Holiday itinerary
This 3 night/4 day wine tasting, walking and French chat holiday is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of French wine, whilst developing French conversational skills. Dr Margaretha Montegu and her husband Charles Montegu will be your hosts and teachers for the duration of the holiday, arming you with all the tools you need to discuss, order and enjoy French wine with confidence.
Where better to taste and learn about wine than the historic region of Gascony? The region has been famous for producing and exporting great wine for centuries, and is covered by stunning vineyards. For those who are passionate about good wine and French culture, this wine tasting, walking and French chat holiday should not be missed.
Charles will take charge of your education in French wine by taking you for guided walks through beautiful sun drenched vineyards; he will teach you everything there is to know about the vines whilst gently exercising. From the grapes to vine care, production and local geology, you will take apart the mystery of French wine production, grape by grape.
This wine experience is not all theoretical though. You will have two interesting and informative wine tastings by qualified wine connoisseur Charles, focusing mostly but not exclusively on local wines. On alternate days, the wine tasting includes a visit to a local cellar or tasting room, giving you an interactive and varied learning experience.
This fun-filled holiday is a fantastic opportunity to improve your French skills, with a focus on conversation and interaction rather than theory or written work. The casual lessons are taught by native French speaker Margaretha and will be structured around wine, from wine making, tasting and grape variety to ordering wine in restaurants.
The relaxed and vocal nature of the lessons will give you the vocabulary and confidence that you need to interact with locals in French about everything wine related. In this informal and friendly environment you will absorb all the vocabulary and grammar necessary for every day conversation.
Your casual French lessons are highly interactive with Power Point presentations, music, videos and DVD's are all used to compliment the lessons. You will receive three e-books before arrival: French I, II and II to help with studying before and after the workshop.
A visit to vibrant fresh food market at Plaisance-du-Gers gives guests the opportunity to sample French country life and food at its best. You will be guided and encouraged to try out your newly honed French language skills during this visit.
In the evenings you are free to relax and enjoy the stunning 400 year old accommodation and beautiful surrounding countryside. Read a book from the French and English library, retire to a hammock in the lovely orchard or unwind by the pool. For those who like to explore, why not and stroll down to the local village, Tasque, for a drink at the village bistro?
Suitability
- This holiday is suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced levels of French and for anyone with an interest in wine and walking
- This holiday is aimed at those with a keen interest in the history, production and tasting of wine and French language and culture
- Minimum age 18
Travelling Solo?
- This wine tasting, walking and French chat holiday is a great singles holidays and singles are welcome
- Solo travellers can share a room with a guest of the same gender for no extra cost
- There are also NO single supplements if you wish to have your own private room, which makes this holiday a great option for solo travellers
- Should you wish to have your own private room, please state this in the ‘special requests’ box during the booking process
Wine Tasting, Walking And French Chat Start Days
- The holiday can start on any day of the week and can last anything from 2-7 days (or more if you’d like!)
- If this course appears ‘on request’ we can usually accommodate your requirements, to check availability, email us on or call us on 08445 020445 with your preferred dates and someone will get back to you very quickly
-Please also contact us if you’d like to add extra nights accommodation onto your holiday and we’ll be happy to check availability and prices for you
Wine Tasting, Walking And French Chat Itinerary
Please note: the itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:
Day 1 – Arrival day
- Check into your lovely room at the farm house from 4pm on your arrival day
- Relax with a glass of wine until dinner at 7:30pm
- You will eat typical Gascon cuisine made with fresh local ingredients, complemented by a specifically chosen wine for dinner
Days 2 – 3 – Wine tasting, walking and French chat classes
- Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the farm house at 9am
- From 9:30–10:30am, take a guided walk through the beautiful vineyards
- Find out all there is to know about grapes, growing and caring for the vines, the different cultivators and how soil and climate affects wine production during your brisk walk
- From 11am-12 noon you will take part in a native-taught casual French language lesson
- Please note: on Thursdays, the walk and French lesson are replaced by visit to the vibrant fresh food market, where you will sample French country life and food at its best. Coffee at the hosts’ favourite café is included. This is so you can practice interacting with locals in your nearly developed French language skills.
- The French chat lessons focus on wine, wine production and wine tasting, to add an engaging element to the classes and reinforce the knowledge you have gained in the morning vineyard walk
- It’s time for a delicious picnic lunch at midday
- After lunch you will take a siesta until around 4pm
- Temperatures in the region can rise very high during this part of the day, providing the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind with a book or make use of the lovely swimming pool or explore the local area
- At 4pm, it’s time to taste the fantastic local wines
- The wine tasting is led by a qualified Wine connoisseur, holding a WSET diploma
- On alternate days the wine tasting includes a visit to a local cellar/tasting room.
