Domaine Monte Verdi
/43°33'07.5"N 6°19'42.1"E Provence, France
Luxury in its natural state.
300 acres of Mediterranean forest, olive groves and vineyards featuring a small collection of architecturally designed huts and a modestly beautiful main Farmhouse.
We were seeking an escape and we had found it. Situated between Saint-Tropez and the Gorges du Verdon, between the sea and the land, Domaine Monte Verdi is the ideal pied-à-terre to discover the region.
Help yourself from the house kitchen to the chilled local rosé, jars of tapenade made from the Monte Verdi olive groves and little brown paper bags of croutons for a poolside picnic.
It’s not just the architecturally designed accommodations which are well thought out, but the permaculture of the land too.
Using ecological principles and traditional techniques to ease its implications on the land and environment and promote stability of the natural ecosystems. Ground water is wisely allocated, Saffron is organically grown, wild truffles are prepared by the house chef, as are the organic vegetables from the garden, vines are not ploughed but grassed with harvest done by hand, as with the olives, hand picked then taken to the local mill for processing into to Olive Oil and spreads in the kitchen.
The bee hives keep the whole thing humming nicely.
One evening our host, Brice, booked us a last minute table at L'Estellan, a husband and wife team with a perfectly provencal view over the vines and Nina Simone playing in the background.
The €30 set menu changes daily depending on seasonal availability and tonight offered citrus risotto followed by perfectly cooked fish.
Breakfast is continental, freshly squeezed orange juice, croissants and a full range of spreads, honey and jams from hives and produce grown on the farm. Important if you are to spend your day kayaking the Gorge du Verdon, mountain biking, hiking or indeed simply reading on your private terrace or lounging in the pool. For our kayaking adventure click here.
Our final evening we arranged with the house chef, Delphine, to cook for us on the terrace as the sun went down. She uses as many produce from Monte Verdi as she can and we were served truffled eggs (Yum!) followed by truffled beef with garden grown vegetables and a flaming gooey chocolate pudding for dessert.
Take a lover. Take a book. It’s an ideal escape.
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