When the USA fell in love with rosé

It wasn’t that long ago that rosé wine was hard to find in USA. Initially it was often confused with white zinfandel, wine of a similar color but not similar in any other way. I can even remember rosé being dismissed as being a watered down red with half the alcohol content! But then, about ten years ago, Provençal rosé hit the American supermarket shelves and when sales exploded it sent the local vintners scampering to produce something to rival it. And small wonder that Provençal rosé has been such a success, for this subtle, pale pink shimmer in your glass, so crisp and refreshing seems to define what so many of us love about Provence. As it sparkles like sunshine, with every sip one is transported to be sitting at a bistro table below the shaded branches of gently swaying plane trees, cicadas chattering incessantly above as you ponder the biggest decision of the day, what are you going to order for lunch?

Léoube

I digress, what has this got to do with Léoube the wonderful rosé from a wine château near Bormes-Les-Mimosa in Provence? Well believe it or not the first time I tasted Léoube was not in Provence but in California. A dear friend found it at our favourite, local épicerie, Diablo Foods in Lafayette, 30 miles east of San Francisco near where we live, and we were smitten.

Daylesford

The second time I saw it was a year later, again not in Provence, but at a gorgeous organic farm shop, Daylesford, in The Cotswolds, England.

Courtyard at Daylesford

In fact, I remember it was the only wine I saw there.

Léoube wine for sale at Daylesford

Situated next to an organic farm, belonging to the Bamford family, in addition to the farm shop, Daylesford offers a collection of stunning home, gift, clothing and garden shops, a cookery school, several fabulous dining options and the Bamford Wellness Spa.

There are also several equally lovely deli style farm shops and cafés in London, click here for locations

A few weeks after my first visit to Daylesford we were having lunch at a nearby pub in the Cotswolds, The White Rabbit, in Kingham and once again Léoube featured predominantly on the menu. Intrigued we got chatting to the manager who explained, Daylesford owns the White Rabbit, Daylesford is owned by Lord and Lady Bamford who also own a château in Provence, volia Léoube!!

The bar at The Wild Rabbit pub

Organic farming, a JCB and a chateau in Provence

Their story goes something like this….. when the Bamfords, also owners of JCB (England’s equivalent to Caterpillar) bought a fairy tale château in Bormes-Les-Mimosa it came with a small vineyard.

They became friends with their neighbour, a local vintner, Jean-Jacques Ott. They dispatched some JCB’s, recruited Monsieur Ott and later his son, who helped them in the conversion of both the vineyards and the olive grove to organic production. It's an incredible success story!

In my opinion they have established one of the loveliest domaines in Provence. Under Lady Carole Bamford's expert care, just like their farm in England and Daylesford, the commitment to sustainability and nurturing the land shines.

Although rosé is the star of the show they also produce red, white and sparkling. They now export to more than thirty countries and are full of further aspirations.

The tasting room and shop at Château Léoube

The shop at Château Léoube has the same enticing ambience as Daylesford.

Shop at Daylesford

At both locations the understated, artistic displays reek of style and good taste.

The natural, 'feel good' look tugs at your soul and makes you ignore the price tag!

And let's not forget the opportunity to taste the wine!

Just down the road the story continues at The Léoube Café.

Café Léoube, Pellegrin Beach

The café and it's location on Pellegrin beach is yet another Daylesford style haven.

One that feels like you’ve arrived at a 5 star desert island.

Although we did think it was a bit much having to pay 11 euros to park the car when we had a reservation for lunch at the café.

The menu was delicious.

We chose the daurade ~ sea bass

The shop on the beach was a continuation of the same allure, brimming with temptation.

A beach version of  the ladies clothing shop at Daylesford.

The Daylesford ladies clothing shop.

Even the plates for sale at Café Léoube begged to be purchased.

Everything at Café Léoube and Pellegrin Beach is dedicated to relaxing with its laid back, feel good vibe.

We will be returning for sure; to Pellegrin Beach, Château Léoube and Daylesford of course!

Château Léoube

2387 Route de Lèoube 83230 Bormes-les-Mimosas

Café Léoube

Open from April - October for lunch and dinner reservations are essential.

