My husband and I are frequent visitors to the Luberon area of Provence and lived there for six months a few years ago. Now we lead small group tours several weeks each year and share our love of the Luberon with others.

We first visited Domaine Faverot when we lived in Provence. Local friends had recommended the wine, and we stopped by for a tasting and to buy a few bottles. The owner Francois Faverot (half British/half French) greeted us warmly and helped us learn more about the wines produced in the Luberon valley. A few weeks later we scheduled a tasting with some friends visiting from the USA. That was the beginning of our connection with Francois and Sally Faverot and their beautiful wine estate located near Maubec. We now take our groups to Domaine Faverot for a tour, tasting and lunch, and it's a highlight of our week.

The setting is idyllic and we always have a great meal, but it's made most special by our two hosts. They truly have a gift for hospitality, and that's also evident in the four rental cottages they've restored on their property. During my many visits to Domaine Faverot, I've had the opportunity to tour all four cottages and to chat with several guests, and we recommend these rentals enthusiastically to our friends and clients.

The four cottages form one leg of the U-shaped 18th century stone building, once a silkworm farm. The winery is across the courtyard, and Sally and Francois' office and home is located in the three story base. Each cottage is somewhat different, but they are all on two stories, with living/dining and kitchen on the ground level and bedroom(s) and bath upstairs. One cottage has one bedroom and bath, and the other cottages have two bedrooms and bathrooms. Every cottage is beautifully decorated, with quality furnishings, colorful tiles, and good linens. They are fully equipped for cooking and also have fireplaces and heating for off-season rentals.

I especially like the private terraces, which look out over the vineyards, the Vaucluse Plateau and Mont Ventoux. This provides a place for outdoor dining and relaxing. Sally even provides a small herb garden on each terrace so you can use fresh herbs in your cooking. There's a shared pool for the use of all guests, set in the vineyard. And its a wonderful opportunity to learn something about the rhythm and lifestyle of a small family-owned winery. (We love the Faverot wines.)

Domaine Faverot is in the countryside on the very western end of the Petit Luberon mountain. It's a very convenient location for exploring the Luberon and other parts of Provence, less than a mile off the main road between Cavaillon and the D100 that travels the length of the Luberon toward Apt. Small shops and a few restaurants are located nearby in Coustellet (including the highly-recommended restaurant, Maison Gouin), and there are large supermarkets not far away in Cavaillon. There are excellent boulangeries in Robion and Coustellet. From April-October there is a wonderful market in Coustellet on Sunday mornings, including an extensive farmers market. Be sure to visit the nearby village of Oppede-le-Vieux, one of our favorite spots in Provence.

To see more photos of the Luberon (including several taken at Domaine Faverot), see our website at www.european-experiences.com/album.