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France - La Parran

Vista D’oro Farms at La Parran
French Cuisine Classes in Privat, Cornillon
2009 Dates To Be Announced

Join us for an opportunity to experience Provence in a private culinary setting. La Parran – Cure d’Air - Privat is “un petit hameau” (hamlet) in the commune of Cornillon. The village of Cornillon is found perched on the small hill just to the north of Goudargues. There are probably no more than about 30 full time residents of Privat. The sole commercial activity is Domaine Challias, a small and very pleasant winery located about 50 metres down the lane from the house. They make excellent Cotes du Rhone wines which can be purchased by the bottle (4-6 euros), by the box (5 litres of Cotes du Rhone red for about 13 euros) or “en vrac” – in a plastic jug that you take with you.

La Parran is the name of the vineyard immediately behind the house. You will see La Parran inscribed on the wall on the left side of the gate and Cure d’Air on the right. The Latin phrase on the turret is loosely translated as “This little corner of the earth, more than any other, makes me smile.” It is believed that the house was first built in 1778, most likely by the seigneur who owned the surrounding vineyards and countryside. Of course the Revolution followed shortly thereafter and it is unclear if this pseudo-aristocrat who built himself a turret retained his head.

Since then the home has been lovingly expanded, rooms added over the concrete wine vats and other rooms outfitted in le cellier, with a finished total of 5 bedrooms each with private ensuites, a beautiful and well-equipped kitchen, and many relaxing areas inside and out, including a pool overlooking the surrounding vineyards.

Your trip will include four nights in beautiful accommodations at La Parran, an 18th century stone mas, three hands-on cooking classes with recipe hand-outs, three visits to village markets and two wine tasting tours. Also included are four breakfasts and four dinners. Lunches will be on our own in each Market city.

As in true French cuisine, menus will be determined partially by what we find at the market each day, with the abundance of local produce. the hardest part will be narrowing our choices!

Itinerary

Arrive Wednesday –

Settle into your room and meet for apero in the courtyard followed by dinner on the balcony overlooking the vineyards … tonight we will cook for you!

Thursday –

Breakfast - Cafe Creme & Espresso with Pastries & Fresh Fruits
Avignon Market – Shopping & Exploring
Lunch in Avignon
Lirac Winery Stop
Visit to Goudargues – Maybe a game of Boules?
Cooking Class
Dinner & Wine Pairing with class creations

Friday –

Breakfast - Cafe Creme & Espresso with Pastries & Fresh Fruits
Carpentras Market -
Lunch in Carpentras
Chateau-Neuf de Pape & Chateau Beaucastel winery tour
Cooking Class
Dinner & Wine Pairing with class creations

Saturday -

Breakfast - CafÈ CrËme & Espresso with Pastries & Fresh Fruits
UzËs Market –
Lunch in UzËs
Tavel Winery Stop
Time to explore the area – hiking, biking, swimming….
Cooking Class
Farewell Dinner & Champagne with class creations

Sunday –

Breakfast & Good-bye’s

$1800 Cdn per person
Children welcome to stay with parents at no extra charge.

Includes tours, accommodation, breakfasts, dinners & wine with dinner
Does not include airfare.

Just some of the ‘Local Flavours’ we will be working with -

Figs
Olives
Truffles
Honey
Lemons
Artichokes
Duck
Foie Gras

Olive Oil
Artisanal Cheese
Fennel
Aubergine
Tomatoes
Lavender
Herbs de Provence

The towns we will be visiting –

Avignon - City of history and city of theater, the fortified city of Avignon will delight. Avignon's architecture is marked by papal history. Going through any of the seven doors of the superbly preserved walls one discovers the city of the Popes. The Palace of the Popes built in the 14th century overlooks a lively square. Nearby are the museums the Petit Palais and Palais du Roure, not too far away stands the famous Pont d'Avignon. Take your time wandering about the streets of Avignon, The ancient streets, the courtyards of the private mansions; the renovated facades will all charm you! One of the most elegant streets is the rue Joseph Vernet, adjacent to the Calvet museum and the Requien Museum. Avignon stands high above the immense plains of the RhÙne River and is the strategic point of the whole valley. The theater festival has made Avignon important in modern times. Started in 1947 by Jean Vilar, every year between the 10th of July and the 5th of August nearly 120,000 spectators come to discover new talent or admire those actors already known, These shows (dance, theater or music) are enhanced by the background of powerful history and often appear renewed or refreshed in this environment.

Carpentras - In the heart of the fertile plaines of Comtat Venaissin, Carpentras its capital offers a real treasure to all lovers of history and architecture. In the center with its streets bathed in coolness and light, one discovers the wealth of its history. There is the Porte d'Orange, ruins of the old fortress, the episcopal palace, St. Siffrein Cathedral, the HÙtel Dieu and its superb18th c. pharmacy.
Since Antiquity, Carpentras has been a city of commerce with the Greeks and the Phocaeans coming to the market here for honey, wheat, and sheep.
It has kept this tradition and every Friday morning the colorful market attracts people from all over the region, it must not be missed! Excellent candied fruit, strawberries, melon, bonbons "berlingots" and grapes (used for the wine Cotes de Ventoux) are all specialties claimed by the city of Carpentras.

Uzes - capital of the region called l'Uzege, is situated in the center of the Ales-Nimes-Avignon triangle, where garrigues alternate with vineyards and fields. Its lifestyle, the quality of its housing, and the number of year-round activities make it a lively town in which all services and shops are available, despite its modest size. Over 400 shops and crafts of all kinds. City center listed as a protected historical sector. Dukedom, castle of the ducs d'Uzes. Cathedral of St. Theodorit. Church of St. Etienne, the King's and Bishop's Towers, numerous hÙtels particuliers, Place aux Herbes, etc. Uzes was the starting point for the Roman Aqueduct of Nomes and the seat of a diocese until the Revolution. The very powerful dukes of Uzes were First Dukes of France. The town was marked by the Wars of Religion, but it was affected little, if at all, by the Industrial Revolution. It preserves its glorious heritage.
Truffles, local wines of the Duche d'Uzes, olives, and abundant market garden produce are amoung the local products found in Uzes.