Le Mas de Maupas » Food & Drink

Market Day in Malaucène

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 15:21:54 +0000

Every Wednesday is market day in Malaucène. For us this usually means filling the big jute bag with a weeks worth of locally produced seasonal fruit and veg. This week, however, I went with visiting friends and a tourists eye.

The market is fantastic and good for a whole lot more than fruit and veg. You can get everything here, from everyday clothes, shoes and homewares to unique jewellery and art pieces..and of course there are the delicious piles of local cheeses, olives, sausages and other Provincial produce from across the region. My guests came away with beautiful handmade leather bracelets and artisanal children’s clothes.

Malaucène is a 4 minute drive from your base at Le Mas de Maupas.

Picnicing in the hills above Crestet

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 16:09:24 +0000

The lovely weather this week called for an impromptu afternoon picnic/hike with family. We headed for the hills above the village of Crestet, taking Tommy the dog along for the trek. We started just above the Domaine de la Verrière, where the renowned Chêne Bleu wines are produced. It is a beautiful spot actually, the property of the Domaine includes a ninth century priory, although these days the main business is wine production & wine related courses, seminars and events. Well worth a visit.

We hiked for a good hour meeting lots of fellow hikers along the way before stopping for our picnic, high up in the hills with the most breathtaking views….then proceeded to get completely lost in the mountains on our way back. But on a such a beautiful day who can worry about getting lost! la Verrière and Crestet are around 20 minutes from your base at Le Maupas.

Plant talk & lunch at Le Tracteur, Argilliers

admin — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 16:05:48 +0000

Yesterday I took a trip out to Argilliers, near Uzès in the Gard department, for what turned out to be a revelatory lunch. I was invited by friends who are members of the local Languedoc branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society to hear a special talk on Mediterranean bulbs. The talk was delivered by John Fielding, an expert on Mediterranean geophytes (that’s bulbs, corms and rhizomes to the rest of us). Here at Le Maupas we will soon be focusing our efforts on planting and landscaping, so the talk proved very useful & inspiring….but the real revelation of the day was the food! We had lunch at Le Tracteur restaurant in Argilliers and it was just stupendous, notably the most sublime pumpkin soup I have ever tasted, with tarragon, cream, mushrooms and I don’t know what else in it. I can honestly it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had at a restaurant in France.

The restaurant is close to the famous Pont du Gard Roman Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so for any guests planning a visit to the area we suggest Le Tracteur as the ideal spot for lunch. Argilliers and the Pont du Gard are just over an hour’s drive from your base at Le Maupas.

Wine, sunshine & music at Domaine de Mourchon

admin — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:48:41 +0000

Another year, another fabulous wine picnic with our good friends at Domaine de Mourchon. The weather this past few weeks did not bode well for the event but lo – the sun arrived just in time to make this annual celebration of wine, music and friends a completely glorious day. Like many wine producers in the Vaucluse, every year Walter and Ronnie Mckinlay at Mourchon both celebrate their product and thank the local community for their support by hosting a picnic at their vineyard. The premise is simple..turn up, bring a picnic basket and a smile, drink free wine and enjoy the festivities – which this year included afrobeat/ska inspired local vocal groups, swing jazz and a trumpet solo from Sebastien the Mourchon winemaker.

For any of our guests at Le Maupas planning to visit local vineyards, Mourchon is a must. The vineyard is set high up in a secluded valley between the picturesque villages of Séguret and Vaison-la-Romaine and is gaining international recognition for it’s award winning wines. The Domaine is open for visits Monday – Friday: 9am-12 noon and 2pm-6pm and from April to Sept on Saturdays: 9am- 12 noon and 2pm-6pm. The Domaine de Mourchon is a 20 minute drive from your base at Le Maupas.