Languedoc Guardians is our way of giving back by recognising, supporting, and promoting the amazing men and women who make their living from the Languedoc land - the place we call home. Giving something back to the region who welcomed me
One of the things I have always loved to do when on holiday is catch a local concert if possible. I love to mingle with locals and visitors and grab some of the magical atmosphere these events produce. Now I’m a
As you can imagine of a tourist town, Carcassonne has a lot of restaurants to offer you but how does a first-time visitor decide which to choose? Local knowledge is a wonderful thing and as I have lived in this
Carcassonne, most people visit for a only a day, stay longer and uncover it's secrets and to help you here are my suggestions of great places to stay. I remember the first time I saw Carcassonne. It was back in the
A few weeks ago I alerted friends of Vin en Vacances on Facebook to the terrible frost suffered in Languedoc. I said then that for many Languedoc winemakers the 2021 harvest is over before its begun. The sub-zero temperatures France
A short walk from Lac de Jouarres, great for water sports and bathing and just outside the lively port of Homps on the Canal du Midi with its pleasant restaurants and bars, sits Résidence du Château de Jouarres. The residence
A short distance from Carcassonne and just outside the pretty village of Rustiques is the beautiful wine, olive and holiday estate of Château Canet. As you turn into the long drive, edged with ancient, black barked pines you instantly feel
Château de Thuriès is a beautiful boutique Chambres d’Hotes and is the perfect place to stay for a relaxing holiday or mini break and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The château nestles in the beautiful rolling hills of the Lauragais
Are you one of those people whose mouth waters at the thought of driving along unknown roads, discovering places for the first time and wondering what’s around the next corner? Do you dream of exploring ancient castles and abbeys and mooching around pretty villages and visiting bustling French markets? Does history and culture appeal to you more than lazing on a beach? If yes is your answer then Languedoc is your destination but remember its big so choosing the right location for your holiday is hugely important.
The choice of B&B accommodation is wide too but there is one special place I never hesitate to recommend, and its name is Sainte-Hélène Chambres d'hôtes a B&B in the little town of Olonzac. Its owned by Kay and Mark who I first met 8 years ago when I was busy expanding my network to promote my vineyard tours. An obvious way to do this was with B&B owners who offer the sort of accommodation my clients would enjoy. Comfortable places that aim to attract visitors with a sense of adventure and who appreciate quality and professionalism. The moment I met Kay and Mark I knew we shared the same values and after visiting their B&B I felt sure that my clients would love to stay in the charming home of these lovely people.
Not that long ago I knew very little about wine. Fate brought me to the subject and opened up a new life for me, one I never imagined living and one that introduced me to people that I could never have met in my old life. And it brought me back to the Languedoc-Roussillon, this magical and very special place where I now live surrounded by vines and earning my living from and with them. Plus I wrote a much needed book about the region called The Wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon.