Note: the interview has been translated from French and edited for brevity.

Q&A with Sommelier Nathalie Bour

Maria: What made you decide to join the Domaine de Grangeneuve?

Sommelier Nathalie Bour: it was a choice that came from my heart. The winery was created by my grandparents.  I saw how the winery developed and realized that it was very close to my father’s heart. My father asked me: “What would do you like to do in life, would you like to continue this adventure?” My answer was clear: I wanted to dedicate my passion for this winery.

Maria: You are very open to letting people know that a woman runs a winery. Can you tell us more about that? 

Sommelier Nathalie Bour:  Typically people think wineries are owned by men and they don’t imagine that a woman could be behind that. I only arrived at the winery to work thirteen years ago. At that time, my father had been the winemaker for several years. I believe people are very curious to know who is behind wine production, new wines, and new wine names. We created new wines adding part of myself and bringing in a new generation of women.

Maria: What makes The Domain de Grangeneuve successful?

Sommelier Nathalie Bour:  a very close relationship with gastronomy open to the world with more flavors and aromas. I see pure wines very close to the aromas of mature grapes and close to fruit flavors. It is very important to produce accessible wines. We shouldn’t wait many years until the age of our children to be able to drink them. We need to learn to enjoy and have them ready now.

Maria: In old days people were proud to drink aged wines, what does that means today?

Sommelier Nathalie Bour:  Today, the technologies implemented in wine production are much modern and adapted to new standards. We are able to keep wines longer than before even when keeping them in large barrels.

Maria: How large is your wine production?

Sommelier Nathalie Bour:  We produce about 450,000 bottles of wine per year and the split between different grapes and wines are driven by the demand of our clients. We only sell to wine shops, hotels, restaurants and of course, at our winery. We are also present in the international market.

It was a real pleasure to meet Sommelier Nathalie Bour owner of Domaine de Grangeneuve. Reserve your visit at the winery and have a pleasant walk around the vineyards. While there, learn more about the different grapes and end your tour with a special tasting sitting in a room full of history.

Discover what AOC Grignan-Les-Adhemar means to family Bour (AOC: Appellation D’Origine Contrôlée: Controlled Designation of Origin).

Dining Traveler Tip: find them at the Marche Nocturne de Montelimar every Wednesday during the months of July and August where locals and tourists come to enjoy and relax, and of course, drink great wine!

Domaine de Grangeneuve, 1200 Route de Esplanes, 26230 Roussas, France Website

The post Woman Sommelier’s Perspective: Nathalie BOUR appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

We say that 48 hours in Aix-en-Provence is always a good idea. Even a better idea is to stay at Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel. The property is the only Renaissance in France outside of Paris and the first to express a DNA nurtured by Contemporary Art. They chose to work with 15 artists to incorporate a genuine art gallery including canvasses and design objects in their décor. It was constructed 4 years ago, and they keep adding additional activities and facilities to make your stay a unique Provence experience. I recently stayed here with my partner during our tour of Provence. About our stay…

The Location

A fitting location for a hotel that holds an actual art gallery is of course in Aix’s cultural forum area, a short walking distance from the historical center and shopping street. Its neighbors set the tone for contemporary architecture; the Conservatoire Darius Milhaud and Grand Théâtre de Provence just beg to be photographed. When spending 48 hours in Aix-en-Provence, a stop to these museums is a must.

The Rooms at Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel

133 spacious rooms and suites offer several types of accommodation, from Superior King Size, Family (2 double beds which are exceptional to find in France), Panoramic view to Executive.

The décor is inspired by Provence using the shapes and colors of “Le Calisson”  a traditional Provence candy. Every accessory was carefully selected following the contemporary style. Even the room numbers at their entrance are drawn by an artist, and also written in Braille.

Our room had a view over the 2 faces modern bridge with a waterfall illuminated at night and green natural wall and “Montagne Sainte-Victoire”  (the mountain that French painter Cezanne painted over 80 times) could also be seen from our room. How’s that for culture?!

