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As one travels south the Rhone valley changes from the northern plains to what is quintessential Provence, with plantations of sun flowers, lavender, fruit trees including peaches, pears and apples, olive trees, and steep hillsides covered in pines, brush and wild herbs. It looks and like how you would have always imagined Provence to be plus it smells like a special part of the world. With “perched” hilltop villages, castles, ruins and wine caves an vineyards it is an enchanted landscape.
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In Provence the first traces of vineyards date from Greeks round 600 BC and the Romans cultivated vines and enjoyed the wines of the region. The Romans left a legacy of wine, olives and wheat and that remains very much at the heart of it’s cuisine. Visions of hot sun days, some parts of the region have 3,000 hours of sun a year, enjoying a dish of garlic-seasoned tomatoes, a baguette loaf and a glass of full-bodied red wine give meaning to a tour in Provence.
We did our first wine tour of Provence about 20 years ago. Days in the open air markets in Aix-en-Provence and tastings in the wine villages of Gigondas, Vacqueras and Beaumes-de-Venise.
It is region that you can be drawn back to year after year. So even go further and move here to live. And who has not been inspired by Peter Mayle’s “A year in Provence”
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Dramatic views of the tree covered hills of Luberon from Oppède le Vieux
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