuisine than on a custom designed private tour? Leave the normal tourist routes and experiment with the different food and wines of the region. Learn how to taste them, cook them and combine them in a friendly, fun and informal atmosphere.

Tastes of Languedoc will take the strain out of your holiday by doing all the organising . . . you just enjoy yourselves and have a great break personalised to be as busy or relaxed as you choose. You will be looked after by friendly hosts who make you feel at home as soon as you arrive.

What makes Tastes of Languedoc so different? It allows you to peek inside doors that would never normally be open. Whether that be participating in the grape harvest and the celebrations that ensue or scouting for the best produce in a local market . . . we offer a very different experience where you are immersed in the culture of the region. Come off the tourist trail with Tastes of Languedoc and see the real France for yourself.

Learn how to taste and combine food and wines of the Languedoc in a friendly, fun and informal atmosphere. Choose from either wine or cooking holidays or a combination of both. It is your decision. Let us be your guide and enjoy a perfect 'Taste of Languedoc'

Tastes of Languedoc is a travel company that is still small enough to give personal attention to its customers but is big in knowledge of the Languedoc region of Southern France.

Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the most fascinating areas of Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Pyrenees Mountains to the south. It benefits from a typical Mediterranean climate and has an unusually rich wildlife, a spectacular coast, and surprising history. In recent years it has become a popular French holiday destination, with long sunny days, Mediterranean beaches, thousands of miles of walks and rides, National Parks and wildlife reserves such as the Camargue and the Cevennes.

The climate and weather in the Languedoc is Mediterranean, with hot dry Summers, rainy Winters and pleasant Springs and Autumns. You can expect around three hundred days of sunshine a year in the Languedoc. The coastline, sheltered by mountains, tends to be sunnier than and warmer than the inland areas. The coastal plains of the Languedoc rarely freeze in winter due to the influence of the Mediterranean Sea and Summer temperatures are frequently in the eighties. Generally, the inland temperatures are a few degrees cooler in winter and a few degrees warmer in summer.

Cooking with the region's wines

With wine being an everyday ingredient, isn't it amazing how often we do not realise or remember the importance it plays in the making of a good dish? Learn how to cook with some of the Languedoc's finest wines and vermouths such as Noilly Prat and the deep reds of the old Carignan vines.

Wine and Food - the ultimate marriage

The diversity of wines and the wealth of natural produce in the Languedoc afford us endless possibilities of choice when choosing a wine to match our selected "plat". It could be a personal preference, an experiment, a surprise, a wine which suits the occasion, the season, the mood or the food? We can offer informed tastings to accompany your lunches or evening meals.

Cooking lessons with visits to local markets

Languedoc cuisine is famed for its tasty simplicity and a visit to a local market is a must. Not only is it an opportunity to taste a little of the neighbourhood atmosphere but it is where local people shop for the largest variety and freshest produce. Plan your meal and let your guide lead you to select and purcahse your ingredients which you will then enjoy preparing together for a sumptuous feast.

A typical cooking break with wine tasting and wine visits

Friday Afternoon Arrive and welcome at Domaine de Brousson. Aperitifs followed by a 4 course dinner matching wines with each 'plat'. Overnight at the Domaine de Brousson Saturday Breakfast Visit to the local market in Lodeve to browse and choose the fresh local produce for our cooking class the following afternoon. Lunch and a wine tasting with a winemaker in the Coteaux du Languedoc followed by a walk and a talk in the vineyards followed by a visit to the local olive oil factory Cooking afternoon and dinner at the St Jean de Minervois cooking school which is housed in an old school with food served in the old classroom! Overnight at the Domaine de Brousson Sunday Breakfast A trip to the local appellation of Faugeres with an explanation of its unique landscape and a tasting at the local wine co-operative. Lunch at a scenic picnic spot (weather permitting) or at a local bistro. A cooking class using the ingredients from the market to prepare regional recipes for our evening meal. Dinner with a 'blind' wine tasting. Overnight at the Domaine de Brousson Monday Either breakfast followed by departure or if wanting to add an extra day to the itinerary A day on the Mediterranean coast around the Bassin de Thau famous for its oysters and mussels. Visit the famous caves of the Noilly Prat vermouth. Lunch at a local seafood restaurant overlooking the port. Overnight at Domaine de Brousson and departure after breakfast on Tuesday   Breaks run from Friday to Sunday or Monday FOR AVAILABLE DATES AND PRICES PLEASE EMAIL US <click here>

Or why not try . . .

