Head of the wine cellar at the Chateau de Berne, in Provence, Brigitte Guiet enjoys sharing her passion for her work with wine enthusiasts. Each day, she prepares her wine cellar to provide the best experience to her numerous visitors. 

The heart of the Chateau de Berne seems to be beating here, in the wine cellar you manage.

There is always something happening in the vineyard, whether it be our guests or the general public … The Festival Food Truck is a real success and our jazz picnics liven up all the Sundays during summer! The wine cellar is the nerve centre of our vineyards, which attract more than 60,000 visitors each year. We work closely with the hotel, the restaurants and the spa. Entry to the wine cellar is free. We of course welcome our guests, who receive a bottle of Viognier wine when they arrive, as do visitors to the vineyard who are curious to discover our wines.  

What type of wine tastings do you offer?

We offer a range of wine tastings. From a simple visit to the cellars to a vertical tasting of all wines of the same colour, and moving on to suggestions of which foods go with which wines, everything is tailored to the level of knowledge of each person.  

Which places would you recommend to visit to understand the wines from this region? ​

The Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions at Draguignan gives you an understanding of the ancient skills of the winemakers of Provence. I also recommend Thoronet Abbey, built by Cistercian monks in the twelfth century, who even then were cultivating the first grape vines on our land. And then there is the House of Wines, at Arcs-sur-Argens, which offers the most complete map of all the Provence wines.

In the heart of the Provençal vineyards, introduce yourself to the thousand-year-old tradition of the grape harvest and enjoy a friendly social experience with the winemakers during your stay. 

A haven of greenery in the heart of the Provençal vineyards next to Fréjus, the Clos des Roses vineyard has a modern wine cellar filled with huge sculptures, as well as an authentic Provençal house. You will savour the gourmet tastes of Mediterranean- and Provençal-style cuisine and relax in one of the eight stylishly decorated rooms. During the grape harvest, go with the team for a morning of grape picking, then taste the first juice of the crushed grapes and have lunch with the pickers.

Walks in the vineyards around historical local sites and interesting discoveries on signposted paths. With a visit to the wine cellars and a tasting of Provencal wines when you finish. 

Walk in the vineyards of Provence and taste the best wines of Provence in the wine cellars. The Winegrowers’ Paths offer you signposted walks, varying from 5 to 13 km in length, which start from four cooperative wine cellars (guidebooks can be obtained at Puyloubier, Trets, Rognes and Lambesc). On these round trips you will discover the different varieties of grapes and the work of the winegrowers.

Another option, available from May to November at the four wine cellar cooperatives of the Bouches-du-Rhône, is to do a guided 5-km walk of local historic sites with a wine grower. This is available each first Saturday of the month. The Winegrowers’ Walks conclude with a tasting in the wine cellar.

In the heart of a vineyard in Provence, the new health spa at the Chateau de Berne is a green haven among vines, hundred-year-old olive trees and the hinterland of the Var region.

Lavender, cicadas, sun, vines and hundred-year-old olive trees. At Lorgues, between the Mediterranean and the Verdon Gorges, the Chateau de Berne is inseparable from the history of the wines of Provence. Located in a green haven intersected by two rivers, this Relais and Châteaux location combines all the elements needed to relax and unwind: the mild climate of Provence, the mineral-rich soil of this ancestral vineyard...

‘Time stands still’ in every way in this green haven of wellbeing.

Renowned for its exceptional environment, the Chateau de Berne invites you to relax in its completely refurbished health spa, during a day trip or a longer stay.

Indoor pool, outside pool, raisin-based beauty treatments: The good life in Provence!

Unwind in the soothing calm of the sauna, Turkish steam bath, two jacuzzis or solarium, or enjoy the relaxation space while sipping a herbal tea. Work out in the gym then dive into the indoor pool with jet stream and swan-necked fountain. Or, if you prefer, try the outdoor ‘infinity pool’, before lazing on the sunny terrace with a view over the vineyards!

