ashleyt, Author at Curious Provence

The Bells of Bonnieux

September 22, 2020 by ashleyt 8 Comments

Our Experience with the Church Bells of Bonnieux

Vincent gils bonnieux carillonneur. Church bells of bonnieux. — Vincent Gils, Carillonneur (bell-ringer) of the Èglise Haute de Bonnieux.

Recently, we stayed in the hilltop village of Bonnieux in the Luberon valley of Provence where we were treated to a singular sensory experience. We reached out to Vincent Gils, the only carillonneur (bell-ringer) left in the Vaucluse area and one of few left in France.

Vincent’s father, Bernard, taught him to ring the bells. Before him, his father was the custodian of this church, at the summit of Bonnieux, with 900 years of history. His father says that “Pour moi, mon clocher, c’est un piano volant” (for me, my bell, is like a flying piano). Nowadays, churches in France have automated bells. However, in Bonnieux, bells are rung by hand for mariages, baptisms, funerals and religious festivals. Vincent has been doing it for the last thirty years. He agreed to allow us to witness the ringing of the bells as he was on that day going to pay homage to a villager, a good friend, that passed away that week.

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48 Hours in Menton, Côte d’Azur

September 17, 2020 by ashleyt Leave a Comment

Menton is a colourful town on the French Riviera, very close to the Italian border. This town has been under the rule of Genoa, Sardinia, Monaco and finally France since 1861 (except the blip that was the Italian occupation of the area during WWII). Menton enjoys a special microclimate compared to the rest of the Côte d’Azur that is particularly favourable to citrus fruits. The lemon is the symbol of Menton and it’s said that the lemons here are so delicious that they can be eaten raw!

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72 Hours in Sanary sur Mer

September 10, 2020 by ashleyt 2 Comments

Sanary sur Mer is a colourful town on the mediterranean coast, 35 minutes east of it’s more famous neighbour Cassis. We recently visited this region and here’s some tips for visiting Sanary sur Mer in 72 hours, or whatever time frame you like! We also explored the smaller villages inland, as well as an island just off the coast.

Sanary sur Mer

Originally a fishing village, Sanary sur Mer is full of charm. Colourful traditional fishing boats line the harbour and boutiques populate the winding streets. This town has a less-touristy feel than Cassis. It can brag that it’s one of the sunniest places in France though the Mistral wind is often here was well.

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Instameet day out in the Luberon

September 3, 2020 by ashleyt 4 Comments

CuriousProvence day out with the Luberon Tourism Office

Last month I was invited to attend a day out that was held by the LuberonCoeurduProvence Tourism office. The day was a discovery of well known as well as lesser-known gems of the Luberon. Although the schedule was a secret (I’m not keen on surprises!) I accepted and so glad that I did. If you’re curious, scroll on to see the places we explored.

Luberon day out — Mérindol ruins. Off the beaten track in the Luberon.

Merindol – Gateway to the Luberon

Our first stop was in Mérindol, a village right on the eastern edge of the Luberon. It’s a village that I have to admit I’ve often passed but never stopped. Although, I had read about it’s history…

The Vaudois in Mérindol

As in many places in Provence, people have lived here since neolithic times. However, something that stands out in the history of Mérindol is a terrible event that occurred in 1545; Francis I of France ordered the Waldensians of the village of Mérindol to be “punished” for heresy.

These people had previously been welcomed into the village from the Italian Alps for purposes of repopulation and farming the land after a population shortage due to wars and plague. They were part of a very early protestant ascetic movement, and named Waldensians, or the Vaudois.

vaudois in the luberon — 1545 Massacre of the Vaudois

Mérindol was one of the forty villages in the Luberon that were brought back to life by the Vaudois. However, to condense it immensely, throughout time politics changed. In 1545, Provençal and papal soldiers massacred 2700 Vaudois villagers. If you climb to the very top of the ruins, just in front of the view of the distant Alpilles and Luberon mountains, you can see the memorial. If you’re interested in this history see Les Buoux Ruins.