A combination of any of the above! From weekends to a week, from Bed & Breakfasts to Chateaux, let us arrange the accommodation, local transportation and tours. Why not create your own Tastes of Languedoc itinerary from any of the tours offered. We can tailormake your tour to ensure it suits your own personal requirements and maximises your taste experience!

Wine is a way of life in the Languedoc and plays an extremely important role in the local economy. Wine producers can be seen in their vineyards throughout the year, tending, shaping, pruning, testing and ultimately picking and they take immense pride in their work.

The region produces an amazing array of red, white and rose wines of excellent quality all infused with the taste of the local climate and terrain. Our wine tours aim to provide a snapshot of how the local wine is produced and we hope that by the end of the day, you can begin to truly appreciate what has gone in to making that perfect glass of wine that you are drinking

The wine tour will provide an insight into the history of wine production in the region, how the vines are grown and how the local wine gains its unique flavour. You will discover the lesser-known, independent vignerons who passionately practice the natural, traditional methods of winemaking, in contrast to the more common, bland, industrially produced bottles marketed by the big companies.

Take a Wine tour

The appellation of St Chinian covers a large area, with over 2,700 hectares of vineyards stretching over 20 villages from the neighbouring region of Faugeres in the east to Minervois in the west with a diversity of terrain. In the north and west the soil is schist; these wines are lighter, fruity and supple in style, mineral in character and tend to be ready for drinking earlier. The southern area is a mixture of clay and limestone; these wines have a firmer structure with more marked tannins and benefit from longer ageing.

The weekend will begin on Friday with a welcome at your arrival airport or train station and transfer to the Domaine de Brousson for a fun and friendly evening with a reception and dinner.

On Saturday we will visit the picturesque villages of Roquebrun and Berlou. We will visit the vineyards and have an opportunity to taste the special character of these wines and enjoy lunch either at a local restaurant or for a picnic at a selected beauty spot amongst the vines. We will return to the House for 4-course tasting dinner which will be specially prepared to accompany our samples of St Chinian.

On Sunday we will take a trip to the local appellation of Faugeres with an explanation of its unique landscape and a tasting at the local wine co-operative and a local independent wine producer. Here you will see how the soil and the terrain have an impact on the taste of the wine, making it different to St Chinian which is only a few miles away. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant with a 4-course tasting dinner including a blind tasting of Faugeres and St Chinian wines.

Some of these wine tasting trips may coincide with local wine festivals, in which case a visit to the festival will be incorporated in to the itinerary. A visit to a French wine festival is truly a fantastic way to immerse oneself in the wine culture of the region.

FOR AVAILABLE DATES AND PRICES PLEASE EMAIL US <click here>

Vendange Special ~ September 2007

September is the busiest and prettiest time of the year in both the vineyards and the cellars. The colours are at their autumn best with the leaves a myriad of shades from greens to amber and russet reds. This is the most colourful and exciting time to see at first hand the viticulture and wine-making styles of each individual producer.

The Vendange Special is spread over a few days to ensure that you will receive a good understanding of the wine-making process, the choices the vigneron must make and the role and influence of their individual terroirs. This weekend represents a celebration of a year's work and we will enjoy lots of opportunity for tasting and feasting, in addition to learning all about the wines of this region.

The trip starts by welcoming you at the airport or train station on a Friday afternoon and begin with a discussion of the itinerary. Precise details of the itinerary cannot be given in advance as it will be determined by the start of the vendange, which is at the mercy of 'Mother Nature' and will vary amongst the different producers and regions.

On Friday evening you begin with a tasting at the local vigneron in the village of La Tour sur Orb. The Orb valley has its own particular microclimate and their Chardonnay and Carthagene is some of the best in Languedoc.

Over the following three days you will visit vignerons in different appellations and watch them in action; sorting and pressing the grapes, starting the fermentation, and its vinification. You will be able to see the grape harvest in full swing and witness the picking by hand and machine, with a chance to join in yourselves (should you wish!).

You will lunch at local restaurants or picnic at scenic spots and in the evening will feast en famille at the House where you will enjoy matching the wines that have been chosen during the day with the freshly prepared supper.

Tastes of Languedoc offer three and five day wine tours - one day
wine tours run throughout the year but are subject to availability

FOR AVAILABLE DATES AND PRICES PLEASE EMAIL US <click here>

Venessa Alexander

I found myself in the tourism industry quite by accident but now I am here, there really is nowhere I would rather be. Having studied languages at A Level, I had no clue what to do afterwards until I heard that the first ever Tourism Studies degree course was being launched in Bournemouth. The location and the course sounded like they would go quite well together and with visions of long afternoons spent on the beach (in my dreams) I found myself on a four year degree course. I never did use my languages but the course did catapult me into a fantastic industry that is never the same from one day to the next.

