Meet the Team | Private Wine & History Tours in Languedoc Around Carcassonne
We are a small, passionate team of qualified guides who have done something many people dream about — we packed up our lives and made the Languedoc our home. The wines, the food, the history, the landscapes, the light. It got under our skin, and it has never let go. Sharing all of that with curious, enthusiastic travellers is not just what we do. It is genuinely why we are here.
People Who Know This Region From the Inside
Our guides bring formal qualifications in wine, food and history to every private tour in Languedoc, but what you will notice first is something harder to qualify — a real and infectious love for this corner of the world. We are engaging, warm and straightforward people to spend a day with, and we promise you an experience that is as enjoyable as it is genuinely illuminating. No jargon, no hierarchy, no wine snobbery. Just great company, remarkable places, and the kind of in-depth knowledge that only comes from living somewhere deeply.
Carlos
Born in Barcelona and now firmly rooted in the Languedoc, Carlos is a medievalist and wine specialist whose knowledge of this region spans its Roman foundations, its Cathar history, its Jewish heritage and its contemporary wine culture. He speaks Catalan, Spanish, French and English fluently, and brings the rare perspective of someone who belongs equally to both sides of the Pyrenees. Whether you are on a private wine tour around Carcassonne, an en route journey to Barcelona or Avignon, or a deep dive into the medieval landscape of the Languedoc, Carlos is the kind of guide who makes the region feel like it was always waiting to tell you its story.
A Team That Speaks Your Language — Literally
All our scheduled wine and food tours are conducted in English, but our team collectively covers French, Spanish, Catalan and Dutch as well. If you would prefer your private tour in Languedoc in another language, just let us know — we will match you with the right guide and build the experience around you from there.
How to Find Us
We are based in and around Carcassonne, in the heart of the Languedoc wine region. Get in touch to tell us what you are looking for, and we will put together a private tour that fits you perfectly.
Carlos
Carlos Lluch lives in the beautiful village of Lagrasse close to Carcassonne, but he was born and raised in Barcelona where he was educated in Catalan, Spanish, French and English. With his natural Latin charm and a gift for languages, he was always destined to be a tour guide and is proud to have attained the prized Official Guide Licence for French National & Historical Monuments & Cities. He also holds a WSET wine qualification and has also worked in the world of wine at well-known châteaux in Languedoc. His wine and history knowledge coupled with his language skills make Carlos the ideal person to run our Barcelona Shuttle Tours and bespoke wine & history tours in Spain. In fact, a tour anywhere with Carlos is always an enriching and fun experience.
Wendy
Wendy Gedney started Vin en Vacances in 2009 following her dream to live in the south of France. Over the fifteen years she owned the company Wendy created fabulous Wine Tours that take you off the beaten track to hidden vineyards travelling though beautiful scenery to learn what makes Languedoc so special. Over the years Wendy was joined by a fabulous team of wine professionals and has now handed the business over to Carlos to take it to even greater heights.
Marcel
Marcel van Baalen is our favourite Dutchman and valued member of our team. He gained his deep understanding of wine whilst working as a sommelier in the Dutch wine business for more than 25 years. He’s been a valuable member of the Vin en Vacances team for several years since he followed his dream to live and work in the Languedoc. Since arriving here he has become a ‘local’ counting many wine makers as close friends. A true wine professional, he has a relaxed and entertaining style that is wrapped in a deep well of wine knowledge that he loves to share with people. As well as running tours and tastings in Languedoc, Marcel and his wife run a fabulous restaurant in the village of Caunes-Minervois so if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a delicious Mediterranean meal take a look at L’Atelier