4 Day French Culinary Vacation with Wine and Champagne Tasting in Gascony, France
Gastronomic Short Break in France
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in France
Spend an amazing time discovering the fantastic food, wines, Armagnacs, history, and culture of south-west France. This luxury tailor-made tour will take your breath away! You will stay at a private 180-year-old farmhouse set in 50 acres, where your every need will be met by the staff who are on hand to ensure an unforgettable stay for you. There will be plenty of free time to ensure your holiday is a relaxing and fulfilling experience. Enjoy wine and Armagnac from limited reserves, lunch at a gourmet restaurant, and explore all the best Gascony has to offer in this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- Gourmet dinners
- Village markets
- Wine, Armagnac, and Champagne tasting
- Gourmet restaurant
- Foie gras and Cheese tasting
- Pairing wines to food
- 3 nights accommodation
- 3 meals a day
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (US$ 203 per person)
Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (US$ 181 per person)
Accommodation
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Table tennis
- Barbeque facilities
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Multilingual staff
- Smoke-free property
- Special menu request
- Terrace
- Free bicycle
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Ironing / ironing board
- Wireless internet
During your course, you will stay in Baron-Figuès which is part of a gorgeous 150 year old farmhouse with five beautifully appointed guest en-suite twin or double bedrooms. And one of the main attractions of this farmhouse is its large open plan traditional kitchen. Guests can sit around the homely table, that seats 14 guests, and share delicious meals. There are also no single supplements for solo travelers to have a private room!
So if you are travelling as a group, this is ideally suited to your needs and offers the wonderful traditional French feel to it. If you are travelling solo, there’s nothing better than the farmhouse, where you will share the accommodation with Caroline and her husband and meet likeminded people who share your passion for the French way of life.
This accommodation combines the wonders of rural Gascony, modern-home comforts of a traditional French farmhouse, and unbeatable food and wine experiences that will stay with you forever.
Program
The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:
Day 1 - Arrival day
Arrive in the afternoon to be greeted by your friendly hosts. There is a free collection service from Agen train station. Airport (Toulouse, Bordeaux, Bergerac) collections can be arranged upon request for a supplement.
Settle into your delightful room before getting to know your fellow guests over delicious aperitifs.
In the afternoon, you will cleanse your palate with a course about Champagne and Methode Traditionelle. Try whites and pinks, dry and sweet, all delicious.
Enjoy a social evening with a three course gourmet dinner served in the farmhouse kitchen along with a short introduction from your hosts about what to expect over the next few days.
Day 2 - Boutique wines, cheeses and Armagnac
This morning after breakfast you will visit one of the local vineyards and sample their best wines. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant or at the vineyard.
In the afternoon, spend time discovering cheeses from the region and around France. Understand the different processes and tastes.
What better to wash down your cheese than Armagnac. Early evening, you will visit a family run distillery (which Gascony is famous for) and learn how it is made from grape to Armagnac. Sample different vintages across generations of production. These are millesime armagnacs, not blended, and bottled for you directly from the cask.
Dinner will be served back at the farmhouse giving you time to relax in the lounge or by the swimming pool or to take advantage of one of the onsite activities such as pool, table tennis or cycling
Day 3 - Easy lunches, Foie Gras & Armagnac
After a leisurely breakfast, you will visit a local market. Visit the cathederal, mingle with the locals, sample the cheeses, meats and fruits then relax with a coffee and watch the world pass by. Today we will have a relaxing lunch at a gourmet restaurant.
After lunch you will visit a beautiful chateau famous for its aperitifs and wines for an afternoon of wine tasting and a walk through history.
You will then visit a family run foie gras business where you will learn how it is made and taste it cooked three ways.
A 3 course gourmet meal will then be served back at the farmhouse kitchen accompanied with local delicious wines.
Day 4 - Departure day
After breakfast, guests are asked to check out by 10 am. You will return home with fantastic memories and new skills to last you a lifetime
As with all of our exclusive breaks, this holiday can be tailored to meet the needs of the group. Please contact us to discuss your personal requirements and we will ensure your holiday is exactly as you want it to be.
Included excursions
All excursions are included in the price.
Instructors
Caroline
Caroline and her husband, Adam, have decided to leave their comfortable life in Kent and headed off for a new adventure in France with their four young children. The summers spent vacationing by the Mediterranean had instilled in them a love for the outdoor life. Looking back, this was probably madness, as they had little knowledge of France and no real idea of what they were coming to. Caroline, a qualified teacher for over 20 years, loves her work running PMC Studio France. She enjoys meeting fascinating people from all over the world who come to learn or enjoy a relaxing holiday.
Adam
After working in global consulting and finance, Adam jumped at the chance to rebalance his life more in favor of family. Adam's passion for food and wine has been cultivated during these early years and he has honed his skills over the last decade living in “Garden of France”, an area rich in gastronomic delights, fabulous wines, and amazing Armagnacs. For Adam, cooking is a journey through the senses. Next to him, you will understand how local produce is made and the traditions behind it.
Location
This holiday will take place in Gascony, France. Gascony is an undiscovered region of Southwest France, so there's no chance that you will have to wrestle with crowds when you go to sample the wonders that make this region so special. You will quickly learn why Gascony is famed for its sumptuous local produce and seasonal recipes and you will realize that the locals take their food very seriously.
If you are partial to a cheeky little treat, Gascony is one of the main producers of foie gras. It's not just mouth-watering food you have to look forward to. You can't visit Gascony without trying out the fruits of the vine. Wherever you walk, you will be able to see the many vineyards sprawling over the hills and valleys and discover that the wines are individual, full of character, and exquisite.
Food
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Organic
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Pescatarian
- Seafood
- Lactose Free
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
All extracurricular activities on your holiday are free. So, if you dont feel like taking a trip after your lessons you can try on site table tennis, basketball, shooting, archery and cycling, or you may just like to relax by the pool with a glass of soul-warming Armagnac. There is also a great selection of board games that will amuse you during the warm nights, and let you enjoy the company of other guests.
What's included
- Gourmet dinners
- Village markets
- Wine tasting
- Foie gras
- Armagnac tasting
- Gourmet restaurant
- Champagne tasting
- Cheese tasting
- Pairing wines to food
- 3 meals a day
- 3 nights accommodation
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
123 km
Transfer not provided
Toulouse–Blagnac Airport
91 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
The closest airports are Toulouse Blagnac Airport (TLS), Bordeaux-Mrignac Airport (BOD), or Bergerac Dordogne Prigord Airport (EGC). French Holidays Plus can pick you up from the airport. The pick-up is at additional price. This price is per car, not per person.
Arrival by train
- The closest train station is Agen train station. French Holidays Plus will pick you up from the train station. The pick-up is included in the price.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.