Romantic destinations for wine lovers: La Cadière d’Azur

La Cadière d’Azur, France

La Cadière is one of the prettiest of all the villages perchés in the south of France, and the Hostellerie Bérard is perhaps its best-known possession. A window table in the main restaurant of the 37-room hotel is worth asking for: good dinners with panoramic views of wine country do not come much better (or much more expensive, it should be said) than this. Some rooms in the medieval part of the hotel command the same prospect.

In addition to being as knowledgeable about the hostellerie’s extensive list of local wines as the sommelier himself, owner Danièle Bérard is an authority on local walks. She will recommend trails to Château de Pibarnon, with its own far views, and to Moulin des Costes and other producers among the hills or in the plain.

Which brings us naturally to the hotel’s spa, ‘where aromatherapy will awaken your senses’, and where among other delights are rose oil body wraps and ‘milk baths with flower petals and essential oil of lavender and marjoram’. If romance does not flourish here one must be unfortunate with the weather or one’s partner, or both.

Hotel recommendation:

Hostellerie Bérard

83740 La Cadière d’Azur, France. Tel: + 33 4 94 90 11 43

hotel-berard.com