Experience a French holiday of fine food & wine any weekend of the year in an atmosphere of local culture in the Midi Pyrenees.

Available all through the year, a ‘Five star’ weekend, of 3 nights, from Thursday to Sunday in association with Margaret Lewis an australian wine expert who fell in love with the tarn region in Midi Pyrenees, south West France and now offers our clients exclusive visits.

During your stay you will visit a selection of vineyards, dine at fine restaurants and discover food and wine you could not have found on your own in just four days. Experience the local markets, with their fresh and regional produce - local hams, cheeses and wine; tread the streets of ancient times in the mediaeval towns of albi and cordes sur ciel and learn how the monks began to develop Gaillac wines in 972.

You could also make this short break part of a longer touring holiday. Please contact Margaret on margaret@labarbe.co.uk for more information or telephone: +33 (0)5 63 53 43 89

Le Weekend Gastro Itinerary

Accommodation is in a recently restored gracious old stone building in a tiny village about an hour north of Toulouse. This is a general guide and remains flexible to include local happenings or special interests during your visit.

Arrive Thursday depart Sunday:

4 whole days to fulfil your dreams. This would include 3 nights accommodation, two market visits, a flight over the vineyards to get the lie of the land quickly (weather permitting), includes gastronomic - two ‘one Michelin’ star restaurant lunches, and one ‘one Michelin star’ restaurant dinner. You will meet Stephane Loubatieres your French wine Sommelier who will take you on an exciting discovery of the vineyards and the Gaillacoise, its famous personalities, ancient grape varieties and of course the wines. Throughout your stay there will be opportunities to relax, take in the picturesque countryside, some retail therapy and to explore the mediaeval bastide town of Cordes sur Ciel.

All French side airport pick ups and drop offs and local transport, and wine.

PRICE: 1250 euros per person two people sharing.
Minimum of 4 people and maximum of 8.

• Visit town markets and discover local and regional produce
• Taste wines made from varieties unique to this region
• Explore the nearby Bastide towns
• Take a turn around 12th Century Cordes sur Ciel
• Visit the vineyards of the relatively unknown Gaillac Appellation
• Meet the winemakers and characters who still preserve the local gourmet traditions
• Taste wines made from the ancient grape varieties of unique to this region
• Master classes with your own sommelier
• Croissants with your culture
• Relax far from The Madding Crowds
• Meet and dine with the locals
• A one star restaurant dining experience every day
• Try the Eau de vie and Liqueurs made nearby in Villeneuve sur Vere.
• Taste a Gaillac Doux made from Loin de l’ Oeil with the local Roquefort cheese

Your mentors

Margaret Lewis of Vin de Tarn is an Australian now living locally in Labarthe- Bleys. Her love of wine and food has been a life long passion. She lived for many years in the famous Hunter Valley wine region of Australia, worked in Bordeaux and was a director of The Evans Wine company with vineyards in Australia, the US and France.

Stephane Loubatieres, a native of South West France has an in depth knowledge of food and wines gained from working internationally and as a sommelier in London and France. All those questions you ever wanted to ask can now be answered. Margaret and Stephane will make you welcome and share the secrets of this little corner of paradise in authentic France.

Contact Margaret on:
Tel: +33 (0)5 63 53 43 89
or margaret@labarbe.co.uk
for more information.