My specialist subject is marketing and I started marketing US destinations to the British holidaymaker and the British travel industry. Being half French, I knew that one day, one way or another I would find myself back in France. So here I am in the Languedoc and what a fantastic place. Less well known that the French Riviera and the Dordogne, it offers a little of everything, great food and wine, great weather, beaches, skiing, amazing scenery and history and some of the most interesting characters you could meet. Having worked with the Alabama Tourist Board, that is really saying something.

Having bought a little house in the vineyards, I felt I wanted to contribute in some way. The Languedoc is the largest wine producing region in the world and for many years the quality of this wine was at best average. A new generation of wine producers have now emerged who really are passionate about what they do and are producing wine of exceptional quality. The problem is that only a minority know how to sell this wine outside of France. Hence Tastes of Languedoc. I call this wine tourism! Of course not only wine - there is the food. Here shopping is a daily ritual, everything truly revolves around eating and drinking and frankly let's face it, with the fresh, beautifully tasty ingredients on offer here, who can blame them!

Lits Philipou

Lits came to the Languedoc almost by accident after he had reluctantly sold his busy restaurant, which he loved dearly. After twenty years of working with his brother they decided to separate. He was feeling a little lost and with his future undecided he volunteered to help his friend move to her newly acquired small hotel in the Haut Languedoc. It was a region he knew very little about and was soon so allured by it that he began to return more frequently and eventually stayed for longer!

These days Lits is more settled and has made many friends. He is a 'people person' and is happy again to be able to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for life in this magical region of southern France. He will ensure you experience the taste and flavours of life behind the scenes in the real Languedoc.

He is an expert on the local way of life of what is good to see, do and eat: whether sat outside a small bar watching the sun set over the small fishing boats, whilst feasting on freshly opened oysters washed down with a bottle of well chilled Picpoul de Pinet or resting under the shade of an olive tree at midday surrounded by vineyards, to the sound of the clicking crickets, picnicking on saucisson, creamy goats cheese and a rich red wine of St Chinian.

Lits knows exactly the right place and what's more he will ensure you enjoy the best. He is never happier than when he is sharing these experiences with his guests and introducing them to the local characters either at work on their farms, down in their cellars, amongst their vines or selling their wares at the market providing us with the most wonderful cooking ingredients:

Bountiful fresh fruits; mounds of sweet smelling cherries, apricots peaches and melons; home grown vegetables; asparagus, artichokes, courgettes, sweet onions, peppers and tomatoes. Meat and cheeses from naturally reared animals and shiny fish and shellfish of all varieties freshly landed from the shores of the Mediterranean only minutes away. What more could we wish for to prepare our meals!

Lits also loves the countryside and will help you to explore the beautiful unspoilt landscape; from remote sandy Mediterranean beaches, to rugged wild herb covered hillside whilst revealing secrets of its rich culture history with stories of the Knight Templars and Cathars.

Finally Lits is passionate and knowledgeable about the wines of the region. Languedoc is the largest wine region in the world. Formally renowned for supplying copious quantities of 'vin de table' it is now offering exciting, quality, and affordable wines. Blessed with such a variety of styles to choose from, it is a veritable voyage of discovery for either the beginner or the expert, to learn and taste . . . Lits will ensure you do both!

Your base will be Domaine de Brousson, an old 'Maison de Maitre' which is situated at La Tour sur Orb in the heart of the wine growing region of the Haut Languedoc Parc Naturel.

The House is part of an old Chateau and ancient Eleventh century Abbey and wine used to be made in the vaulted room below the outside terrace. This has now been converted into the 'salle de degustation' or the dining room.

The ambience of the house makes it an ideal base from which to explore all the secrets that the Languedoc region has to discover. It oozes elegant Frenchness and the five comfortable double en suite bedrooms, a library, a lounge, a stone walled terrace and a beautiful garden are all at your disposal . . . a place to relax in and enjoy as well as to learn.

The Mediterranean is only a 35 minute scenic drive away with its miles of natural sandy beaches. Swimming is also possible nearby in Lake Salagou or 'en plein air' at Lunas or Bedarieux. Surrounded by vines in a region with an abundance of wonderful wines to discover and taste, the house offers the ideal base for guided tours and tastings either at the table or in the vignerons' cave.