Friday 6 October to Sunday 9 October 2006 sees the finals of the French Sailing Championships at (or off) Hyères (83 Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - see map).
Toulon, a large commercial and military port is a few kilometres to the west, but from Hyères eastwards you are into some of the best of the Provencal coast, with pretty (and expensive) harbours and impressive coastal corniches leading to St Tropez, Sainte Maxime and Fréjus.
It is also an important and rather beautiful wine are producing Côtes de Provence, with some vineyards within just a few kilometres of the coast near Hyères itself. One example is Domaine la Tuilerie, which produces reds and rosés (Syrah & Grenache), whites from Rolle. Not only that, but they also have a number of gites on the domaine for those of you who want the best of all worlds - Provence, sun, sea and wine!
The only downside is the Mistral wind which can blow for up to 100 days a year - worst in winter - a wind which blows down from the Massif Central to the Mediterranean, often for days on end and frequently at gale force. The only upside of it is that the skies will be clear and the famous Provence "light" will not be dimmed.
For more info on the French Sailing Championships - see www.tourvoile.fr
For more on Côtes de Provence wines see www.cotes-de-provence.fr
Château Saint Roch-les-Vignes 2005, Rosé de Provence
A delicious rosé showing soft spice and attractive fruit from this top winery in St. Tropez. Perfect with Mediterranean style food or simply on its own.