Call +33 04 98 07 69 88 or book online here

Check out their summer program and the various events hosted here throughout the season.

Click here for directions to both the Château and Café at Pellegrin Beach.

Daylesford

Daylesford near Kingham Cotswolds GL56 0YG +44 (0)1608 731700

The post Léoube, Provençal rosé enticing England and California appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

We decided we'd like to explore a little more of the region beyond the Luberon and spend a few days on the Côte d'Azur. We were in search of a quiet, boutique hotel, one that offered good food where we could relax for a few days by a pool and feel a little indulged. With lots of places to chose from you're never completely sure if you've made a good selection until you arrive. Nestled on the cliffs above the sparkling Mediterranean, Hôtel La Villa La Duce, proved to be a gem!

About a three hour drive from Lourmarin we chose to drive across country instead of taking the autoroute. It was a scenic journey, through vast areas of sweeping vineyards into the beautiful countryside of the Var.

We stopped for lunch by the Mediterranean at the pretty beach town of Le Lavandou, just 13km west of our destination at Rayol-Canadol-sur-Mer and 30km west of the beaches of the Saint Tropez Peninsular.

Le Lavandou bustles with restaurants, shops and cafés, cheerily strung along the quay.

We wandered by the water until we found somewhere that seemed impossible to resist. Doubtless tempted by a display of one of our favourite rosés, Léoube, from nearby Bormes-Les-Mimosas. (There's a story to Léoube which I'll share next time.)

After lunch we wound our way a little further along the oleander fringed corniche. Mediterranean villas, smothered with bright purple and fushia bougainvillea clung to the hillside either side of us, painting a profusion of color along our pathway

Then we arrived at Hôtel La Villa La Duce, perched amongst the clay tiled roof tops with dazzling views from the terrace, of our beautifully appointed room, of the Mediterranean and Côte d'Azur.

Champagne and rosé were some of the offerings at cocktail hour, carefully positioned to show case the view.

As was the hotel's restaurant, Le Café l’Envol.....

The cuisine was a delicious work of art without being pretentious and it was reasonably priced.

View the menu here.

Breakfast was served on the upper terrace at Le Club Papillon with sweeping views across the glistening, blue water.

The breakfast buffet was a sumptuous feast, we certainly didn't need lunch!

After 2 days of  indulgence we decided to explore a little further and visited Gassin one of Les plus beau villages de France, a medieval village high above the beautiful Saint-Tropez Peninsular.

Jean-Luc Ducreux' incredible bronze and steel sculpture dangled by the village entrance.

Where 'Don Quixote' seemed to be guarding the secrets of this picturesque little spot.

And it was really very pretty.

A visit to one of Les beau villages never disappoints.

We stopped on the short drive back at the beach near Croix-Valmer.

Where we were enticed to stay for dinner with the sand between our toes.

Gambas et frites..... très délicieux!

We only had a few days in this little haven,

and it was hard to tear ourselves away.

Only open a few years, we've already booked to go back. If you'd like to visit Hôtel La Villa La Duce click here, it's cheaper to book direct!

Where do you like to stay on the Côte d'Azur?

The post Hôtel La Villa La Duce, Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Easily reached on a day's excursion from Lourmarin is the one of the most magnificent cities of Provence, Avignon and vibrant university town of Aix-en-Provence.

The Mediterranean coast is a short drive further; Marseilles, and the quaint fishing towns of Bandol and Cassis.

Not more than an hour from Lourmarin are the charms of Provence's Bouches-du-Rhône region; the bustling market town of St Remy-de-Provence and probably the most splendid of all of Provence's perched villages; Les Baux-de-Provence!

Uzès and the World UNESCO Heritage site, The Pont du Gard, are under two hours from Lourmarin, well worth a visit!

Avignon

Aix-en-Provence

This colourful university city in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence is only 30 minutes from Lourmarin. Stroll the famous Cours de Mirabeau, visit the wonderful daily markets and walk in the footsteps of Cézanne and other great artists, you'll be entranced!

