Exquisite Provence hotel changes with the seasons

After a long, hot European summer, autumn will come as a welcome relief in sunny Provence. 

The hilltop villages here are among my favourites, and we spent many delightful days and nights exploring the region when based in France. 

One hotel that was on our hit list, but never visited, was the Maisons Pariente's stunning hilltop property the 5-star "luxe rural" Hotel Crillon le Brave in the foothills on Mont Ventoux. 

Situated at the heart of the commune of Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France, Hotel Crillon le Brave comprises 12 delightful stone houses in the tiny village of Crillon le Brave (or simply 'Crillon', as it's called by the locals). 

The village is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. 

With buildings interconnected by winding stone pathways, guests are encouraged to indulge in the sense of 'being a local', moving among the hotel's buildings and exteriors as if the village were home.

While there are dozens of villages, market and galleries to be explored, there is always the temptation to enjoy just one destination in Provence. 

The hotel has announced a seasonal transition. 

From searching for the 'black diamond' truffles for which the region is famous to focusing on well-being during a residency with nutritionist and women's health specialist, Claire Borwin, Hotel Crillon le Brave has a range of autumn options on offer. 

There are 26 rooms and 17 suites in all and La Table du Ventoux, where we ate many years ago, but under a different name, if I recall correctly, showcases local flavours. 

For more information on what's happening at Hotel Crillon le Brave check out https://www.crillonlebrave.com/

Or contact www.uniquetourism.com in Australia.

Are wine drinkers falling out of love with high-end Bordeaux and Champagne?

Is the world falling out of love with premium French wines?

The value of French wine exports has fallen for a second year even as shipped volumes crept up, with consumers favouring more affordable bottles, British wine magazine Decanter has reported.

Data shows that Champagne exports slumped, while demand for more modestly priced sparkling wines increased.

Foreign buyers favoured more affordable bottles from the Loire Valley and Provence over high-end Bordeaux wines.

The value of wine exports fell 3% to €10.9 billon last year, French wine and spirits export agency FEVS said.

That remains the third-highest on record, as greater export demand for regional bubbles and still wine without a geographical denomination partly made up for dipping sales for Champagne and Bordeaux.

The volume of export shipments increased 0.7% to 124.1 million cases, relatively stable.

French wine exports overall faced a double impact from inflation and economic uncertainty, and a shift away from the most expensive wines to more affordable options, FEVS president Gabriel Picard told Decanter.

"There is undoubtedly a shift in consumption patterns, and maybe the end of a phenomenon of ultra-premiumisation," Picard said.

"Products with higher added value, at least the core of the range, have held up rather well or even progressed, for example in the case of sparkling wines, whereas the very expensive Champagnes have tended to decline."

Shipments to the UK, the second-largest export market for French winemakers, increased 5.4%, while the value of exports fell 3.9% to €1.4bn.

The value of French wine exports to China slumped 17%, and wine trade with Singapore and Hong Kong also declined.

Champagne, which remains France’s biggest wine export by value, had a tough year in 2024, with shipments falling 9.7% to 12.4 million cases and export value slipping 8% to €3.86bn.

By contrast, sparkling wines from other regions, including Crémant de Loire and Crémant d’Alsace, saw export volume rising 8% to 10.3 million cases, and the value jumping 9.5% to €426m.

Bordeaux exports fell 4.5% in volume to 16.6 million cases, while the value slipped 1.4% to €5.28bn.

The Loire Valley reported higher export volumes in 2024, while Provence also sold more wine abroad.

"We see that the mid-range tends to be more resilient, that goes for the reds and the whites," Picard said. "The other trend that we see is there tends to be some sort of decline in consumption of reds, and good resilience or progress for the white and rosé wines."

Image: Andrii Omelnytskiy, Scop.io

Add a pink tinge to your Sydney summer fun

Rosé and croquet sounds like the perfect partnership for summer fun at Centennial Homestead, the garden party venue in Sydney's Centennial Park. 

Centennial Homestead has just launched its ‘Rosé & Croquet’ partnership with leading Provencal wine producer AIX.

 

Centennial Homestead will have an abundance of rosé on offer, as well as complimentary mini croquet kits for patrons to enjoy.

Centennial Homestead and AIX are aiming to create "a captivating and family-friendly summer experience". 

The activation will see the outdoor seating area extended with additional seating, picnic blankets, and umbrellas. 

AIX Provence Rosé will be priced at $16 a glass, standard bottles are priced at $75, and for those who really want to be in the pink magnum bottles will be $140 and jeroboam bottles will be $250. 

