Book Chateau de Berne with VIP Benefits

The plateau reaches an altitude of 300 meters. Cooler nights there allow the grapes to ripen slowly, while the lighter soils near the house contribute a different character to the blends. Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan are among the varieties used for rose; Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon feature in the reds, with Rolle and Semillon grown for white wines.

The estate's winemaking also includes a rose cuvee with a small barrel-fermented portion, matured for several months. Its development involved selecting particular vineyard plots and allowing longer contact between the juice and grape skins. The oak is intended to add volume and aromatic complexity to the wine.

Cellar visits explore the estate's production areas, and the tasting team offers guided tastings and wine workshops. There is also a counter for sampling the different cuvees. Corporate group workshops can combine a technical winery visit with a wine-blending competition. The cellar sells Berne olive oil, jams and honey, as well as wines.

The hotel has 34 rooms, with accommodation ranging from Classic and Deluxe Rooms to Family Rooms, Junior Suites, Suites and the Prestige Suite. The interiors combine a traditional country-house style with contemporary furnishings. Room service is available, and breakfast is served at Le Jardin de Berne or can be ordered to the room.

Classic Rooms measure approximately 25 square meters and have queen-size beds. Their outlooks vary between forest, vines and the chateau. Bathrooms have either a shower or a bathtub. Air conditioning, a minibar and a flat-screen television are provided in these traditionally decorated rooms.

The 70-square-meter Prestige Suite has a large living room and a king-size bed. Its bathroom includes both a shower and a bathtub, while a roof terrace looks toward the chateau and vineyards. Subtle lighting and carefully chosen materials are part of the suite's design.

Villa Vanado has a stone exterior, five bedrooms and 405 square meters within grounds of 1.1 hectares. Villa Jasso is a three-bedroom Provencal residence measuring 214 square meters, with a hectare of land. La Bastide des Gomberts, a former sheepfold, has 450 square meters, four bedrooms and a dormitory.

The Village House stands in Lorgues itself, with five bedrooms, 230 square meters of space and a 50-square-meter roof terrace. Maison San Bastian is a one-bedroom forest house of 75 square meters with a Nordic bath. A private chef or a therapist's visit can be arranged for villa stays.

Le Jardin de Berne holds a Michelin star and a Green Star for sustainable gastronomy. Chefs Louis Rameau and Eric Raynal work with ingredients from Provence and the estate. Beyond a bend in a lavender field, three vegetable gardens cover more than 3,000 square meters, growing vegetables, berries, fruit, herbs and flowers. Four thousand olive trees produce Berne olive oil with a fruity green character.

The restaurant's wine list extends across France and includes wines from abroad, with regional bottles and the estate's red, white and rose Cotes de Provence represented. Different dining positions bring the kitchen into view: La Table du Chef faces the main kitchen, while La Table du Pass places diners at the end of the counter to watch dishes being prepared and plated.

Le Bistrot adjoins the tasting cellar. Its cooking follows French classics and local produce, with dishes changing through the seasons. Inside is a lounge around a fireplace; outside, a covered, heated terrace provides another dining space. Chef Aurelie Liautaud leads its kitchen after previously spending five years there as chef de partie.

Cookery classes are another part of the estate's food offering and are arranged in advance. They focus on recipes and seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden and local producers. Picnic baskets combine local dishes and wines for meals within the grounds, including places beside the river or among the vines.

The spa occupies 800 square meters and opens onto a terrace and Japanese garden. Its indoor pool has a counter-current system and a swan-neck water feature, with views over vineyards and an olive grove. Two Jacuzzis, a sauna, a steam room and a relaxation area with an herbal-tea room complete the principal bathing spaces.

Cinq Mondes and Vinesime are the spa's treatment partners. One estate-specific body scrub uses Grenache Noir grape marc from Berne's plateau vineyard. Treatments and massages are arranged in advance, with duo cabins and specific treatments for children also offered. The vineyard provides a setting for yoga sessions, while a fitness room has Technogym equipment and countryside views. Sessions with a state-qualified sports coach can be arranged on request.

There are two outdoor hotel pools, including the heated Mediterranean pool. Tennis, padel and pickleball courts add other sporting spaces, with equipment and lessons available through reception on request. A petanque pitch and table-tennis facilities are also part of the estate's recreation offering.

Walking and cycling routes pass through the agricultural land, forest and riverbank scenery. The hotel offers bicycle and electric-bicycle hire, with route information available at reception. Within the estate, the children's play area has slides and swings. Treasure hunts use clues and riddles to explore the grounds.

The estate's sheepfold can be visited with a member of the team. Guided beekeeping visits introduce the workings of the apiary and include a tasting of locally harvested honey.

The tasting cellar also contains La Boutique Deco, a shop for regional specialties, tableware and home fragrances. Berne's distinctive square wine bottle has a reference point on the estate itself: the two square eighteenth-century towers at the entrance.