Savoring the Bounty of French Wine Country

The tastes and textures, sights and sounds, and the ambiance of France’s famed wine country are now indelibly etched in the memories of 20 happy travelers. 

Now, they can speak from first-hand experience after joining Bistro Soleil’s most recent trip to the vintner’s paradise through the Marco restaurant’s Gastronomique Tours. Planned and organized by the eatery’s owners, Denis and Lisa Meurgue, the tours have them sharing their love of the country, its food, wine and culture. 

The one-week-long tours include learning about the wine and champagne-making process, cooking classes, vineyard picnics, cultural events, dining experiences ranging from bistros to Michelin Star restaurants, wine tastings, and visits to local markets, oyster and caviar farms, the National Equestrian Center and off-the-beaten-path places. 

“I’ve had people tell me it's been the trip of a lifetime and they can't say enough good things about it,” said Lisa Meurgue, whose husband, a native of France, is Bistro Soleil’s chef. “That’s a good feeling, a really good feeling.” 

Creating a fun, exciting, memorable and authentic experience for participants is the goal.

Since beginning in 2003, the Meurgues have accompanied their traveling companions on culinary journeys to Champagne-Alsace, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Provence. This year’s recently concluded jaunt was to Avignon, a city in southeastern France’s Provence region. 

Lisa Meurgue said the trips usually include 20-to-25 people, most of them Marco Island residents and some wintertime guests. This year, five of them were people who’d been on previous trips.

“We have had many repeat travelers and people who have brought their grown children and spouses, grown grandchildren and single travelers as well,” she added. “During this most recent trip, I already have people asking us where we are going next year.”

Kim Kaplan, of Fiddlers Creek, is one of those interested parties. This year’s Gastronomique Tour was the first for Kaplan and her husband, Dean. 

“It was great, it was great and I would absolutely do it again,” she said. “We'd always wanted to go on one, but we were doing a lot of business travel, we weren't able to make it happen. We sold our business a year ago February and we officially retired. So we know we have time.”

“Lisa and Denis put together just a fabulous itinerary,” said Kaplan. “The wineries, of course, that was my favorite thing. We had an awesome picnic at Vineyard Château Pesquie. The weather was perfect, so we sat outside. I really enjoyed that. And then we went to a (Camargue) bull ranch and met the owners. That was quite an experience. I really enjoyed that too. It's just a fabulous time.”

Kaplan also had high praise for her and her husband’s tour-mates. 

“You become a little family because you get to know each other, you spend so much time together,” she said. “This group couldn't have been any better. It was just such a fun group and we made some new friends.” 

Seeing friendships and lasting memories develop during the trip is a pleasure, said Lisa Meurgue. The Meurgues love sharing their passion for France’s food, wine and culture with others who have that same appreciation. 

“And it's nice to know that they entrust their precious vacation time to us, and then to have them come back again because they had such a great time,” she added.

This year’s itinerary also included such highlights as a candlelight dinner in the Moët & Chandon wine cellar, a guided tour of The Palais des Papes, a stop at a “nougatier,” where they make a French candy with nuts, and a visit to the historic city of Uzes and its market, the largest in Provence. The schedule also allotted free time so the tour participants had time to explore on their own.

Another first-time participant in this year’s Gastronomique Tour was Stacey Bronson and her husband Richard. Bronson and Lisa Meurgue attended high school together in their hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Bronsons split their time between Marco and their home in suburban Chicago. 

“We reconnected when we went down to Marco Island for our anniversary a few years ago,” said Bronson. “When we learned Lisa was there, we made plans to have dinner at the restaurant and reconnected and I've kept in touch ever since. At that time, she told us about the trips taking tour groups to France, and it sounded so wonderful. So we asked to be on her mailing list and for her to keep us in mind for when the next trip was planned.”

Bronson said the trip’s highlights were too numerous to list, although there is one thing that stands out. 

“Probably the best part of it was the group of people we traveled with,” she said. “We met some amazing, amazing couples and I think we'll have some friends for a lifetime. That was a really, really special part of it. Another best part was having everything planned for us: just getting on a plane, showing up and having destinations planned and scheduled, and having meals planned. The whole trip was wonderful. It was just so amazing. We had such a wonderful time.”

Bistro Soleil is located at the Olde Marco Inn, 100 Palm St. For more information about the restaurant, visit www.bistrosoleil.net or call 389-0981. For more information about Gastronomique Tours and to get on the tour mailing list, visit gastronomiquetours.com.