French Excursions

During your month-long stay in France, you journey "behind the scenes", and receive valuable, up-close-and-personal tours of a variety of Provençal artisans and producers. Several of the wineries and excursions we visit are not available to the general public. These opportunities and experiences uniquely enhance your culinary arts experience.

Sample Excursions

Wine tasting in Châteauneuf du Pape, including the prestigious wineries, Château Beaucastel and Château Mont Redon.
www.beaucastel.com
www.vintageandvine.com

Wine tasting of the Côtes du Rhône region in the Palais des Papes.
www.palais-des-papes.com

A tasting of sausages and pâtés, with artisan producer, Michel Merletto.

Lecture and tasting on the regional cheeses of France with affineur (cheese curer) Bernard Vigier.

Assorted culinary outings may include an olive oil tasting, preparing authentic bouillabaisse, and visiting an oyster farm.

Tour the world famous Valrhona chocolate factory in Tain Hermitage. Hear an in-depth lecture on how their unique products are made. Taste and taste some more!
www.valrhona.com

Visit the Molteni stove factory, the premier stove producer in the world. Many top European chefs have been cooking with them for years. These stoves are custom-built to meet the client's specific needs, and are now the item of choice for million-dollar kitchens built by American star chefs.
www.molteni.com

Visit a sustainable oyster farm in the Bassin de Thau where we see how oysters are raised and taste the products first hand paired with classic oyster friendly wines. Our farmer friend is Christophe Fournier. The basin is featured as an example of sustainable seafood farming practices in the video we present to our students as part of their sustainable seafood curriculum.