Wine Enthusiasts Cruise in South of France

In the French wine regions of Languedoc Rousillon, the graceful and elegant barge, La Tortue, glides along the winding Canal du Midi at a slow and serene pace, enabling its passengers to take in the beautiful lush green countryside and lazily watch the world go by with a glass of Languedoc’s finest wine in hand. Philippa, Graham and Kathy were recently invited onboard La Tortue to experience these luxurious and relaxing wine barge cruises which are exclusive to Broads Travel Group. Read Philippa’s report to find out more, or call her, Graham or Kathy on 0121 250 2211 or 01543 412768 to book your wine barge cruise.

First Impressions
To me, a barge cruise conjured up images of tiny narrow boats, colourfully painted to detract from the miserable British weather with no deck space for even the smallest manoeuvre! Ladies and gentlemen, forgive my naivety – may I introduce you to La Tortue, a very large and tastefully decorated barge which hosts extremely tempting gourmet and wine cruise itineraries within a particularly pretty area in the South of France. It’s a world apart from the image I had in mind and even the gently flowing Canal du Midi was much wider than I had anticipated – River du Midi would be a far more accurate description.

Deck, cabins and lounge
With a wide and spacious deck, and only three cabins to accommodate just six guests, La Tortue really does offer a unique barge cruise holiday. Onboard there is a hostess who will serve your meals and tend to your cabin; Peter Shaw, gourmet chef and captain, who will cook you the most exquisite meals using fresh, local produce and Wendy Gedney, who is your wine expert and escort.

There is a cosy and comfortable lounge area with sofas, pictures, a bookcase and games – providing a home away from home. Plus a dining area, should you wish to take any meals indoors, and a drinks cabinet for guests to help themselves, whether it be a Bucks Fizz with your croissants or an after dinner brandy or whisky.

Food & wine
The French are experts when it comes to food, wine and a relaxed lifestyle and life onboard La Tortue is the perfect example of French living. You don’t need to be a wine enthusiast to enjoy the Wine Enthusiasts Cruise, you just need an interest in wines and it does help if you like the taste, as there is quite a lot of tasting to be done! I can speak from personal, ‘red tongue’ experience.

All diets are catered for and you are welcome to join Peter as he heads of to the sleepy, traditional French villages to buy fruit, vegetables, fish and meats from the local markets. He’ll then gladly whip up a speciality dish to your personal requirements just hours later. Dinner is a splendid affair, usually four courses served on deck to take advantage of the balmy climate. Peter chooses the wine to accompany the dishes he prepares and Wendy will be on hand to guide you through the different wines.

All food and drinks (including all of the wines and liqueurs) are included in the price. Even the visits to local vineyards and villages are included with transportation provided by Wendy who will point out areas of interest along the way, stop at viewpoints and share in the history and cultural attractions of this magnificent part of France.

Exploring the region
Peter has selected some lovely areas to moor along the Canal du Midi, providing access to some lovely, small and quaint villages just waiting to be explored. Languedoc is a very picturesque region and very lush. I was amazed at how many shades of green there were amongst the trees and fields and could compare it to a combination of Tuscany (with its small one storey houses with pink roofs, window shutters and peculiar shaped trees) and the Lake District (with its winding roads and green rolling countryside).

Each day we were taken by our guide to visit an ancient and historical site and one of the best was Carcassonne, a medieval fairy tale walled city. Its cobbled streets within the fortress take you on a fascinating historical exploration and there are sunny squares to relax in and write your postcards.

I also visited Minervois and La Laviniere, two of the extremely pretty towns. The scenery on the journey between these two towns is breathtaking and the views are spectacular with mountainous backdrops shielding the sunlight and casting shadows over the winding roads and vast, rural, unspoilt land. A few of the villages are slightly elevated and overlook the outstanding countryside below whereas some of the tiny towns you pass through are eerily peaceful with just a few locals at the roadside selling their produce beside a lonely, isolated stall.

Visiting the vineyards
What better way is there to wash down a pastry or two from a local café than visiting one of Languedoc’s many vineyards? My favourite was Domaine Gayda as it was here that I had my introduction to wine tasting. The tutoring was lots of fun and the tasting was even more enjoyable! The winery is surrounded by vast open spaces and there are spectacular views from the first floor, panoramic veranda.

I was given an insight into the wine making process and also learned the basic tasting techniques and was shown how to identify flavours within the different types and maturities of wines. I even sipped a couple of vin blancs straight from the barrel – a rare privilege!

I will certainly think twice before buying a value saver £2.99 bottle of wine again and I know I’ll be unable to pick up a glass of wine without first swirling the wine to inspect the colour. I’m just waiting for a dinner party so that I can show off my new skills!

A typical afternoon
After morning excursions we returned to the barge where we would enjoy one of Peter’s lovely lunches often consisting of freshly made tart and salad with local bread and crisp salad followed by cheese and always accompanied by a never ending supply of wine. The afternoons can be spent cruising down the Canal du Midi under the shade of the trees or for the more energetic there are bikes on board which you can take to explore the pretty villages on either side of the waterway or you can walk the tow path where there is no chance of getting lost and you eventually catch up with the barge at its mooring place for the night.

Summary
Peter and Wendy are fantastic hosts, both with lots of personality to make your experience a fun one – there are no formalities, no dress codes, no specific dining times and they’re both on hand to care for your every need. They share the same enthusiasm and passion for these exclusive holidays and their wish is for you to enjoy every minute and live every moment.

Your week long itinerary will enchant you as each day you will discover a new wine from this beautiful region of France, sample the finest gourmet cuisine, explore villages which are steeped in history and ultimately you will become immersed in a relaxing and magical atmosphere that can only be experienced onboard La Tortue.

Bon Voyage, Bon Appetit et Bon Santé!