Enotourism

Presentation

Some beautiful French Riviera mansions surround the few thousand vine stocks. The hills of Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Saint-Paul de Vence are more used to luxury villas with pool than trellised vines. They share a beautiful vineyard, that of Domaine Saint-Joseph. Julien Bertaina pampers this estate of less than three hectares in total.

Extra

Julien Bertaina produces olive oil labelled AOP olive oil from Nice. It is smooth, with green fruitiness, finesse and natural. On the palate, notes of almond, hazelnut, broom flowers and artichoke.

Original and unusual

The road leading to the Domaine Saint-Joseph has no shortage of surprises. Past the village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, one of the most picturesque of the French Riviera, we pass by a troglodyte house and, especially, a train station! Not a single rail around yet, docks are there waiting for unlikely travellers. Installed in open country, it was opened on June 7, 1892 for passengers from the Nice-Meyrargues line (in the Luberon!) of the Chemins de Fer de Provence, also known as the "Train des Pignes." The irreversible damage caused by the fighting in World War II led to the definitive abandonment of its operations in 1950. In addition, Tourrettes-sur-Loup is the only place in France where about six families grow the violet as sole or main crop. Around 1880, the commune agricultural activity was mainly oriented towards the flower. At the beginning of May and in late July, its leaves are mowed and delivered the same day in Grasse factories to be transformed into concrete, then into absolute that enter the composition of many great perfumes. The terroir of Tourrettes-sur-Loup is perfectly suited to this secret flower, refined and fragrant: terraces full of sun, deep soil where grow sour orange, centifolia rose and jasmine, mild winters, and dry summers followed by mild and rainy autumns. (Http://earl-la-violette.com)

Location