La Bastide du Grand Tilleul

Forgive me for the sobering start to the day! We then were treated to breakfast at La Bastide du Grand Tilleul in Mérindol. This is a restaurant in a bohemian setting of a courtyard strung with twinkle lights and dominated by a traditional farmhouse. The parental home of the current owners, a local told us that this charming restaurant often has live music and is the heart of the village nightlife!

One of the local products featured at breakfast were juices by Kookabarra. We are absolutely spoiled here in Provence for excellent juices (I will NEVER drink Tropincana again!!) but this one I have to say is really excellent. They are generally a supplier to restaurants, bakeries and hotels so when you see it take advantage!

Next Surprise- our transport showed up as two Citroen Méharis offered by YesProvence. If you’re unfamiliar, this is a car first sold in 1968 until 1987. This plastic (yes, plastic) car is as much a lifestyle car in the south of France as is the 2CV or deux chevau Citroen. Let’s get that wind blowing through our hair!

Charming Vaugines

We took the back roads past olive groves and vineyards to the little village of Vaugines where we had lunch with the mayor at Le P’tite Resto. This restaurant is an absolute gem. It’s located in the small central square of the village that overlooks a mossy fountain and is surrounded by stone buildings with colourful shutters.

This was our menu :

Lavender popcorn with red pepper gazpacho.
Agathes de crabe, fenouil, pamplemousse et orange.
Gambas poêlées, risotto de fregola, légumes et bisque.
Clafoutis d’abricots, glace calisson et crème citronnée.

The menu changes every week here. In order to reserve a table you’ll have to call in advance as many locals make standing reservations to eat here once a week.

vagines chapel — Eglise Saint Barthélémy

A Famous Church

Opposite the entrance to the village you’ll see this charming chapel. Eglise Saint Barthélémy is framed by twelve stunning plane trees (meant to symbolise the apostles). The original church dates from 1004 in the Roman Provencal style. Not only is it beautiful, but this church is also famous. It featured in the wedding scene of Marcel Pagnol‘s Manon des Sources.

The wedding of Manon des Sources. If you haven’t seen this film and it’s sequel Jean de Florette… They’re a must for any Provence lovers!

Lourmarin Village

The next stop was charming Lourmarin village. Well known, but always worth a visit for the boutiques, galleries, people watching in cafés, and winding medieval streets decorated with tumbling grapevines and roses from the shutters above. Lourmarin is considered one of the official “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (most beautiful villages of France) and with good reason. It’s believed that the name of the village comes from Laurus, a name often given to Roman soldiers that were stationed in the area. The village is located about 45 minutes north of Aix en Provence.

chateau de Lourmarin — The staircase of Lourmarin castle is stunning.

Château de Lourmarin

The renaissance castle of Lourmarin is a visit that I often recommend to my clients when I create personalised itineraries. The castle has a few salons that are decorated in the style of it’s occupancy and a view over the village. There are also many classical music events that happen here during the warmer months. In the summer, you’ll often see sunflowers in the field adjacent to the castle. In winter, grazing donkeys!

Château la Verrerie

Our final stop for our day out in the Luberon was at elegant Château la Verrerie. We first were given a tour of the winery and then tasted their delicious wines in a food and wine pairing (accord mets et vins en Français). Throughout the summer, Sunsets Vignerons en Luberon has been holding events at twenty-eight different vineyards in the Luberon. Each evening has a different gastronomic theme where the wines of the vineyard are paired with different foods in a tasting. Our evening was all about the truffles! The last of these evenings will be on September 8th at both Domaine de la Citadelle in Menerbes and Domaine de la Garelle in Oppede. The theme is spice! You can book online at Luberon Coeur de Provence.

Our equipe ! All the above bloggers/instagrammers are French. However, if you’re on Instagram and like what I do I think you’ll enjoy @Marceletmoi which is the girl to my left in this picture. She focuses on the dreamy slow Provençal lifestyle and writes in both French and English.

Thank you so much to the Luberon Coeur du Provence Tourism office for inviting me on this day out in the Luberon !

Les Gourmandises de To Saint Remy de Provence

August 22, 2020 by ashleyt 3 Comments

I’m always on the lookout for interesting spots in the Alpilles and I’ve recently found a new one! Les Gourmandises de To is an Epicerie Gourmande in the countryside between Saint Remy de Provence and Les Baux de Provence. I visited a couple days ago after the market in Saint Remy, which was crazy busy. Instead of having a coffee and a biscuit in town, this is a more picturesque option.

A Peachy Farmhouse

I had first heard about Les Gourmandises de To when I heard a delicious rumour of quality peaches being sold by the tray load. Originally, the family that lives in this farmhouse (Mas in Provençal) were producers of apples. They have lived here for generations. Now, they produce high-quality peaches and have been doing so for the last seventy years. Locals know that during the month of July and August this is the place to come for excellent peaches and nectarines.

Seasonal Clafoutis, Jams and Biscuits

As you can see, peaches are not the only thing on offer at this Mas. Valerie and her daughter-in-law have decided to create a laid-back farm shop/café where you can eat freshly-baked clafoutis and biscuits using seasonal local fruit.

clafoutis saint remy de provence — Clafoutis aux Framboises et sirop de thym.

I have to say that this raspberry clafoutis was absolutely delicious. If you’ve never tried clafoutis then you should! It’s a very simple flan made traditionally with cherries. However, it works with all kinds of fruits. See my clafoutis recipe here. The drink above is a “sirop”, again very French. This is where you add a little sirop to a tall glass of water for flavouring. Think of a Shirley temple (grenadine syrup). The one above is a thyme sirop. I know that may sound odd but it was very refreshing! Valerie collects the wild thyme herself in the Alpilles. The mountains are just 50 metres from the property. She also makes rosemary and lavender sirop.

Everything in the little farm shop is made on site, with love, and a passion for local ingredients.

Valerie’s biscuits are rich in good ingredients. Aka, they don’t skimp on the butter! They’re similar to shortbread to me. It was such a pleasure to see her working in the kitchen and adding ingredients from large mason jars that line the counters.

Seasonality

As I’m sure you know, in France and especially in Provence we eat seasonally and are very proud to do so. If you grow up here you’re taught when each fruit, vegetables, and even meats are at their best at certain times of the year. This can even be on a week to week basis. Different varieties of each fruit is also common knowledge. You can read how naive we were when we first moved to France here: Picking Cherries.

All to say, when something is in season, you have to gorge on the deliciousness so much that you get sick of it! Consequentially, you don’t mind waiting until next year to have it again. Tonight, I’m going to be baking some of these with vanilla seeds and local honey. Yum!

The “Dentelles de Pommes” (slices of apple that you see in the large mason jar) are a common snack here. These are sliced incredibly thin and are crunchy. They’re delicious.

confitures saint Remy — Apricot and lavender jam. This is a combination that works well!

All the labels are charmingly hand-written by Valerie.

les gourmandises de To — “Sous la Treille” translates to “under the trellis” or “under the arbor”.

Other items on the menu are yoghurt or fromage blanc with homemade fruit compote. Fruits juices, coffee or tea and a selection of biscuits. Oh, and you can buy jars of confit apples, which are basically slowly cooked apples in caramel. I’m drooling…sorry. It’s like a Tarte Tatin without the pastry. Great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Location

Les Gourmandises de To is located behind St Remy, just before you enter the Vallon d’Enfer heading towards Les Baux de Provence. This road is a beautiful drive.

Address:

Petite route des Baux
Quartier Mas des Véran
13210 Saint Rémy de Provence
04 90 94 03 31

Open all year round, hours:

From Monday to Saturday,
9:30 – 12:00
14:30 – 19:00

Closed on Sundays.
(also on Mondays during the winter season).

Private Catering in Provence

August 1, 2020 by ashleyt Leave a Comment

My Catering Provence is a one-woman business offering private catered meals delivered to your rental in Provence. Eliane is infinitely inspired by the local produce we have available here as well as the dreamy lifestyle. Each of her meals are different and inspired by seasonal produce. She is based in the Luberon area, but could be available in the Alpilles area.

