Ultimate Experiences, Wine Cruising France

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From the balcony of your suite, you admire the striated hillsides lining the horizon, the rows of grapevines taking on the golden hue of the setting sun. The world glides by while time itself stands still.

Noting a familiar bouquet being released from the black currant essences swirling in your wine stem, you suddenly realize the same glorious scent is wafting through the evening air.

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PREVIOUS PAGE: Sample exceptional

wines harvested from grapevines dating back to the Early Romans.

CLOCKWISE THIS PAGE: Admire the storybook villages lining the waterways of the Rhône-Alpes region; The Epicurean Adventurer Program™ introduces you to the region’s finest delicacies; Your fully inclusive six-star experience will indulge you with wine tastings, local specialties and kitchen know-how. OPPOSITE PAGE: Receive privileged access to meet local vintners for an insider perspective of their wine making process.

France’s inland waterways have long carried the secrets to the country’s rich culinary history.

This heritage is rooted in the grapevines planted along the banks by the Early Romans and can be detected in the seafood headlining dishes of France’s nouvelle cuisine. Some might even contend that rivers such as Rhône and Saône lead to the epicenter of gastronomy itself, with revered chefs such as Paul Bocuse and brothers Jean and Pierre Troisgros dotting the landscape with Michelin stars and redefining culinary technique across the globe.

In 2014, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection provides a proverbial taste of central France’s culinary capitals during the 8-day journey “Burgundy & Provence” from Avignon to Lyon. Not only will the new luxury river vessel S.S. Catherine deliver you to the front gates of historic city centers such as Viviers, Tournon-sur-Rhône and Chalonsur-Saône, the onboard experience was also designed with the discerning palate in mind.

Your fully inclusive six-star experience includes wine-paired tasting menus, all beverages – from morning mimosa to evening nightcap – and fully hosted excursions. The Epicurean Adventurer Program™ further caters to the interests of burgeoning gourmands and oenophiles with outings that include unique tastings at esteemed wineries and an openair food market tour with expert local guides who personally introduce you to the region’s finest purveyors. Enrichment activities onboard ensure that you return home with new recipes and kitchen know-how, from learning to make Crêpes Suzettes to selecting the ideal pairing for your coq au vin – not to mention a host of new stories to share over the dinner table.

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RHÔNE-ALPES In the first century A.D., Romans sailed up the Rhône River, leaving grapevines in their wake and creating a vibrant wine trade to supply the Roman Empire. Waking up to the enchanting river and view of the old-world architecture from your Savoir® of England bed feels sumptuously apropos. The natural beauty along the Rhône’s northern reaches is pervasive with no fewer than 24 micro-climates creating dynamic terrain. The forest-cloaked hills are peppered with fairy tale villages that reveal telling signs of their history, pre-dating the medieval and flourishing long after the Renaissance. Two stone-clad towns take center stage here: Tournon-sur-Rhône on the western bank and Tain-l’Hermitage on the eastern bank. Savor the opportunity to taste worldclass wines from villages such as Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Condrieu.

Expert vintners share wine-making traditions closely guarded for centuries. With each sip, garner new appreciation for labels such as La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque, which have made Côte-Rôtie synonymous with the very best wine in the world and 100-point acclaim. In Tain-l’Hermitage, follow ancient ramparts lined by dainty wildflowers, stopping intermittently to take in the panoramic view of the verdant Rhône valley and peaks of the distant Alps – the imposing divide between France and neighboring Switzerland. Visit charming local wine cellars and become better acquainted with the Syrah grape, responsible for the deep hue of a fruit-forward and earthy Hermitage red — including the famous Côtes du Rhône, Saint Joseph and Crozes Hermitage wines. Perhaps Hermitage white will even make an appearance; elusive due to its small

production, it begets unforgettable encounters – full, floral and sensuous – often whispering notes of marzipan, orange blossom and honey.

Learn about the prestigious past of these vines, dating back to the 17th century when they produced wine for the French courts of King Louis XIII and King Louis the XIV, the Sun King.

Within this region, dark and rich flavors can be found beyond a glass of Hermitage red. In your free time after the wine tasting, head to the Valrhona chocolate factory in the center of Tain-l’Hermitage, where you can enjoy the famed chocolatier’s dark and milk chocolates at the new visitor’s center, La Cité du Chocolat. Rotating exhibitions and films provide fascinating insight for pastry lovers about the world of chocolate and all its creative applications. At the Valrhona boutique, you’ll find dark chocolate to take home to purists or you can also create a customized box of bonbons for those with a more eclectic sweet tooth.

BURGUNDY Those looking to taste the delicate flavors of southern Burgundy wine may choose an optional visit to Château de Pommard — built in 1726 by Vivant Micault, Secretary to King Louis XV. Enjoy an included lunch showcasing regional specialties, and tour the estate with its striking vaulted cellar.

Amidst thousand-year-old vineyards of prestigious Côte d’Or, lies the region’s – arguably the world’s – center of wine trade, the storybook city of Beaune. This medieval town’s foundation literally rests on wine, built over a labyrinth of caves with oak barrels flawlessly aging fermentations. Dominating the village center is the polychrome rooftop of U LT I M AT E E X P E R I E N C E S

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THIS PAGE: On select dates in June and July,

choose an optional visit to the lavender fields of Drôme Provençale; OPPOSITE PAGE: Relax in the comfort of a Savoir® of England bed within your impeccably outfitted suite; Enjoy opportunities to dine al fresco while sailing through Burgundy and Provence; Refresh with L’Occitane en Provence products in your marble- appointed bathroom.

the Flemish-Gothic Hospices de Beaune, also known as Hôtel-Dieu. Originally a hospital for the poor, the population majority following the Hundred Years’ War and Black Death plague, this philanthropic endeavor was built in only eight years and reveals a surprising connection to wine. Every November a prestigious charity wine auction hosted by Christie’s draws collectors across the globe to bid on the year’s harvest from the Hospices’ 146-acre vineyard – tended by monks since the 15th century – as well as barrels willed to the hospital over the centuries. The proceeds go to medical equipment, hospitals and the upkeep of historical monuments. On this included excursion, a private guide will take you through relic-lined halls leading to a kitchen with a Gothic fireplace spit from 1698 and massive ovens that once baked the bread distributed to malnourished locals.

