WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 3 2016

THE FRENCH CONNECTION
AN AMAZING FOOD AND WINE SHORE EXCURSION IN PROVENCE
| STORY, PHOTOS AND TASTING BY RON JAMES |
For wine enthusiasts, almost nothing is as exciting
as visiting a new wine region. And there are
no wine regions that stir the soul and prime the
palate like the legendary vineyards of France.
On our most recent Mediterranean cruise on
the Celebrity Silhouette we stopped for one
day stop in working-class Toulon, France’s second largest port
and gateway to the beautiful coastal towns and wine country
of Provence.
We considered renting a car to visit some nearby wineries, but
were deterred by memories of a very bad experience a couple
of years earlier that turned into a cruiser’s worst nightmare.
The last time we cruised into this port, we rented a car for a
day trip to Aix-en- Provence. After getting lost and circling Aix
for close to hour, we finally found the entrance to the old city
and enjoyed a nice stroll and lunch in this charming village.
Then we began a hellish two-hour ride back, filled with traffic,
tolls and a search for a gas station. If we didn’t return the car
60 Wine Dine & Travel 2016