Peel me a grape, crush me some ice,
Skin me a peach, save the fuzz for my pillow.
Talk to me nice, talk to me nice,
You’ve got to wine me and dine me!
Blossom Dearie
Fabulous in so many aspects, and plenty of grapes to peel.
First the setting: The masterly Château Juvenal is a vineyard and bed and breakfast with regal rooms from whose large windows guests gaze upon an expansive wooded park.
The Château Juvenal and its tranquil setting lies in the commune of Saint Hippolyte le Graveyron, 7km north of Carpentras, bordering Beaumes-de-Venise.
Second the rooms: The four room have a distinguished royal decor, with twelve foot ceilings, marble chimneys, Provencal terracotta tiles and restored period furniture.
Choose between a king size bed or two single beds, along with stylish bathrooms with a bath or a shower.
Three the grounds: Swimming pool, hamman & massage room, billiards room, ping-pong table, and another pool of sorts – a small lily pond within a lovely woodland, a retreat for quiet contemplation.
Four the wine: The Château Juvenal produces two red vintages, a white and a rosé, and extra virgin olive oil. The Southern Rhone’s wine guru Philippe Cambie spares no praise in his tasting notes of the Château’s 2011 red “Les ribes du vallat”:
“This wine has a superb deep red color with violet and poppy glimmers; a bouquet that explodes with cherries, dragon fruit and wild raspberries, and lingering tonka beans. In the mouth, it is smooth and velvety with dense fruit of plum and nectarine, with black licorice notes.”
Five, the amenities: WiFi on the property and in the rooms, outside jacuzzi, Reiki Massage available upon request. Cheese and wine tastings. Courses in wine appreciation and cooking, and tango lessons (during spring and autumn for groups of 8 to 10 people). Dinner on Tuesday and Friday evenings only with a two-day in advance reservation.
The Château Juvenal also has a farmhouse gîte and a large apartment for weekly rental. See website below for details.
Basics:
Château Juvenal, Chemin du Long Serre, 84330 Saint Hippolyte le Graveyron, Contact: Ann-Marie and Bernard Forestier, Tel 04.90.62.31.76, Email: chateau.juvenal@free.fr, Website
Directions: North from Carpentras on Hwy D938, arriving to Saint Hippolyte le Graveyron, go east on Hwy D21, the Chemin du Long Serre will be on your right, look for signage.