Patrons are will also have the opportunity to purchase the picnic boards curated by Centennial Homestead’s executive chef Jeffrey Forrest, which cost at $43 per person. 

The picnic board includes a selection of the cheeses and cured meats. The casual dining menu will also be available during the entirety of the activation, with a selection of fresh and contemporary dishes with a twist on traditional home-cooked favourites.

The Rosé & Croquet activation will run through to December 31 and operating hours are Wednesday to Sunday, from noon-5pm. 

You'll find full details here: https://centennialhomestead.com.au/whats-on/rose-and-croquet/

A taste of Provence that's perfect for summer drinking enjoyment

Here's an unusual - but delicious - little taste of Provence for enjoying over the summer months.

An intriguing blend of Vallée de la Durance peaches, peach tree leaves harvested in autumn, cane sugar and Lubéron white wine, RinQuinQuin a la Peche is a very stylish Provençal aperitif.

All you need is some ice cubes.

Distributed by Cerbaco in Australia, it is made by the Distillerie et Domaines de Provence in the village of Forqalquier, a delightful commune situated between the Lure and Luberon mountain ranges. During the Middle Ages it was the capital of Haute-Provence..

With its narrow streets, churches, fountains and squares, the town is popular with tourists and hosts a market every Monday. The surrounding region is knowns for producing a wide range of botanicals and fruits, which the distillery harvests.

Founded in 1898, Distilleries et Domaines de Provence has been making aperitifs and Provencal liqueurs for over 125 years. It now sells its products to 78 countries around the world.

The RinQuinQuin Peche, which features several different varieties of peaches, comes in 750ml bottles and has an ABV of 15% - around the same as a bottle of wine. The name RinQuinQuin, meaning "a refreshing drink", comes from a word in the local dialect - requinquilhar - 'to cheer up'

Think sweet citrusy/peachy fruit with a bright but rich finish. Drink solo, or add to cocktails. 

Other drinks produced at the same distillery - and distributed by Cerbaco - include the impressively tart/bitter Gentiane de Lure, made from an ancient recipe that features a melange of Lubéron white wine, sweet fortified wine, alcohol, sugar, infusions including sweet and bitter oranges, and extracts of gentian roots.

The distillery is also famous for its Pastis Henri Bardouin and range of absinthes, vermouths and other fruit liqueurs and aperitifs, including the exotic Farigoule de Forcalquier Thyme Liqueur. .A range well worth exploring for any adventurous drinker.

For more details see https://www.cerbaco.com.au/

Pink Freud: Discover some French rosés worth analysing

The Camargue region in the south of France is both wild and beautiful.

It sits between between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhone Delta and is home to wildlife ranging from 400 species of birds (including flocks of flamingos) to semi-wild white horses known as Camarguais. 

The local wines, predominantly still rosés, come under the Sable de Camargue geographic indicator. 

The region is best known for its vins gris style of rosé (grey wines), made predominantly from grenache, cinsuat and carignan. These and more traditional rosé styles account for over 90% percent of production.

The vines are planted on sand dunes, either right next to the sea or further inland, divided by a number lagoons and salt marshes. 

Domaine Royal de Jarras, whose wines are readily available in Australia, has vineyards in the heart of the Camargue region near the small Languedoc town of Aigues-Mortes, which means dead waters. 

The vineyard is located on an island between the sea, lagoons, and salt marshes. 

Domaine Royal de Jarras comprises a 924-hectare estate including 420 hectares of vines. Both flamingos and horses are a common site.

 

The estate is owned  by Champagne House Vranken-Pommery Monopole and the vineyards are all classified organic under European regulation.

The portfolio features the 2018 Domaine Royal de Jarras gris ($22) and 2018 Pink Flamingo rosé ($25); both produced by winemaker Auriane Eysseric. 

Both are dry, saline, lightly citrusy, savoury and extremely food friendly, made predominantly from grenache.  Thinks salads, freshly shucked oysters, seafood stews or simply as a chilled drink on the back porch in summer. 

Vranken Pommery also produces quality pale and dry rosés from the nearby Château La Gordonne in the Var region of Provence - equally stunning but with contrasting landscapes.

The Château La Gordonne vineyards were cultivated in 1300 by Carthusian monks so there is a little bit of history in every tangy mouthful. 

Both brands are well worth checking out to add some joie de vivre to your dinner. 

See https://vrankenpommery.com.au/