A tour of the vineyards of the Rhône valley

The village of La Roque Alric is the ideal starting point for gentle bike rides in the Dentelles de Montmirail and tougher ones for the climb up Mont-Ventoux. You will arrive at the end of the day at the Mas de Carabelle in the picturesque village with a fabulous view of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Your stay starts with an excellent meal with Jane and Serge who have fallen in love with the charm of Provence. Your programme: tasting of local produce and pairings with the famous wines of the region: Beaumes de Venise, Vacqueyras, Gigondas ou Rasteau… Breakfast with organic products, a good dose of vitamins to start your day.

An early morning start from the heart of the Dentelles. A unique landscape of hillsides of vineyards and jagged rocks! We follow the marked discovery trail of the vineyards of Vacqueyras. An opportunity to have a tasting break in one of the many wine-growing estates. Stop off in the vineyards for a picnic with a nice glass of red wine and the splendid view of the Dentelles!

It’s time to go to the charming village of Beaumes-de-Venise, where we can buy a bottle of their famous Muscat and then stop off at the olive oil mill. In the village, it’s pétanque time!…
Arrival at the Maison des Remparts for a well-earned rest at the spa to unwind. We continue with a meal devised by the bastide’s kitchen and watch the sun going down over the vines as we gently sip our little glass of Muscat.

Being near the Mont-Ventoux means we have to tackle it! We swap our mountain bike for an electric bike, a more easy-going mode of transport for a shy approach of the giant of Provence which reaches an altitude of 1,912 metres! Bye-bye, the endurance of a cycle racer used to exercise. Starting from the village of Bédoin, a gentle circuit at the gateway to the range which does however require a certain physical condition. The prospect of a truffle-based lunch has us choosing a rather less steep itinerary… It’s the start of the season for this choice Provencal delicacy so why not make the most of it.

A delicious break which continues in Carpentras by a stop at the Confiserie du Mont-Ventoux with its berlingots – little striped sweets made from the sugar in which the fruit harvested in the Comtat Venaissin such as strawberries or melon – have been cooked… These production secrets are revealed in a visit of the workshops. A lovely reward which makes us forget all our efforts.

End of our stay and back to square one at the end of the day after a good breath of fresh air! A little break from the hustle and bustle of the town which has charged our batteries to the hilt!