Today, the opposite can be said of residents of Beaune, with over 100 restaurants for a population of less than 25,000. Burgundy’s delicacies are quintessential France, with Dijon mustard, coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon and escargot serving as menu staples. At a local Beaune farmer’s market on Saturdays, your expert local guide will give you an insider tour of purveyor paradise. Amongst the series of colorful stalls lined with cornucopias of heirloom produce, you are free to taste ambrosial delicacies. Try Jura cheese and Burgundian semi-soft cow’s milk cheeses like Époisses, touted as “The King of Cheese,” dating back to the Cistercian monks who washed the cheese in brine and brandy as early as the 16th century.

Meet the growers and sample their artisan honey, sausage and organic meats, giving you an even deeper appreciation of Burgundian’s prolific food heritage.

LYON Lyon marks the map where the Rhône rushes in from the Alps and converges with Saône’s 3 2 U LT I M AT E E X P E R I E N C E S

gentle currents linking the city to the France’s northeast. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998, France’s third largest city has preserved remnants from the 1st century B.C., when it was founded by the Romans as the capital of the three Gauls. Among culinary tastemakers, however, Lyon’s fascinating roots prove secondary to the cutting-edge culinary scene.

Deemed “the world capital of gastronomy” in 1925 by French food critic Curnonsky, Lyon has long served as True North for chefs around the globe who flock there to experience the hearty French charcuterie with its nose-to-tail pragmatism or study nouvelle cuisine under chef Paul Bocuse – the culinary icon reputed for simplifying the profiles of French flavors and placing greater emphasis on pure ingredients sans heavy sauces.

Breathe in the delectable scents wafting from many of the locals’ windows as your guide leads you through Lyon’s Quartier St. Jean, with its spectacular medieval and Renaissance architecture. Stroll through the courtyard of Musée Gadagne and along Rue Juiverie, which boasts Nostradamus as a former resident. Enjoy an introduction to the city’s gastronomic history and the bouchons, which serve traditional Lyonnaise cuisine such as offal meats like andouille or boudin noir sausages as well as melt-in-your-mouth pâté. These were staples in the diets of the local silk weavers who once comprised half of Lyon’s population. Your guided tour gives you a first-hand look at this ancient craftsmanship, while watching one of the few remaining silk workers demonstrate the art of silk and velvet weaving on a Jacquard loom. Then spend the rest of the day on your own winding your way through Lyon’s labyrinth of passageways and courtyards.

Or, you may alternatively choose to sit back and be delivered to Lyon’s most panoramic vantage points. Pass by two Roman theaters — the Grand Theater and the Odeon, still in use

today — on your way to the top of Fourvière Hill, which extends stunning views of the Alps and the Rhône valley on a clear day. The hill is also home to Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon’s hallmark 19th-century basilica with opulent gilt, marble and mosaics.

The collection of historic architecture is a feast for the eyes in this gastronomic capital.

Your local expert shares the fascinating details behind sites such as Place des Terreaux (Terreaux Square), Hôtel de Ville de Lyon (City Hall), the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Art Museum), the Opéra and the shopping district before crossing the Saône. Within this ancient part of the city, explore the famous hidden passageways called les traboules, linking courtyards and streets, with your guide revealing the route silk weavers took to bring their delicate goods down to the market. Meander down to Place Bellecour to browse the silk shops and boutiques, perhaps finding something to beautifully accessorize your ensemble for the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner on the ship in the evening.

While this unique journey through Burgundy and Provence proves idyllic for the epicurean explorer, the experiences go far beyond the culinary world. Historians will revel in the medieval and Gothic architecture and legends lining these famed canals. Art lovers will be awestruck by the lavender and sunflower fields that inspired van Gogh and Cézanne. With daily events tailored to your interests, be it active pursuits, music or meandering, we can help you plan every element of this voyage to make it uniquely your own.

Please contact us or turn to page 64 for more information on Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and for a selection of ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES.

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S.S. CATHERINE Embark on this 8-day journey through Burgundy & Provence aboard the brand-new S.S. Catherine. Every river view cabin is luxuriously outfitted with Savoir® of England beds and beautiful marble bathrooms with L’Occitane en Provence products. Throughout this elegant ship, no design detail has been spared, including fine art, classic furnishings, antiques, mosaic-tiled pool and luxurious spa.

Taking you to the heart of some of the most important food and wine regions of France, the Epicurean Adventurer Program™ provides you with even more culinary enrichment. On board, chefs prepare exquisite regional dishes, focusing on the best local products available.

Their culinary masterpieces are showcased during buffet breakfasts, lavish lunches and dinners of several courses. Menus honor regional and seasonal specialties, in addition to old-fashioned comfort foods and lighter fare.

A master sommelier helps you navigate the extensive wine lists to pair the perfect Burgundy and Côte du Rhône vintages with your meals and the Crêpes Suzette-making demonstration provides techniques to add to your own culinary repertoire. Undoubtedly charmed by the endless delights of the palate, you soon will be living la vie française.

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