Tip: make sure to ask for a room with a view and don’t leave the city without  visiting Calisson museum

The Staff

The whole staff at Renaissance is fabulous! From the friendly concierge and front desk, the restaurant staff to the helpful marketing staff. We were spoiled during our stay. All you need to do is relax and enjoy all facilities including the spa and they take care of the rest. All of them speak perfect English (if your French is a little rusty) and other languages as like Spanish as well.

The Food

Le Comptoir du Clos is under the responsibility of executive Chef Pierre Scherrer who creates traditional dishes with a selection of seasonal regional ingredients. The menu changes 4 times a year and every day they offer “Le plat du Jour” including one fish and one meat plate.

We ordered several plates from the menu and, all dishes were delicious. Our waiter suggested local wines and we were happy to try those as we love coming to France and discover a new ‘gem’. They have a large selection of local as well as world wines including white, rose, red wine and of course Champagne. These are carefully selected by the Maître d’hôtel to be paired with the seasonal menu; this gives them an opportunity to introduce new wines 4 times a year. Here are some of my favorite dishes:

• “Oeuf parfait”, fricassee of green asparagus, parmesan cheese, and olive powder.
• Gardianne of Bull from Camargue, carrots, and potatoes.
• The chocolate: creamy “Araguani” chocolate, ganache, praliné, peanut ice cream, and chocolate.
• White Wine from Chateau Vignelaure and Red Wine from Chateau Simone

As you would expect, the breakfast was carefully put together too – Chef Patissier Vincent Merly makes mouth-watering fresh croissants. Oh la la!

Dining Traveler Tip: have breakfast at the hotel and order Eggs Benedict with bacon or smoked salmon

The Spa, Swimming pool and Fitness

The Facilities

Even if you only have 48 hours in Aix-en-Provence, don’t pass up on their beautiful Spa. The spa comes with a heated swimming pool, hammam, showers and beauty center.  Fitness center is open 7/7 24 hours.

L’Avant-Scène bar with a Starbucks corner has a sitting area with plush couches and chairs, a billiard table and a corner with a Mac in case you need to get online. Plenty of natural light floods this space which allows for easy and relaxed reading.

Le Jardin Ephem’R garden terrace chill area that as from June 1^st 2018 will welcome you on Tuesdays with life music and on Fridays with a DJ.

What to See During 48 hours in Aix-en-Provence:

In addition to the Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel there is, of course, plenty to see and do in Aix-en-Provence. Here are our recommendations for what to see and do during your 48 hours in Aix-en-Provence:

• Hôtel de Caumont A fully restored private mansion from the 18th century a few meters from Cours Mirabeau. Visit the permanent exposition, restaurant and gardens.
• Nicolas Stael en Provence amazing exposition with more than 70 canvasses and 26 drawings from public and private collections showing Nicolas’s work during his Provencal period. You will see the evolution of his work and how his trip to Sicily in August 1953 influenced Nicolas to use different colors and landscapes. After returning to his atelier in Lagnes, he would work on a series of paintings, some of the most significant works in his career.
• Paul Cezanne Workshop in Aix-en-Provence small studio of the famous artist Paul Cezanne, with his furniture, still life model & work tools. “The particular light of Provence guided him on his creative path to the threshold of abstraction”.

TIP: While visiting Hotel De Caumont watch the video of Cezanne’s au Pays d’Aix reflecting the life of this famous artist.

Aix-en-Provence: The Verdict

Aix is lovely and the Provence area is stunning, a must experience in France. If you want to immerse in Provencal life but have a modern and stylish hotel to return to at the end of the day, Hotel Renaissance is the place for you. The staff is very friendly and professional. The rooms comfortable, the food delicious. A great mix of art, culture, and design.

Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel, 320 Avenue Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Aix-en-Provence 13100, France, Website

Aix en Provence Tourist Office, 300 Av. Giuseppe Verdi, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France, Website

Disclaimer: I was graciously hosted by Renaissance Aix-en-Provence. As always, opinions are my own. 

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