La Verriere, A Fabulous Wine Experience & Bootcamp in France

I've spent many long weekends at La Verrière, visiting my dear friends Xavier Rolet and Nicole Sierra-Rolet, who spent 10 years refurbishing the historic bastide and medieval priory, located on 100 acres at the foothills of Mount Ventoux.

The domaine comprises several traditional stone and wood buildings, but what makes it exceptional are its high-tech facilities: the Chêne Bleu Winery is state-of-the-art; tasting rooms have custom-made tables with built-in running water and electricity, and there's a helipad for easy access. Each of the 7 guest rooms and suites is decorated according to a Provençal theme such as lavender, honey bees and sunflowers, and all have Wi-Fi and high-speed Internet access, as well as digital phone and fax lines. When I go, I love cooking in their kitchen and preparing a beautiful table setting for alfresco dining, and I can assure you that it's an amazing place to spend a wine-soaked week with a group of friends for a holiday or special occasion.

Last June, La Verrière hosted its first annual “wine boot camp," an intensive, five-day immersion program held in conjunction with the London Wine Academy. “For people in certain circles, if you haven't learned about wine by the time you're in your forties, it can be a bit embarrassing,” says owner Nicole, a former investment banker who knows what it's like to be handed a wine list at a business dinner and not know how to make a suitable selection. Her solution for time-starved professionals was to design the Chêne Bleu Extreme Wine Experience—an no-nonsense immersion blended with a dose of fun, held in the intimate surroundings of her estate. Delve into an English-language curriculum that includes hands-on workshops, samplings of best-in-category vintages from around the world, classes on soil types lead by Masters of Wine, and instruction on buying, cellaring and serving wine. Upon completion, you can opt to take the exam for the Wine Spirit Education Trust's intermediate certificate—well, that is if you've done your 15-hours-worth of studying before arrival! It's not all serious though; among the fun factors are an aroma challenge with a nez du vin, and cheeky games like “wine truth-or-dare” and “spin the champagne bottle.” Gourmet meals are served at various atmospheric locations on the property, and guests can play pétanque or tennis, take a dip in the pool or have a massage. Trust me, La Verrière is heaven-on-earth for sophisticated Dionysians. There are only 12 slots for the 2009 boot camp, scheduled for June 14–19, so it's best to book now to participate in this extraordinary wine immersion and education. Cost from €3,650 (about $4,590) per person.

Special offer: Buy a case (12 bottles) of Chêne Blue, La Verrière's couture wines, and you'll enjoy a 25 per cent discount, exclusive for Suzanne's Files.

Email owner Nicole Sierra-Rolet at nicole@laverriere.com to learn more about this exclusive offer.