Cooking or culinary holidays, vacations, tours in France:

Cookery classes at Chateau Lavergne near Bordeaux
. . . the world’s largest fine wine region

Chateau Lavergne is a beautiful French chateau dating back to 1852, surrounded by three hectares of grounds, situated in the charming village of Bouliac, ten minutes from Bordeaux city centre.

It is a wonderful place for all kinds of business incentives (conferences, workshops, seminars) as well as for your luxury wine and culinary vacations in France.

The best way to discover Bordeaux and the surounding area is simply to let yourself fall under the charm of its rich, complex identity forged over the centuries by numerous influences whilst enjoying the relaxation and pleasures of a wine and culinary vacation at Chateau Lavergne.

Bordeaux is one the largest wine growing areas, with some of the oldest vineyards and finest wines, in the world. Between the Left Bank (Médoc, Margaux, Pauillac, Graves, Pessac-Léognan, etc) and the Right Bank (Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac, les Côtes, etc) a stay in the Bordeaux appellation region is a wonderful discovery. The wine taster will be in sheer heaven trying the red wines, the white wines, the sweet wines . . .

Wine is inescapable in Bordeaux and the surrounding area, an excuse to share some quality moments with others. To drink modestly so as to savour the subtlety of the tastes rather than consuming in quantity, to appreciate the complexities of the aromas, to understand how they combine with different dishes, is the true art of living . . . bringing together amateur enthusiasts and crossing borders.

Culinary and wine week summary

This seven day culinary and wine tour is a concept of luxury active vacations for small groups. The program has been specifically designed for a travel audience interested in fine cuisine, Bordeaux wines and the French "Art de vivre".

Available : April to November upon request

(A rental car is required for this program)

Culinary and wine tour includes:

• 6 nights accommodation in historical 19th century Château Lavergne
• 6 buffet breakfasts of freshly baked croissants and baguette, cereal, fruit, home-made jams, yoghurts, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, freshly squeezed orange juice.
• 2 meals at Château Lavergne including a selection of wines direct from the producers
• 1 guided market-tour
• 2 cookery lessons
• 1 duck workshop
• 1 wine education of 3 hours with tasting of 7 Bordeaux wines
• 5 meals during outdoor visits
• All guided private tours on the program (Graves, Sauternes, Château de la Brède, Arcachon, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux)
• Equipment and ingredients for the cookery classes and wine tasting (fully equipped professional kitchen, aprons, tasting glasses, spittoons)
• Seasonal fresh vegetables from the kitchen-garden
• You will be tutored for cookery classes and wine education by your hostess, Suzanne Bourdais

Limited to 8 guests per tour and per departure date

Program

Day 1:
Arrival to Château Lavergne on your own in the after-noon. Time to relax and unwind. Casual "baked in the bread-oven" dinner in the "Orangerie". Overnight accommodation at Château Lavergne.

Day 2:
Breakfast. Departure to one of the most beautiful outdoor markets of the region. Lunch near the market. In the afternoon, wine education in the Orangerie with tasting of 7 Bordeaux wines, followed by a cookery class and dinner. Overnight accommodation at Château Lavergne.

Day 3:
Breakfast. Departure to the wine areas "Graves" and "Sauternes". Visit of wineries with private tasting. Visit of "Château de la Brède", historical property of Montesquieu, famous French philosopher and writer. Lunch at "La Forge" in Léognan. In the afternoon private city tour in Bordeaux, followed by dinner. Overnight accommodation at Château Lavergne.

Day 4:
Breakfast. "Duck workshop", with lunch and wine-tasting in the Orangerie. Participants take away with them the goose liver (foie gras) and confits prepared in the workshop. Afternoon: departure to the Arcachon Bay. Visit of an oyster farm with tasting. "Pinasse" boat ride in the bay. In the evening preparation of a see-food dinner at the Orangerie. Overnight accommodation at Château Lavergne.

Day 5:
Breakfast. Departure to Saint-Emilion. Private guided tour of the town followed by lunch. Visit of a wine cellar with tasting. In the evening dinner in Bordeaux. Overnight accommodation at Château Lavergne.

Day 6:
Breakfast. Free time in Bordeaux all the day. Gala-dinner at Château Lavergne in the grand dining room. Overnight accommodation at Château Lavergne.

Day 7:
Breakfast. Time to relax before departure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST DETAILS OF OTHER PROGRAMS EMAIL contact@cavinter.fr

French Wine Tasting

Bordeaux is the world’s largest fine wine region with splendid terroirs, prestigious great growths, and a rather complicated classification of wines.

At Château Lavergne, your hostess, Suzanne Bourdais, organizes on-site wine-tasting classes with a recreational approach to wine. You will benefit from her extensive knowledge of all that the Bordeaux wine region has to offer to visitors.

Suzanne, who for many years managed a vineyard in the Tokaj wine region of Hungary which produced the famous Aszu dessert wine, now runs the wine tasting and cookery classes at Chateau Lavergne. Suzanne also works extensively promoting many wines as well as being very involved in sweet wines and how to match sweet wine with food.

Schedule

Initiation in wine tasting :
tasting techniques and vocabulary, aromas and flavours

Discovery of Bordeaux wine :
tasting of seven wines from different Bordeaux vineyards, the art of serving wine, the marriage of food and wine

Tailor-made wine tasting may be organised on request

French Cookery Classes

Your hostess, Suzanne Bourdais, invites you to take part in the friendly atmosphere of her professional kitchen situated in Château Lavergne’s Orangerie.

The primary aim of this gourmet discovery of regional South-West cuisine is to make the world of French home cooking accessible, understandable and enjoyable for the participants.

Schedule

• Regional cuisine with a personalized tour of a local market

• Foie gras workshop, where you will learn how to prepare cou farci, confit and goose liver

• Wine and cheese class and other personalized, tailor made gourmet discoveries on request

Other programs such as special weekends of wine tasting and cooking or daily
courses, are available. Special weeks or weekends can also be aranged for groups.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST DETAILS OF OTHER PROGRAMS EMAIL contact@cavinter.fr

Accommodation is at the beautiful French chateau, Chateau Lavergne, which dates back to the middel of the Nineteenth century. Located in the charming village of Bouliac and surrounded by three hectares of its own grounds, this beautiful country retreat is only ten minutes from Bordeaux city centre.

A view of the castle and its extensive gardens can be enjoyed from the colourful patio, perhaps whilst enjoying a refreshing glass of wine. Whilst the Orangerie provides a cosy dining room with fire-place and mezzanine, the perfect venue for functions, cocktails or private events.

Chateau Lavergne provides luxury accommodation for all its guests, a real chance to enjoy a piece of French history in complete relaxation and comfort.