- Sit with your fellow guests and hosts for a lovely dinner with more local wines
- At 9pm, you will be given the option to watch a French DVD with your warm and friendly hosts if you would to do so or simply reflect on what you’ve learnt during the day
Day 4 – Walking, French chat and departure
- Breakfast is served at 9am before a final guided local walk around this stunning region
- At 11am you will have your final French chat lesson of the holiday, before you bid a fond farewell to your hosts and check out of this fabulous retreat at midday
About Your Tutors
- Dr Margaretha Montegu and her husband Charles Montegu are the hosts and owners of this beautifully restored farm house in Gascony where the wine tasting, walking and French chat holiday takes place
- Margaretha is a fully qualified medical doctor, experienced in a variety of medical disciplines including Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, and Emergency Medicine
- She practiced medicine for 8 years in Jersey before moving to Gascony where she breeds horses as well as running fun and informative holidays
- She uses her many years of experience in traditional and alternative medicines from the different disciplines to offer all guests a personal, compassionate, proactive and down to earth treatment experience
- Charles, Margaretha’s husband is a wine connoisseur who is passionate about the wine of the region and truly knowledgeable
- Charles holds a WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) diploma and is also a vintner of the city of London
- He really knows his stuff and loves sharing his knowledge in informal yet insightful wine tastings for his guests
- Your hosts speak French and English but tutoring will be given in English
Who Are Our Guests?
- Holidays are typically made up of international travellers with an interest in wine and French culture, looking to learn more about the world of French wine and come home with an ability to chat and interact in the French language
- Ages vary, but the typical customer falls in to the 30-65 age bracket
- 80% of our guests travel solo
- Of course, everyone shares an interest in good wine, French culture and meeting like-minded people
What Will I Learn?
- Through wine tastings, guided walks and excursions, you will learn about the cultivation, production and tasting of wine
- You will visit a local vineyard and learn the process of making wine and how to taste the region’s wines
- You will taste wines and learn to assess the merits of each wine as well as spot some common wine faults
- You will develop your French language skills in a fun and informal environment, absorbing lots of useful, wine related vocabulary
- You will be able to interact in French and confidently order wine in restaurants
What Should I Bring?
- Guests are encouraged to bring their own computers or internet accessible tablets though this is not essential
The Accommodation
-Your accommodation is set in a beautifully restored traditional house which is over 200 years old
- The house was traditionally a vineyard owners house and has a great historic feeling to it
- The house is surrounded by secluded vineyards, orchards, lush meadows and ancient woods and 5 acres of land
- It is only 2km to the nearest village with a selection of shops
- There is an elegant dining room with a marble fireplace, a small but well equipped gym and an extensive library for guests to use
- Outside there are several informal seating areas in the garden, orchard and by the pond
- All bedrooms have comfortable mattresses and bed linen
- Bathrooms have a selection of eco-friendly toiletries and towels
- Accommodation is included for 3 nights / 4 days
- Check in any time after 4pm on day 1 and check out by 12 noon on day 4
Meals
- All meals are included during your 3 nights / 4 days stay at the house
- Meals are usually served al fresco or in the spacious dining room
- Breakfast consists of freshly baked bread with home-made jams and honey from a local bee-keeper, yoghurt, fruit from the local orchard, coffee, tea or hot chocolate
- Lunch is a picnic basket full of local delicacies that you can enjoy anywhere on site such as in a hammock in the orchard, lounging under the lime trees by the pond, on a bench under the oak trees or on a blanket amongst the vines
- Evening meals are always an unforgettable experience - your host is a wine connoisseur who loves cooking nearly as much as he loves wine and he will cook traditional meals from the Gascony region using either home-grown or locally sourced ingredients
- Dinner is accompanied by a local wine from your host’s own wine cellar which has been specially picked to complement the evening meal perfectly
- If you have dietary requests these must be communicated at the time of booking
Free Time In France
- This wine tasting, walking and French chat holiday is packed with activities including your wine tastings, excursions to vineyards and local cellars and your French lessons
- You will also have plenty of free time
During your siestas you can read a book from the house library in the shaded orchard, swim in the pool or explore the local area
- The local village of Tasque has a lovely bistro where you could have a drink amid locals and the house is set in 5 acres of beautiful land in which you could stroll and explore
Discover the secrets of French wine and enjoy stunning, sun drenched Gascon countryside, returning home rejuvenated and armed with useful French language skills on this unforgettable wine tasting, walking and French chat holiday.