To perfect this rejuvenating experience, a beauty salon awaits you, where you can enjoy the revitalizing Five Worlds (Cinq Mondes) treatment. A new, raisin-based beauty treatment will soon enrich the spa’s menu. The spa offers one scrubbing room with a Turkish bath and two double rooms with bubble baths. An ode to the blissful art of Provençal living!

At the foot of Sainte-Victoire Mountain, symbol of Provence, the Chateau Gassier vineyard offers a wine trail which provides a fascinating insight into organic vineyards and biodiversity. 

Caressed by the Mediterranean winds, Chateau Gassier’s 40 hectares of vineyards benefit from a unique location, at the foot of Sainte-Victoire Mountain. A powerful symbol of the Provence region, this site was the inspiration for the famous Impressionist painter Cézanne. The vineyard is located in the wine region of Côtes-de-Provence Sainte-Victoire, an area established in the heart of the Grand Site of France Sainte-Victoire, considered to be one of the most natural and well protected sites in the country. Aware of the rich biodiversity of this area, the team at Chateau Gassier are committed to protecting their environment. 

The wine trail gives a 360° view of life on the vineyard

Visitors to the estate can now take a wine tour which not only explains the richness of the Chateau Gassier vineyard, but also raises awareness about the preservation of biodiversity. Open to the public, the 3-km trail has regular signs and information panels. It immerses the walker in a nature where humans are but one of the actors.

A family treasure hunt

In total, 12 information panels provide information on the plants, animals and geology of the Sainte-Victoire vineyard, as well as details on the vegetative cycle of the vines, the role of the vines in organic agriculture, the vines themselves, and how the wines are produced… This offers a 360° view of life on the vineyard. The walk could be the place for a family treasure hunt and other family games or just enjoyed among friends: it is an informative and entertaining experience.

This biodiversity preservation project, which started in 2010, also includes other aspects of organic agriculture including the reduction of water consumption and the certification of high-energy performance, as well as a partnership with the teams of the Grand Site Sainte-Victoire. This partnership, the first of its kind, aims to develop and improve the biodiversity protection programmes in Sainte-Victoire while ensuring a wine production which respects its environment. For the public, there is also the guarantee of a warm welcome!

In the heart of a Provençal vineyard, the chef of the vineyard restaurant shares the secrets of his Provençal recipes in a new cookery school at the Berne Chateau. A unique and friendly gourmet experience!

Far from the well-trodden tracks, is a path which winds through the vineyards of Provence and takes you to the doors of the Berne Chateau. Enter this 500-hectare vineyard, go past the chateau and there you’ll find the new cookery school in a charming, fully renovated Provençal farmhouse. Opening onto a garden where aromatic plants and olive trees bloom, the house has a kitchen worthy of one of the grand old residences: glazed tiles, shining copper, polished wood and a cool stone interior...

The chefs of the Château de Berne restaurants will reveal the secrets of their classic yet original, aromatic yet easy-to-make recipes. 

In this exceptional setting, which blends excellence and pleasure, the Berne Chateau cookery school welcomes all lovers of gastronomy and wine. The chef of the vineyard’s restaurants will reveal the secrets of his classic yet original, aromatic yet easy-to-make recipes.

Taste your own dishes with a vintage wine from the chateau

Guided by the chef’s passion and finely controlled gestures, learn the alchemy and the tricks of gourmet cooking in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Enjoy transforming local produce into dishes full of flavour and delight. After the cooking, put your dishes on the table for a special tasting, with Provençal wines, in the company of your fellow apprentice chefs. ‘Cook the vegetables of summer’, ‘Halloween’, ‘A Christmas Menu’ … The themes of the courses follow the change of the seasons. Not to be outdone, budding cooks can begin with the ‘Little Chef’s Course’ on Wednesday afternoons. Private courses are also available to share these magical gastronomic experiences among friends, colleagues or with the family. There is also a gourmet stay (3–6 days), which offers unique gourmet experiences, cooking courses, dining at the gourmet restaurant, a tour of the cellars and a tasting of Provençal wines, plus a visit to the olive oil mill and the luxury of a five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel.