Ventoux: Hotels, restaurants and shops
Ventoux hotels
Château de Mazan
In the centre of Mazan – a town well positioned for vineyard visits – this 18th-century château once belonged to the family of the Marquis de Sade. Today it’s a fine hotel with well-tended gardens. www.chateaudemazan.com
Hotel Crillon-Le-Brave
A comfortable, characterful hotel created out of a cluster of 16th- and 17th century houses at the pinnacle of a tiny hilltop village. Cosy in winter but the terraces in summer do full justice to glorious views. www.crillonlebrave.com
Château Juvenal
In her Second Empire home, wine producer Anne-Marie Forestier offers simple bedrooms and excellent food in a magnificent period dining room. Plus worthwhile wines, overseen by leading Rhône consultant Philippe Cambie. www.chateau-juvenal-provence.com
Métafort
As talented at interior design as she is in the kitchen, Isa Lichtenthurn has turned a 17th-century bastide at the top of the village of Méthamis into a stylish B&B with an infinity pool and giddy views. Don’t miss her table d’hôte on Saturday. www.metafort-provence.com
Ventoux restaurants
L’Ingénue
In a region where chefs move around a fair bit, Franck Pujol has maintained an admirable standard for years at the Château de Mazan’s restaurant. Expect smart, ungimmicky food and an excellent wine list. Foie gras fans will be in heaven. www.chateaudemazan.com
Restaurant Jérôme Blanchet
Having helped various restaurants win Michelin stars, Jérôme Blanchet has brought a deft touch to Crillon’s kitchen since 2013. Dishes, inventive and refined, champion local produce while the wine list encompasses outstanding Ventoux domaines. www.crillonlebrave.com
Au Fil du Temps
The bright little restaurant of Jérôme and Angelina Campanelli in Pernes-lès-Fontaines is a great choice if you feel like eating well without spending lavishly. A small, rewarding wine list complements interesting, beautifully presented food. Slow-cooked lamb served with tomatoinfused petit épeautre is a winner. http://aufildutemps84.blogspot.co.uk
Le Gajuléa
Based in Le Barroux, Michel Philibert is the region’s most vocal chef, passionate about Mont Ventoux and its produce (truffles and wines especially). His cooking, like his restaurant, is homely and reassuringly authentic, such as tomato and basil terrine. www.gajulea.fr
Ventoux shops
Fromagerie du Comtat
One of Provence’s best cheese shops, the HQ of Maître Fromager Claudine Vigier is a Carpentras institution. Prices are high but worth it for her enthusiastic and knowledgable salesmanship +33 (0)4 90 60 00 17
Pâtisserie Jouvaud
Another Carpentras institution. Cakes, croissants, chocolates… everything is irresistible, not least the rocailles – huge meringues with melting, nutty insides, named after the white stones at the top of Mont Ventoux. There’s a lovely salon de thé too. www.patisserie-jouvaud.com
Le Grenache
If you want a decent selection of Ventoux bottlings under one roof, Christian-Paul Peyron’s wine shop/wine bar in Carpentras is the place to go. All of the southern Rhône is well represented. Regular evening tastings with oysters or tapas, too. www.legrenache.com