Eliane describes her creations as a “Contemporary Provençal style with a fusion twist.” A world traveler, she has worked in 5 star kitchens, gastronomic local restaurants and has catered for some celebrities that have houses in the Luberon.

She prefers to cater for larger groups, but you can ask for a meal for two. We experienced her cuisine during our Stay at Maison Vue Provence in Bonnieux where she delivered everything to the house.

We asked Eliane to make us a meal with anything she liked. A blank canvas! This was the result. I don’t think I need to say much that the photos don’t. However, let me say that Eliane is very accommodating and her food is delicious. It’s light and full of flavour and textures. I can’t recommend her more. You can find her website here: My Catering Provence. Or, contact her directly at: eliane@mycateringprovence.com

Catering Provence cherry tart — cherry and almond tart

Maison Vue Provence : Rent this village house in Bonnieux

August 1, 2020 by ashleyt 4 Comments

Recently, we spent a long weekend in a stunning village house in Bonnieux. Maison Vue Provence is owned by an Australian couple, Jenny and Jonathan. Fellow foodies and curious travellers, the first thing that I noticed when we walked into their house was the astoundingly gorgeous view that you can glimpse as soon as you walk in and secondly was the piles and piles of books. I thought I was in Luberon heaven!

Bonnieux Village

The house is located up a little cobbled road in the historic centre of Bonnieux village. When you walk in, you can see through the house to the Luberon valley. Think rows of Cyprus trees, vibrant lavender (in July), cherry orchards and hilltop towns. Bonnieux faces Lacoste village and is within 20 minutes of a few of the officially recognised “most beautiful villages of France”.

View Bonnieux — An evening view from the terrasse.

I have to say, I’ve always been partial to Bonnieux. When we first moved to Provence we would drive to the hilltop town even in the winter, eat a delectable almond croissant and sit in the winter sun with a coffee. Wonderfully, this village has a little bit of life all year round, unlike some more quiet Luberon villages. It’s an hour north of Aix en Provence and an hour from Les Alpilles. This is where you come to experience the ultimate relaxing holiday. I always say to my clients for my Provence itineraries, don’t try to do too much! The perfect recipe for a holiday in Provence, in my humble opinion, is this:

The Perfect Provence Holiday

Bonnieux market — Don’t miss the Friday morning market in Bonnieux. It’ll charm your socks off (if you’re wearing any).

Wake up early, drive (or even walk) to a nearby village. Explore the market (see list of local markets) and the winding historic streets. Sit in a café and people watch. Find the highest point of the village for the view and see if you can spot Mt Ventoux. Find a little restaurant and indulge in a three course meal (with rosé of course). Then, allow yourself a leisurely sieste and lazy afternoon followed by an evening apéritif. Then, repeat the following day.

View from Bonnieux — July sunset from the Terrasse. Can you spot the blooming lavender fields in the distance?

Relax. That’s an Order.

Maison Vue Provence lends itself perfectly to this type of vacation because the view is so beautiful from the balcony that you really don’t want to go anywhere else. Have a BBQ, switch off your phone, thumb through a few cookbooks and art books. Dip your feet into the little plunge pool. Sigh. I didn’t want to leave.

Bonnieux walking — Walking around Bonnieux you’ll find these drystone walls leading up to Bories (drystone huts).

If you want to really switch off, you don’t have drive once you’re in Bonnieux. There are several restaurants, a couple little wine bars, and some great walking. Jenny and Jonathan are avid randonneurs (hikers) and can help you with maps and instructions for some of their favourite walks in the area. There are also a couple companies that provide bike rentals (including bikes with sneaky little motors on them to help you with those Luberon hilltop towns.) In July, it gets hot very quickly but I have to say a walking holiday would be perfect in the autumn or early spring when you can see the cherry blossoms or poppies.

For the History Buffs

Bonnieux cave — Many buildings in Bonnieux have these stunning vaulted ceilings. Can you imagine a secret dinner party here?

