Whenever my schedulers ask if I can pick up any extra shifts during summer, my answer is usually “no, I spend my summers in Europe.” While this was not always the case thanks to nine years of medical training, I do enjoy the flexibility of popping over to Europe for a few (or many) weeks each summer.
My first trip out of the country in 2026 (your girl has been trying to pay off her loans aggressively) was in the beginning of June to the South of France on a group trip focused on food and wine in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. For those who aren’t familiar, the Languedoc- Roussillon region encompasses the eastern region of Southern France from the Spanish border up to Nimes.
We spent five days exploring wineries and food throughout the region and our days were completely jam-packed. Below are some of my favorite activities, meals, and wines from the trip!
Activities:
Miellerie des Clauses is run by a wife and husband team who are beekeepers and also make honey based products. We learned so much about the life and purpose of bees in and out of the hive, and got to look for the queen bee in the hives which was fascinating. After the short lecture and tour of the facilities, we were able to taste a variety of honeys that came from different areas of the Languedoc and were all honestly so delicious – I’ve already gone through my favorite jar and wish I had bought more!
Roaming around Collioure
Collioure is a commune in France that is in French Catalonia, about 15 miles from the Spanish border. It’s a beautiful and colorful town that has cute shops to pop into, anchovies to taste, as well as a cute cafe where famous artists such as Matisse spent time, Cafe Les Templiers. We spent a few hours roaming around, but I can’t wait to return and spend more time eating and shopping!
Lounging at Narbonne Plage
After spending last summer on rock beaches in the South of France, I was so thrilled to go to a sand beach at Narbonne Plage. While it may have been windy, I enjoyed bopping between the beach and the hotel outdoor bar where we set up shop, Sunset Hotel. Rose + spritzes + beach = the perfect day.
Bites:
Le Petite Maison (Lagrasse): Salad of the day with a side of potatoes
My favorite thing about France, specifically in the south, are the longggg lunches. I love that you can sit and eat for hours at a time, order as many bottles of wine as you want, and not feel rushed in any way. Le Petite Maison is the perfect place to do this in Lagrasse – the menu is small but filled with high quality food and they have an amazing wine list. I still dream about the simple, but delicious salad that I ate there (after a bit of coaxing from the owner when he thought our entire group was going to order a salad). The salad was packed with fresh goat cheese, mushrooms, eggplant tapenade, capers, and an egg. I’ve recreated it no less than 10 times since returning home. The potatoes were crisp and we dipped them into the baked roquefort that one of my friends ordered. 10/10, can’t wait to go back.
La Cave a Manger (Narbonne): Goat cheese tartlet
If anyone I know is even close to Narbonne I immediately direct them to La Cave A Manager. This restaurant has a huge selection of wine with many of them stored in a large, walk in refrigerated room! I’ve only had pre-fixe menu from La Cave but the food is always top tier so I am sure that the a la carte menu would also be delicious. The goat cheese tartlet we had for an appetizer was layered with puff pastry, a thick layer of goat cheese as well as blistered tomatoes – such a great combination of foods that was executed perfectly. I had to get my favorite white Chateneuf du Pape, Domaine de Marcoux 2022 for the table and it was a hit! La Cave is always a great option whilst in Narbonne and I definitely recommend checking it out during your time in Languedoc.
Asado (Narbonne): Grilled fish
I eat very little fish when at home as I prefer to eat plant based, but I tend to eat a lot of seafood when abroad, especially when I know I can eat fresh seafood. After a wine tasting at Château Capitoul, we went over to their open fire restaurant, Asado. Our pre-fixe menu was filled with tons of meat, seafood and veggie options alike, but I elected for seafood as I do like eating seafood that has been grilled or cooked on an open fire. The fish was fresh so the seasoning was simple. It was served with a variety of sauces, grilled turnips as well as potatoes. Everything was so flavorful from the open fire and there was a great selection of nature wine (including from the château). I devoured the meal quite quickly, and I’d definitely either eat (or stay) at this location next time I’m in Languedoc.
Wineries:
Southern France, specifically the Languedoc region grows Syrah, Grenache, and Carginan (reds) as well as Bourboulenc (a varietal known to the region) as well as Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and Roussanne amongst other white grapes. A term that is often used to define the taste of wines from this region is “garrigue” which highlights the influence that the hot underbush/limestone herby environment has on the wine (aromatic compounds are literally found on the skin of the grapes). This means you will often have notes of thyme, rosemary, sage, and lavender.
I have to start off at the winery that is closest to my heart in the region – Château Camplazens. This winery is owned by the parents of Joanne (Wine Educate), who organized the trip for all of us. Camplazens is located in La Clape AOC. My favorite wines from this year’s tasting were the Viognier 2024 as well as La Reserve.
The Viognier (which is a favorite varietal of mine) was crisp with notes of white peach, honeysuckle, and apricot. It’s easy to drink and I would pair it with grilled seafood, mild cheeses, or with tahdig.
La Reserve is a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. It’s very heavy on dark red and black fruits as well as pepper notes as to be expected, but the tannins are so well integrated that it’s really just a delicious wine to drink all around. I would drink this with a black bean soup or a bouillabaisse.
Domaine des Clos de Paulilles:
Le Clos de Paulilles is located near the aforementioned Collioure in the Roussillon portion of Languedoc-Roussillon. This winery is where I first tried Banyuls, a fortified wine that is known for being matured in glass barrels outside. The two Banyuls we tasted were made from 100% Grenache noir, but Banyuls can be made from a wide range of grape varieties. The Banyuls Tradicional from 2018 was possibly one of my favorite wines of the week; it was less viscous than I expected (which I loved) and reminded me of a high quality fig spread + strawberry candies.
After your tasting, I recommend walking around the corner to have lunch and a swim at the Le Clos de Paulilles Restaurant on site that serves great tapas and fresh seafood!
This is just a snapshot of how to spend a few days around Languedoc- Roussillon. If you’re interested in a pre-planned trip to the region, I recommend checking out one of Wine Educate’s trips to the region (not sponsored, I just really enjoy her trips).
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