Cassis and Bandol

St- Remy-de-Provence

Les Baux-de-Provence

Les Carrières de Lumières

Uzès

Pont du Gard

The post Cities of Provence an hour from Lourmarin appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

What is it that consistently draws people to Provence and to the Luberon in particular? What precisely is Provence's appeal, that special ‘je ne sais quoi’ which make the region so captivating? Aside from its natural beauty, perhaps its enduring appeal is, that it remains one of the few places whose charms have not diminished with the passing of time. Simple pleasures of life, can still be found here and in abundance.

Provence, immersing yourself in simple pleasures

Provence is a place where lingering in the shade over a long, lazy, lunch, watching the world pass by  is part of life and in our over scheduled lives is perhaps the very essence of Provence's appeal!

It's where shopping means ambling through a brightly coloured market, filling your basket with freshly baked pastries, ripe local produce the soil still clinging to it, a medley of olives, honey and flowers.
Life seems kinder here, that in itself is so integral to Provence' appeal, where instead of rushing, one simply meanders, exploring the narrow streets, stopping every so often to admire a tall shuttered window or worn brass door handle, which you just know has a story to tell.

It’s a place where one wanders down tree lined avenues,

where bustling street cafés beckon, their only requirement being that you take your time over a coffee or glass of wine, inviting you to relax and soak up the ambience. Simple pleasures so integral to Provence's appeal, just as alluring today as they were when Van Gough, Gauguin, Cézanne captured it on their canvases.

Provence, a symphony for the senses

Provence is a place where is so much admire, to look at, to taste, to smell, to hear, simple but delightful sensory experiences which help to define Provence's appeal.

Sights of Provence

Provence and especially the Luberon, is visually stunning and the sense of the past is inescapable, in its enchanting perched villages, its tumbled down castles, abbeys and medieval chateaux.

Set against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery and a magical light, Provence has enticed artists here for centuries. This unique transcendent light has a sharply defining clarity which has the ability to become almost translucent, a painter's dream!

There is an ever-changing kaleidoscope, where streaming sun rays, intensify and illuminate the natural colours of the spectacular landscape.

Vibrant summer carpets of dancing yellow sunflowers and violet shades of lavender.

Endless, rolling fields of bright, green vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards,

which evolve into a deep, rich, ocher glow before shedding their gowns to rest during winter.

Fragrances of Provence

And as the seasons change so do the natural fragrances, which in this part of the world have an intensity which perfumes the air like no where else. Lavender, verbena and olives, so defining of summer in Provence pervade, and then later the heady aroma of the vines, when lush crops of grapes drip like fat jewels, from ancient gnarly fists. Fragrances which giddily illustrate Provence's appeal!

The intoxicating scent of warm soil, of fermenting fruit and musty, aged oak barrels promising rich dark vintages, to be slowly sipped by the glow of a fire, the flavors of the earth, the fruit and wood smoke consuming you.

Tastes of Provence

Good food and eating in Provence really matters, it is a place of mouth watering tastes; the flaky, buttery texture of croissants which melt on your tongue; of ripe tomatoes whose exploding flavor instantly remind you of the summers of your childhood, of freshly cut grass, of not having to do anything.

Crusty, floury baguettes spread with soft, creamy cheese which oozes between your finger tips; small sweet strawberries, figs, nectarines and slices of chilled melon, a scrumptious regional bounty which are so much part of Provence's appeal.

And as you feast on all this deliciousness, your ears full of the lyrical melody of the French language and the chirping of crickets, you’ll probably wonder if anything has ever tasted as good.

Perhaps the very heart of Provence's appeal is  that is somewhere to find respite from the frenzied, interconnected world so many of us find ourselves consumed by, a place to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, as beguiling today, as they were many life times ago.

Experience some of this beautiful region of Provence yourself:
What to see in Uzès, Avignon, Lourmarin
Where to stay in Uzès, Avignon, Lourmarin 
Where to eat in Uzès, Avignon, Lourmarin 

The post Provence, where the pleasures of life abound appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Most visitors to Provence and indeed much of the Mediterranean, are usually entranced by the charming features of the local architecture, especially in the countryside. It interesting to learn that much of the construction in Provence, actually, has very little to do with the much admired aesthetics, and much more to do with the practical requirements of needing to withstand the fierce gusts of the Mistral wind and the relentless summer heat.

