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Nathalie showing excellent wine review in Vin magazine

“Welcome!” says Nathalie Vancoillie, a very tanned, toned, attractive woman with sun-streaked hair and an athletic build as she escorts us into her Chateau in Provence, a charming stone structure that dates from the 15th century. Most people think of Provence as St. Tropez, yet Nathalie lives outside the small but lively village of Saint Antonin. Her house is just minutes away from romantic cafes and the gorgeous produce you can find on market days, yet far enough away so that you really feel you are in the wilds of Provence.

Domaine du Clos d’Alari produces award winning white and rose wine in the most natural way possible, which includes Nathalie herself rising at dawn every morning to go out into the vineyards and tend the vines. She had grown up on the property, which her parents bought when she was a child. At first, they grew grapes and sold them to winemakers, then a trusted friend tasted the wine and told the Vancoillie family they would be better off producing the wine themselves. The family owns twenty hectares of vineyards made of clay and limestone. Grapes include Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Merlot, Cinsault, and Rolle.

Over breakfast the next morning, Nathalie told me a bit about her fascinating life, which is a foodie’s dream. Though the family produces award-winning wine, its real passion is food, and Nathalie and her elegant mother Anne-Marie are enormously popular with individuals, couples, and groups that come to their Domaine to discover how to not just shop but “hunt” (if that is the appropriate word) for truffles, using the talented snout of their cute little dog.

Beyond a winery and cooking school, Domaine du Clos d’Alari is also a ‘bed and breakfast,’ where guests can stay in Nathalie’s romantic stone house with its eclectic art collection, wake up to a delicious breakfast of cheeses, fresh ripe peaches with mint, and coffee, and look at mountains and vineyards beyond. Nathalie and her mother have hosted prestigious groups such as Oldways, teaching them to shop and cook.

The fact a highly respected group such as Oldways should have tipped me off that I would be in for a fantastic lunch. After all, Oldways has the kind of international name and clout that could see them take interested parties anywhere on earth. How did they find out about Nathalie and her mother?

Lunch, it turns out, was held at Anne Marie’s house next door, and the table was set up in a way we can see the vineyards and the mountain (which they also own). As soon as we sat down, prosciutto and melon were served, with the melon at the absolute peak of ripeness.

Then gorgeous red tomatoes, glistening with ripeness, were set before us. Never had I experienced a tomato at such a point of ripeness, and I tried it with both their excellent rose and white wine, unable to decide which pairing worked best.

Next came an impossible to describe dish, very delicious,shredded chicken with ultra fresh vegetables in seasoned aspic. Finally, the Clos d’Alari red wine (aged in oak) with the cheese. This lunch proudly showed off our hosts’ culinary skills as well as their excellent wines. They are available in the United States, so use the Wine-Searcher tool to the right to find them in a store near you.

Natalies house

One would think to visit Provence only in summer, but the bed and breakfast is open all year round. In fall you can hunt for truffles, and every season brings something new to the table (so to speak). Nathalie and her mother speak many languages, and are very open to helping guests map out a plan of how to spend their days (the markets, other wineries, little villages to visit) so it is best to contact them directly with questions.

Bon Appetite!
Domaine du Clos d'Alari
Anne Marie VANCOILLIE
717, Route de Mappe
83510 SAINT ANTONIN DU VAR
Tel: 04.94.72.90.49
email: domaine.du.clos.alari@wannadoo.fr

 
You can also visit the Wines of Provence web site for more information on the area.

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