Corporate Wine Weekend - based in Avignon, France.
Large Group (20 - 50 people) - example itinerary

Thursday
20:55	Arrive on evening flight from Gatwick to Marseille (BA). Collected at Airport. Driven to Avignon and dropped at hotel at approx 22:30
22:30	Settle into accommodation. Welcome drink at hotel bar and discussion of programme for weekend.

Friday
09:00	Meet at hotel reception and depart for first tasting.
10:30	Domaine de Mourchon, Seguret Meet the owner Walter McKinlay and his family for a tour of the caveau, a walk in the vineyard and a tasting of the wines of the domaine, followed by a buffet lunch in the cellar. Comments from : Robert Parker "I can't say enough about these cuvées, which have performed consistently well since I began tasting them several years ago. Much of the credit goes to proprietor Walter McKinlay, who is working in one of the most idyllic and photogenic villages of southern France." www.domainedemourchon.com
14:30	Chateau St Cosme, Gigondas Arrive at the Domaine to meet the wine maker Louis Barroul, one of the most exciting young winemakers of the area. Tour of his historic cellar, which has been in the family for over 500 years, and taste wines made with grapes from his vineyards and from grapes bought in from friends and colleagues who have supplied him over many years. The ancient stone cellars are carved out of the rock in stark contrast to the modernity of Domaine de Mourchon. Taste Gigondas, Cotes du Rhone, Cote Rotie Comments from : Robert Parker "The Château St. Cosme 1999 Gigondas, (a blend of 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Cinsault) is an outstanding wine. A dense opaque black/purple colour is followed by sweet aromas of blackberry fruit, roasted meats, and cassis. Chewy, powerful, full-bodied, superbly concentrated, pure and well-balanced, it will drink well for 10 - 14 years." If readers have not yet discovered this estate, the wines from St. Cosme are sure things, particularly in such promising years as 1998 and 1999.
17:30	Co-operative des Vignerons, Rasteau Sample the sweet dessert wines of Rasteau where wine has been produced since 1005. Sample the Vin Doux Naturel Doree and the Vin Doux Naturel Rouge, both made from 100% Grenache but displaying quite distinct characteristics. www.rasteau.com
19:30	Arrive back at hotel Time to change and relax before dinner in the hotel at 8.30pm

Saturday
09:00	Leave hotel for Alpilles
10:30	Chateau de Romanin Tour of the caveau and the ‘cathedral’, presentation of the principles and methods used in biodynamic production. Tasting of 3 red blends featuring Counoise and Cinsault as well as the more common Syrah and Mourvedre, an unusual white made from Rolle, Ugni Blanc and Bourboulenc, and complex Roses made from blends of all of the Cepages of the Domaine. Buffet lunch in the caveau. Comments from : Natalie Maclean "CHÂTEAU ROMANIN' ROUGE 2000 $33.95 AC Les Baux-de-Provence, France Château Romanin: Opulent, dense and rich with black fruit and a real attitude. Age 2-5 years. Score: 90/100" www.romanin.fr
14:30	Domaine de Valdition Visit this extensive Domaine which has been producing wine since Roman times. Tasting of non appellation controllee wines made using a number of unusual grape varieties and methods, particularly the duos made from blends of two grape varieties pressed together, and a gold medal winning Rose. Olive oil tasting of single varietal oils produced from olives grown at the Domaine. www.valdition.com
17:00	St Remy Split into groups to visit Chocolatier Joel Durand, sample his chocolates flavoured with thyme, lavender, fresh mint and olives (amongst many other delicious flavours). Continue on to Le Petit Duc, biscuit maker which makes biscuits to medieval provencal recipes. Finish with olive oil tasting at Tous Les Huiles du Monde
19:00	Return to hotel. Relax before dinner.
20:30	Palais des Papes Dinner in reception room in Palais des Papes accompanied by wines tasted during previous two days. Some of the wine makers will join us for dinner. www.palais-des-papes.com

Sunday
10:00	Les Vignerons de Tavel Taste oak aged roses from France’s only Rose AOC. Sample fine, well priced Lirac produced by this excellent co-operative. www.tavel.tm.fr
11:30	Domaine de la Mordoree, Lirac Meet the wine maker Christophe Delorme, whose mother inherited the domaine in 1970. Taste Lirac red and white, Tavel Rose and a Chateauneuf du Pape from this increasingly well known producer. Comments from : www.winejournal.com "CdP La Reine des Bois - Now this was a serious wine, one of that rare breed that inexplicably manages to be refined and powerful in equal measure. Very tannic, full-bodied with great length, yet the final impression is one of elegance, harmony and finesse. This was my favourite wine of the tasting, proof that the ecological-minded practices instilled by Delorme do make a tangible difference to the final quality of the wine."
13:30	Chateauneuf du Pape Buffet lunch in private room in the cellar of the castle at Chateauneuf du Pape accompanied by the morning’s wines (or perhaps by a Chateauneuf! Clos de St Jean..)
16:00	Hotel rendezvous for return trip to Airport.
17:30	Marignane Airport. Check in for return flight at 19:05

We have similar programmes for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace etc. If you would like us to provide a quotation for you, please with your requirements.

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