Chateauneuf-Du-Pape

I love my wine as much, if not more, than the next person. I could not wait to spend a day wine tasting in the Rhone valley region that produces some of the most famed red wines of the country, Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. We departed Avignon and for Chateauneuf-Du-Pape, which was a beautiful scenic 30 minute drive through rolling hills sprinkled with grape vines and wineries on every corner. We stopped at our first winery past the quaint town of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape called Domaine Grand Veneur. It was my first time trying this particular type of wine, and after all the anticipation it exceeded my expectations- so smooth and delicious. We grabbed a 2009 bottle of red and were told to age it for 5 years for the intended maturity and taste of the wine. I haven't seen a bottle of wine last longer than a day in our house so this should be interesting, but we're planning on aging it until our 5 year anniversary to make it special.

Domaine Grand Veneur Winery

Winery stop on the road

After stopping into a few other wineries along the winding narrow wine country road, we headed towards the town of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. The entrance to the historical city is at the top of a hill where the chateau ruins remain. As you walk down the hundreds of cobble stone stairs, you approach the fairy tail town with tiny restaurants and wine stores all boasting the best regional wine. We first popped into a La Cave du Verger des Papes, a cavernous wine tasting room to sample a vast variety of red and white wines from the town. After trying a good 15 types of wine, we settled on a bottle to take home and once again... age. All that wine tasting on an empty stomach made us ready for a feast. Unfortunately France is unlike America in that after 3pm or so, restaurants stop serving lunch or food at all in many cases. We sat outside at a cute little restaurant and ordered all that we could, a cheese platter, which actually turned out to be enormous and do the trick at soaking up some of that wine just in time for the drive back to our B&B. Chateauneuf-Du-Pape is a wine lover's paradise, and it makes a wonderful afternoon activity if you happen to be in Provence- just be sure to eat at lunch time to avoid an unnecessary wine rush to the head!

One of many wine shops in town

Just a few of the wines we tasted at Le Cave du Verger des Papes

Town of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape

The Chateau

Chateau ruins

Steps into town

Our cheese plate!

Views from the chateau on the hill

JetSet Coco's News Appearance

This morning at 6am and 12pm, JetSet Coco's chevron clutch is making an appearance on Miami's Local 10 News' hot happenings segment, promoting the WGirls Hello Stiletto charity event! Anyone in Miami, come to the Roy Teeluck Salon tomorrow from 4-7 for an afternoon of salon treatments, bubbly, and auctions benefiting this wonderful charity event! Watch the clip here- the segment begins 30 seconds in!

Avignon

Avignon is one of Provence's largest medieval cities and is located right on the Rhone River. We spent our first morning in Provence here visiting this beautiful city. Avignon is full of bustling cafes and restaurants in all the main squares, including the largest, the Place de Palais. After soaking up the culture at the Palais de Papes and the Cathedrale, head to the busy street Rue des Marchands and the surrounding streets for some serious boutique shopping. Unfortunately we went to Avignon on a Friday and missed the weekly Saturday indoor at Les Halles, but even on a regular day there are plenty of flower booths set up just outside of Les Halles. We found a great wine store called Le Vin Devant Soi which has the wine machine in which you buy a card and can taste of one of nearly 50 wines on display in the store. This was a great way to learn about the regional wines, and prepare for our next stop of the day, Chateauneuf de Pap, the leader in red wine production.

View of Avignon from top of hill

Shopping in Avignon

Les Halles

Flower market outside of Les Halles

Famous Provencial lavender

Cute cafe

Tons of artists displaying work

Wine tasting at Le Vin Devant Soi

Place du Palais

Campagne Le Bec

Front view of Campagne Le Bec

After Paris, we took a scenic train to Aix-En-Provence, where we stayed 20 minutes away in the country at the most charming B&B, Campagne Le Bec. If you plan to stay anywhere in the region of Provence, you MUST stay at this incredible 1600's farm chateaux turned Bed and Breakfast. The whole experience was amazing, from the horses, donkeys and dogs on the property to the ornately designed bedrooms to the homemade jams and sweets at breakfast. On the grounds of the B&B is a pool, rose and vegetable gardens, vineyards, olive trees, and stables for the animals. Campagne Le Bec is located in St Canadet, which is in close proximity to any provincial towns you may wish to drive to. It was the most quintessential provincial home base, and I could not have been happier with our overall experience thanks to the help of our gracious hosts Thierry and Olivier.

Delicious daily breakfast

Rose garden

The horses

One of 3 dogs- Juliette

The donkeys

Our room

Views from the window

Vineyards on the property

Olive trees