We can certainly testify to the strength and biting cold of the Mistral in Provence. It is a wind like no other and quite understandable that buildings over the centuries have been designed to try to cope with its brutal force. The Mistral usually develops as a cold front moving from the north, down through France. Air piles up in the Alps before spilling over the mountain tops and rushing as a freezing blast, down the Rhone Valley between the Alps and Cevennes. The Mistral can blow continuously for several days and reach speeds of over 100km, (62 miles) it's power, is really quite unbelievable. Although strongest and most frequent in winter it can still cause much misery well into spring! It is however usually accompanied by clear, fresh weather and it plays a very significant role in creating Provence’s otherwise sublime, climate. The name 'mistral' is aptly derived in part from the Languedoc dialect meaning ‘masterly’.
So how has the Mistral impacted construction in Provence? Farmhouses, or 'mas', have traditionally been built from locally available materials. The golden stone walls, sometimes cemented together or else rendered smooth with plaster. They are designed to be strong and compact, retaining warmth in the winter and keep buildings cool in the summer.


The distinctive clay tiled roofs are made of thick, red curved,terracotta.


They are often laid in a double or triple layer, set in mortar and protrude out beyond the wall to cover the main living areas and annexes.  Their interlocking design forms canals to allow rainwater to run down and drain off the roof. The decorative frieze seen under the eaves dates back to the Roman's (Genoise).
Roofs normally have gentle slopes to prevent tiles sliding or blowing off in the Mistral. Protruding stone chimneys are built low and squat to also prevent being damaged by the winds.

When you look at the local buildings, they are nearly always purposefully, southeast facing to minimize the Mistral's impact. For the same reason, windows are rarely added on the north walls to avoid the Mistral’s icy chill. Windows are deliberately small to prevent the wind coming in but large enough to allow in sufficient light. The distinctive shutters also originate from the need to shut out both the wind in winter and the heat in summer.

In the numerous medieval towns and perched villages, a huddle of cobbled streets, steps, alleys and archways, it is very striking how narrow the tiny streets are. This too was deliberate, to make them easier to protect and confuse attacking soldiers. Today they remain as peaceful and quaint, reminders perhaps of more turbulent times.

The overall effect of all these architectural features helps Provence to remain an idyllic spot, set within its dramatic landscape, mountains falling down into the sea, communities still clinging to desolate hill tops, and an abundant countryside, overflowing with vineyards, fruit trees, olive groves, lavender and sunflowers, it is totally captivating!

The post Provencal architecture and the Mistral appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

The quaint fishing town of Bandol, nestled within the embrace of a sweeping Mediterranean bay, a mere 80 minutes drive from Lourmarin and yet a world away for my sleepy little spot in the Luberon. Bustling on a market day morning, a street fayre which stretched all along the sea front. Market shoppers spilling out onto the streets sipping their cappucinos, some even clutching an early, vin rosé . Perhaps that could be forgiven, despite the slightly mid morning hour as we were in one of Provence's most famous and delicious wine growing areas - les vignobles de Bandol.

The vineyards of Bandol, in the hills between La Ciotat and Toulon are some of the oldest in France. It is believed that the first vines were planted in Bandol by the Romans over 2,500 years ago. Bandol's close proximity to the port of Marseille meant that this full body red wine, was a popular export. Bandol wine bottles could be found in India or Brazil 2 centuries ago!

The atmosphere was definitely reminiscent of careless summer days. We strolled the quay side admiring the neat moorings of cheery, brightly painted boats. Jackets and scarves happily left in the car, rolled up sleeves and sunglasses made us feel we had almost skipped a season and arrived in summer!

Palm trees and shuttered buildings above bustling little stores sporting this years display of T-shirts, swim suits, sun hats and all the typical wares of a seaside destination.

Brightly coloured awnings, some already pulled out to provide some shade, provided bright splashes of colour.

The town's carousel all spruced up in readiness for all the excited little people who would soon be laughingly enjoying its roundabout thrill -  little sticky fingers, ice cream smeared smiles, grinning broadly for the camera clicks of their proud onlooking parents, joyfully capturing happy memories.

and beautiful mimosa everywhere, surely one of Provence's most defining blooms.......

The post Early springtime by the Mediterranean in Bandol appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.