Savor the Flavors of the Languedoc

Day 1: Sunday

• Sample schedule; Order of activities may vary depending on the season.

• Arrival and group transfer from Beziers or Narbonne train station, Montpellier airport, or Beziers airport to your B&B accommodations in the charming village of Quarante.

• Enjoy a welcome aperitif followed by dinner at the B&B.

• Overnight at Maison Quarante.

 
Day 2: Monday

• Breakfast.

• In the morning, meet a winemaker and take a guided tour of his vineyard in the Languedoc, an area known for its wine. The tour will be followed by a wonderful wine tasting. Lunch today is at the wine estate.

• After some time on your own in the afternoon to relax and explore, start your first hands-on cooking class in the kitchen of the B&B with Anne as your teacher. You’ll learn to make classic, seasonal dishes, such as bouride (the Languedoc’s version of the Provencal bouillabaisse) or bolles de Picolat.

• Dinner to follow based on your efforts with wine.

• Overnight.

 
Day 3: Tuesday

• Following breakfast, depart for a visit of Beziers – a town largely undiscovered by tourists – for a quick tour of the beautiful historical center. You’ll also stop at Les Halles, a small indoor market, to pick out the ingredients for the afternoon cooking class.

• Stop for lunch at a local wine bar in Beziers.

• In the afternoon, some time on your own at Maison Quarante before starting the next cooking class. Dinner to follow.

• Overnight.

 
Day 4: Wednesday

• Breakfast.

• This morning, head to the beautiful Canal du Midi for a cruise. The canal will take you by some magnificent sites of the Languedoc, such as the canal bridge outside of Beziers, the series of nine locks, and the Malpas tunnel, which was first built in 1679.

• Enjoy your lunch while traveling down the waterway.

• Along the way, you’ll stop at a winery and olive mill for a tasting. (In the Fall you may also stop at the olive fields, where the olives are being harvested).

• In the afternoon, return to the B&B for a bit of relaxation before returning to the kitchen for a cooking class followed by dinner.

• Overnight.

 
Day 5: Thursday

• After breakfast, start the day with a stroll through the historic city of Narbonne, the first Roman city in all of France. You’ll have a chance to shop at the bustling indoor market in town.

• Today’s lunch will be at a restaurant in Narbonne and feature local, seasonal produce.

• On the return to Maison Quarante, visit a winery in Le Clape, an appellation that isn’t well known outside the Languedoc. Influenced by the Mediterranean — as it’s just four miles from the coast — Le Clape is best known for their red wines, but the area also produces whites as well. This visit includes a tasting.

• Some time on your own in the afternoon.

• Begin your next informal cooking class, followed by dinner.

• Overnight.

 
Day 6: Friday

• Breakfast.

• In the morning, visit one of the most picturesque towns in southern France, Pézenas, with a chance to check out some of the town’s many artisanal shops. The town is known for Berlingot, which is a hard sweet candy, as well as petit pâté de Pézenas, which are bite-sized mince tarts.

• Lunch today will be at a popular local restaurant.

• Spend some time relaxing in the afternoon, and then it’s off to the kitchen for your final cooking class!

• Enjoy one last festive dinner together around the table.

• Overnight.

 
Day 7: Saturday
 

• Breakfast.

• Transfer to the airport or train station.

• Price Per Person

• This program requires a deposit of US$1500 per person.

•  2016 & 2017 - US$3,150 per person

• No supplement for single occupancy rooms.

 
AVAILABLE FOR VARIOUS WEEKS (CHAT TO US FOR THE LATEST OPTIONS) FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 PEOPLE AND MAXIMUM OF 6 PEOPLE WITH A SUNDAY START DATE.