Olive Oil & Wine Estates of Provence, Arles

Take a day trip out to Fontvieille, a village famous for its olive groves in the Alpilles Mountains. Fittingly, the first stop is a 13th-century Provençal farmhouse, where the owners will take you on a tour of their estate. Next, sit down to taste olive oils, learning how to differentiate between types, and use each in cooking. Next, follow along with a professional chef as they lead you in a cooking class based on these local olive oils, then sample the fruits of your labor!

Next, follow the Route de Vins through the Alpilles Nature Reserve and visit the area's famed wine estates. First, start at the Estoublon Chateau in the Baux-de-Provence Valley, a luxury estate known for its rich history and unusual architecture. Then, continue to the pine forests and oak groves that surround the Domaine du Grand Fontanille. This estate sits in a microclimate that creates wines with distinctive aromas, particularly organic reds and roses made from syrah, grenache, and cabernet sauvignon grapes.

Then, turn toward Arles and stop at the Grand Castelet wine estate, covering nearly 500 acres (200 hectares) along the Rhône River with vines, woods, and other crops. The owner's family has passed down their winemaking knowledge through generations and harvest fresh grapes on paths surrounded by 100-year-old sycamores.
 
Finally, stop at the Mas Carlin, a family estate serving red and rosé wines exclusively crafted using the saignée method, with citrus, mango, and dried fruit notes. You'll sip these varietals alongside the Roman road, which once linked Rome to Spain. 

Discover more culinary excursions in France and other unique experiences in Provence.