the european wine table™"Food, wine, family & friends....what could be better?" |
The European Wine Table is partnering with Food N Wine Vacations.
Come travel and learn
about wine in Burgundy and Provence.
Here
is highlights of the wine River cruise:
Burgundy & Provence Wine River Cruise
Paris to Côte d’Azur - August 21 & October 30, 2010
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just an enthusiast, you’ll expand your
horizons on our exciting “Burgundy & Provence” Wine river cruise. As you
leisurely float by the legendary vineyards along the Saône and Rhône Rivers,
a distinguished wine authority will describe how various grape varieties are
cultivated, and will teach you what to look for in a good wine. Visit a wine
cave in Beaune, and participate in tasting excursions of France’s famed
Burgundy, Chardonnay, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. On board your ship, the
magnificent Avalon Scenery, attend a Beaujolais wine tasting, a food and
wine pairing gala dinner, and a scrumptious wine and chocolate tasting. An
adventure Bacchus himself would enjoy!
Wine tasting in Beaune
Chardonnay excursion
Onboard Beaujolais Wine Tasting
Dinner with Food & Wine pairing onboard
On board Wine & Chocolate Tasting
Chateauneuf du Pape excursion
Itinerary
Day 1
(Sat.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2Paris, France
(Sun.) Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine and the “City
of Light,” where romance fills the air!
Day 3Paris
(Mon.) Paris’ famous sights are living history: your included city
sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre
Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the
commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the
Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for
its colorful nightlife that includes some of the world’s most famous cabaret
shows. (B)
Day 4Paris–Beaune–Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation)
(Tue.) After breakfast, drive south past the forest of Fontainebleau,
favorite hunting grounds of a long line of French kings, and into Burgundy.
Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area—which produces the
region’s finest vintages—owes its wealth to the production, aging, and
selling of fine wines. Its most famous historical site, the HÔTEL-DIEU
charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement and
is one of France’s architectural highlights. Enjoy a TASTING of Burgundy
wines before continuing south to Chalon-sur-Saône, where you’ll board your
river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your crew at a WELCOME RECEPTION.
(B,D)
Day 5Chalon–Tournus–Mâcon
(Wed.) A GUIDED WALK after breakfast today shows you the highlights of this
quaint French town situated on the Saône River. Explore the NICÉPHORE NIÉPCE
photography museum at your own pace before returning to your ship in time
for its departure for Tournus. After lunch, enjoy free time in this lovely
town. The cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore
collection, located in an old family mansion, are worth a visit. Later,
cruise to Mâcon, a city with a rich history that plays an important role in
the wine trade. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine
cellar, is available. (B,L,D)
Day 6Beaujolais Region–Lyon
(Thu.) Enjoy a leisurely morning cruising on the Rhône. Lyon is France’s
second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43
BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to
commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many
excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight the visitor.
Survey the city from FOURVIÈRE HILL and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site,
The World Heritage List includes over 800 properties with cultural and/or
natural heritage of global significance
with its maze of medieval alleyways, Place Terraux, and the beautiful Place
Bellecour. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will
know that the grapes must be hand picked. Tradition dictates that the
“Beaujolais Nouveau” is tasted for the first time on the third Thursday of
November each year. An optional dinner gives gourmets insight into the local
haute cuisine. (B,L,D)
Day 7Lyon
(Fri.) A free day in this fascinating city to explore at leisure. Early
risers might like to visit the local produce market. Your Cruise Director
will have plenty of suggestions for things to do. (B,L,D)
Day 8Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Viviers
(Sat.) The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among
vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage.
Tournon, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins, is one of
France’s oldest medieval cities. Another charming town, Viviers, was
developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL, and the OLD TOWN has an appealing
mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. (B,L,D)
Day 9Avignon
(Sun.) The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region,
the most picturesque part of Provence. Also referred to as the “City of
Popes,” it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century, and
the city landscape is dominated by the grandiose PALACE OF THE POPES. A
photo of the bridge of the popular song is a must, and optional outings to
Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are
available this afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day 10Arles
(Mon.) On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of the
Provence and was once known as the “Little Rome of Gaul.” See the church of
St. Trophime, “Les Alyscamps,” the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road,
and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the
special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The
“Foundation Vincent Van Gogh” is a tribute to the artist. (B,L,D)
Day 11Arles (Disembarkation)–Côte d’Azur
(Tue.) After breakfast, transfer by motorcoach along the Côte d’Azur to
Nice. An afternoon stroll through Nice’s narrow, winding streets will
acquaint you with the OLD TOWN of this sophisticated city, also known as the
“Queen of the Riviera.” This evening an optional excursion to Monte Carlo in
the Principality of Monaco is available. (B)
Day 12Côte d’Azur
(Wed.) Your homebound flight from Nice arrives the same day. (B)
For more information call Jacqueline @ 770.573.1007 and visit: Food N Wine Vacations
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