Hello Monaco magazine HelloMonaco 2018#04_Summer_Autumn_WEB | Page 53

HelloMonaco weekend Louise Simpson is a travel writer and author based in London and Monaco. Since studying French literature at Cambridge University, Louise has written for numerous periodicals including The Daily Telegraph, The Financial Times, The Independent and The Spectator in the UK and has authored guides for Frommer’s and Zagat in the US. Луиза Симпсон — писа­ тельница и автор пу­те­ вых заметок, проживающая в Лондоне и Монако. Еще во время изучения французской литературы в Кемб­ридж­ ском универ­ситете Луиза начала сотрудничать со много­численными периоди­ ческими изданиями, в числе которых The Daily Telegraph, The Financial Times, The Independent и The Spectator в Велико­британии. Она также является автором руководств Frommer’s и Zagat в США. © www.chateauroubine.com starred restaurants, spas, cookery schools and priceless artworks. Here are my favour- ite places to taste, dine and sleep amongst the Varoise vines. For organic oenophiles… C hâteau de Valmer combines oeno- tourism with five-star luxury. This Relais & Châteaux hotel lies in five hectares of vines and woodland, just 500 m from the Mediterranean on the St Tropez peninsula. You can taste organic rosé and white wines from the 1.6 hectare wine es- tate over a gastronomic meal at La Pal­ meraie restaurant. In a lush terrace of palm trees and rhododendrons, up-and-coming chef Jimmy Coutel is cooking up a Proven- çal storm with dishes such as pigeon with squash and red currants from the organic garden and oven-baked Reinette apples with spiced bread and sheep’s milk ice cream. At the end of the day, you can sip Pastis over a game of Pétanque or relax at the Spa with L’Occitane products inspired by the hotel’s organic vegetable garden. Romantics and families alike will love the luxury treehouses, perched in century-old oak trees. In nearby Ramatuelle, you can visit the vineyard Domaine de Tourraque (www.latourraque.fr, +33(0)4 9479 2595) whose excellent organic wines are pro- duced on 30 hectares within the national park of Port-Cros. If you book in advance, the winemaker organizes hikes (every Thursday and Friday) around his vineyard that stretches towards stunning cliff-edge views over the Mediterranean. Château de Valmer, 81 Boulevard de Gi- garo, 83420 La Croix Valmer (www.cha- teauvalmer.com, +33(0)4 9455 1515). The ho- tel is open from May to September. Rooms from 260  euros, treehouses from 330 euros. Wine tastings are available on res- ervation via the hotel. Hello Monaco Summer–Autumn 2018 / 51