Maison Vue Provence has three bedrooms, a dining area/kitchen, living room and a little bonus for the curious like me. If you venture into the basement, you’ll find two levels of centuries-old vaulted ceilings. If you’re interested in local history, you’ll be simply astonished. In the hills behind Bonnieux, such as at Fort Buoux, you’ll find troglodyte caves and dwellings that date back to at least neolithic times. Since then, there were of course the Romans (there is a Roman bridge nearby) and winding medieval streets and renaissance facades. You can stand here and just imagine what these walls have seen…

Maison vue provence Bonnieux — The terrasse. There is a small dipping pool for cooling off in the Provencal heat!

Book Maison Vue Provence

If you’d like to book Maison Vue Provence village house in Bonnieux you can contact Jenny directly via the Maison Vue Provence Facebook page, or book directly on AirBnB. Make sure to tell her that you found out about Maison Vue Provence here. I’m hoping she’ll invite me over again for that walking holiday…ha!

If you’d like to see more photos, check out the Maison Vue Provence Instagram Page.

Private Catering Delivered the House

Have a delicious meal delivered to you directly at the house so that you can enjoy the sunset. We did! See more here: My Catering Provence.

Rent a Vintage Car in Provence!

June 19, 2020 by ashleyt Leave a Comment

Experience Provence in Style

yesprovence 2cv — Robin and I in the Luberon.

A Fun Day Out

YesProvence is a vintage car rental company based close to St Remy and Isle sur la Sorgue. Recently, we tested out the experience; our first time driving a 2CV! Meandering around the Luberon in an iconic French car? It doesn’t get any more picturesque than that!

Vintage Cars with Personality

YesProvence has many different vintage cars to choose from including multiple coloured 2CVs, a Mini, VW camper, a Beetle/VW Bug, Mahari and more. We chose “Véronique”. Yes, all the cars have names! You can see each car’s profile on the site. Also, for ease, the cars can be delivered directly to you. See their cars here.

“Ceci n’est pas une voiture, c’est un art de vivre”

A French expression that explains that a 2CV is not just a car, it’s a lifestyle choice. Remember, Provence is about relaxing while drinking rosé, taking in the scenery and sitting in cafés.

My suggestion is that you don’t try to drive around the whole of Provence in a day. Driving the cars will take some getting used to; but that is of course half the fun! Village hop around Les Alpilles: St Remy, Les Baux, Maussane les Alpilles, Eygalières. Or, the Luberon such as Gordes, Roussillon, Goult etc.

Complete with a Picnic

picnic anchoiade — Anchoiade! This is a common dip in Provence made with anchovies. Particularly good with rosé.

YesProvence offers an option of delivering a picnic with your vintage car. The picnics, complete with an adorable basket, are created by Eulalie Poissonnerie in Isle sur la Sorgue. This is something a bit different than your usual jambon-beurre baguette. We had smoked salmon with lemon crème fraîche, anchoiade (anchovy dip) with vegetables and fresh seasonal fruit. We found a shady spot at the edge of a cherry orchard close to Cucuron. You know, as you do.

Optional Chauffeur

If you’d rather sit back and enjoy the scenery without accidentally stalling you can also ask for a chauffeur with your car. Even stop at a beautiful restaurant between village hopping. Contact YesProvence for your information.

Optional Tour Guide

If you’re interested, you can hire a chauffeur from YesProvence and myself as a tour guide around either the Alpilles or the Luberon. We can discover the Provençal markets, have a picnic in an olive grove, go to a charming bistro, visit ancient sites as well as gourmet boutiques. Each tour is completely different based on your interests so feel free to email me for more information.

Optional Photoshoot

A vintage car is a perfect prop for a photoshoot- and parking one in front of a lavender field or mountain backdrop is quite frankly perfection. If you rent one of these vintage beauties for the day I can meet you in said lavender field, mountainous backdrop, or your villa (lots of options available) for a professional Provence photoshoot that will capture some memories of your stay in the area.

See my photography website for example of my vacation portraits: www.PhotographerinProvence.com

Weekend Getaway – Where to Stay

If you live in France and are looking for a fun weekend getaway, I have a suggestion for you. One of the partners of YesProvence is L’Oréliane Chambres d’Hôtes in Châteauneuf du Gadagne. We stayed at this charming BnB for a night after our day driving around and I whole heartedly recommend it. Christine, your host, is vivacious and an accomplished cook. In the evenings she makes an “assiette gourmande”; a plate of nibbles using only local ingredients served with local wine. In the mornings there is a French breakfast, always with some delicious homemade dessert. Watch out- her desserts are dangerous!

The BnB is located in a small village between Isle sur la Sorgue and Avignon. I had never been before and didn’t realise how charming it is! This is an ideal weekend getaway in proximity to the Sunday morning market and brocante (antique market) at Isle sur la Sorgue. We walked to the top of town where there is a view of Mt Ventoux as well as a walking trail along the vines. Absolutely worth it!

If you do rent a vintage car with YesProvence let me know which one you chose! I’m curious!

CuriousProvence & Château Gassier Rosé !

June 1, 2020 by ashleyt 6 Comments

I have an exciting new collaboration to announce !

You may have noticed if you follow me on Instagram that I often share my photos (in stories) of Château Gassier Esprit Rosé. I’m the photographer for their Instagram. However, starting this month, we’re launching an exciting new collaboration!

Château Gassier Instagram by CuriousProvence — The pretty Château Gassier Instagram Feed. Pictures by moi! Follow them here: Château Gassier Instagram

Esprit Gassier #makeityours Limited Edition

Château Gassier Limited Edition #makeityours rosés — #makeityours Château Gassier Limited Edition

Château Gassier has created six unique wine bottles that reflect a special moment in time spent while drinking rosé by six influencers. I’m one of them! There are four other French influencers based in the Aix en Provence area, and one Italian influencer. The “labels” are engraved directly onto the bottles so that you can see the beautiful colour of the rosé. The original edition was going to be for a year, with many exciting scheduled events all over Europe that recreate the moments on the bottles. However, due to the current circumstances, the edition has been extended to two years. The idea of the #makeityours edition is to claim these moments on the bottles yourself!

If you read French or Italian and are curious about the other influencers, you can check out their Instagrams/blogs here:

@lelabbyestelle Green living lifestyle and recipes in Aix en Provence. Blog: http://lelabbyestelle.com

@lamodeaixoise Local Fashion and the Best addresses in Aix. Blog: https://www.lamodeaixoise.com

@laorawalk South of France Fashion

@jenna.mzn Home decor, fashion and travel Blog: https://jennamzn.com

@iasmin_americo Style and Travel (in multiple languages), based in Tuscany

Lavender and Rosé with Curious Provence

The CuriousProvence bottle design is a picnic in the lavender fields of Provence. This is something that I’ve often had the chance to experience as I’m often in the lavender fields (sometimes twice a day) during the month of July for my photo sessions. There’s something intoxicating about being surrounded by the scent of lavender and purple blooms. I also wanted to depict my love for what the French call “les terres” de Provence. This is the countryside away from the ocean with it’s rolling hills, craggy rocks, windmills, silvery olive groves, cherry orchards, and golden fields of wheat swaying in the Mistral wind. All of this is Provence! These landscapes of Provence are of course best enjoyed with a cold glass of delicious rosé. With this bottle, hopefully you’ll be able to do that!

Château Gassier Wines

Château Gassier is an organic vineyard at the base of Mount Saint Victoire. The view from the vines is absolutely stunning. Château Gassier specialises in rosé and white gastronomic wines. You’ll find their wines in many of the Michelin star restaurants here in Provence and the world. With their rosés, they aim to compete with gastronomic whites and reds at the table. I can say with confidence that they do! This year, the Château Gassier Pas de Moine rosé has been awarded many awards such as the Médaille d’Or at the Concours Général Agricole in Paris. You can see their range of wines on their website. Esprit Gassier is their apéro rosé, perfect for an apéritif in the sun before dinner- or a picnic in the lavender fields! Esprit Gassier is a light, fruity rosé. It’s a floral and “gourmand” wine and I have to say that I’m proud to be associated with it.

Visit the Domaine

If you’re in the Aix en Provence area I would strongly suggest to visit Château Gassier vineyard. Not only to see my bottles of course! ha! You can taste their range of rosés and whites with a view of Mt Saint Victoire, the mountain so beloved of Cézanne. The vineyard organises picnics at tables that overlook the mountain and I have to say that these picnics are delicious!

For a day out:

Route de Cézanne Aix en Provence — Route de Cezanne Views

Drive to the vineyard from Aix en Provence via the scenic route (a must!) via the Route de Cézanne. Taste and have a picnic at the vineyard, then go for a walk on Mt St Victoire. Or, maybe climb the mountain first and have a celebratory glass of rosé at the vineyard afterwards. See the menu for Château Gassier picnics. You’ll need to order 48 hours in advance. Picnics are available from Monday-Friday.

Order Bottles Online with the CuriousProvence discount

For the month of July 2020, the vineyard is offering CuriousProvence readers a 10% discount on their online boutique which ships all over France (soon Europe). Each box of wine will have one label from each influencer. If you’d like the CuriousProvence bottles specifically, you can ask for them in the comment section during your checkout.

The code is : CURIOUSPROVENCE10

Château Gassier Online Boutique

The limited edition will soon be available at stores that carry Château Gassier everywhere worldwide except the United States. This is because of complications with the new wine tariffs this year. However, the CuriousProvence bottles will hopefully be available next year in the USA. If you’re in the States and desperate to try this delicious wine, you can order directly from the vineyard; they can use a company that specialises in shipping Internationally. You’ll just have to pay for the shipping which will make the bottles a little more expensive than what you would pay normally.

Contact: boutique@chateau-gassier.fr

Technical Wine Sheet Esprit Gassier:

APPELLATION

AOP Côtes de Provence

MILLÉSIME

2019

CÉPAGES (grape varietals)

Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Rolle, Clairette, Tibouren, Sémillon, Cabernet, Carignan

TYPES DE SOL (soil type)

Argilo-calcaire, caillouteux et sablonneux, provenant de l’érosion de la montagne Sainte-Victoire.

VINIFICATION

Vendanges mécaniques à l’aube. Pressurage direct, débourbage, puis fermentation à basse température.

NOTES DE DÉGUSTATION (tasting notes)

Robe : Limpide aux reflets de pêche (bright/clear colour with peachy tones)

Nez (nose) : Sur des notes de fleur d’amandier et de pêche de vigne (smell: white peach and almond blossoms)

Bouche (mouth-feel) : Très gourmande avec une belle rondeur et une fraîcheur prédominante. Des arômes subtils d’amande fraîche se révèlent en milieu de bouche laissant place ensuite à des arômes de groseille. Une très jolie persistance aromatique avec une finale acidulée.

(A well-rounded, fresh tasting wine. Subtle notes of fresh almonds with a finish of gooseberry. Long lasting aromatics with delicate acidity.)

ACCORDS METS ET VIN (Food Pairings)

Servir entre 8 et 10°C à l’apéritif, en accompagnement de maki california, d’une sole grillée, d’une poêlée de couteaux ou encore de poke bowl.

(Serve between 8 and 10°C as an aperitif, with grilled fish or even a poke bowl.)

CuriousProvence & Chateau Gassier Rosé — The CuriousProvence Rosé Bottle

Esprit Gassier Limited Edition Bottles — The Limited Edition Collection.

New Provence Oil Paintings

March 29, 2020 by ashleyt 4 Comments

sunflowers provence oil painting — **“Sunrise in Les Alpilles”** *(sold)*

Hot off the Easel!

As promised, here is a selection of my latest Provence oil paintings. Some of these are already sold. However, if you’d like something similar, or have a favourite view from Provence that also inspires me, commissions are possible. All of these paintings are 30x30cm (11.8 x 11.8 inches). Please send an email if you’d like to know the prices.

I have to say that these photos don’t really do them justice. In real life, their colours are a little more vibrant and the texture of the paint comes away from the canvas. If you’d like me to send you a more high-definition photo of the painting, then feel free to send me an email.