Montpellier and Chateau de l’Engarran

A cultural and academic hub in the Languedoc wine region, Montpellier has a youthful, lively ambience thanks to its large student population and many festivals. Your exploration begins in the Place de la Comedie, the pedestrian-only central square built in the 1700s. Nicknamed L’Oeuf (the egg), it is one of the largest in Europe, home to the iconic Three Graces fountain and landmark buildings like the Opéra Comédie, a grand Italian-style theater. From here your guide will lead into the Ecusson, the atmospheric medieval district of narrow streets and alleys filled with shops, cafes, bars and more. You’ll then travel to the leafy urban outskirts where the wealthy of Montpellier built summer residences and grew wine. The first vineyards at Chateau de l’Engarran were planted in 1632. A century later, an elegant mansion and expansive formal gardens were commissioned, designed and built. Today, a third generation of the current family-owners leads the winemaking and estate operations, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. A tasting of the estate’s Languedoc wines features vintages with the Grès de Montpellier appellation, an AOC designation introduced in 2003. Test your knowledge of wine with the chateau owner who incorporates a fun Q & A. An elegant picnic lunch is then served in the park-like gardens. After the midday meal, enjoy a tour of the estate’s 18th-century mansion and the gardens, before the return drive to Sète.