After a leisurely breakfast featuring local produce and fresh eggs from our organic chickens, we drive through the rolling hills of the Gers region, also known as the Tuscany of France, to the fortified town of Marciac, founded at the end of the 13th century in the heart of Gascony.

Marciac has gained worldwide fame through its international jazz festival, which has been held annually from late July to early August for approximately 50 years. All the great jazz musicians have performed here. We stroll through the weekly market in the large market square and walk under the arcades that line it, where small shops, bistros, and restaurants are located.

Those who wish can visit the 14th-century Gothic church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Marciac or enjoy a coffee or another beverage in one of the bistros or bars and soak up the friendliness and relaxed atmosphere.

We continue from Marciac to neighboring Tillac, a small village that developed between the 11th and 14th centuries. Founded by Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac, the village was laid out as a fortress. Its corners were oriented to the four cardinal directions, and a castle stood at the center of the complex. From the original fortress gate, a cobbled street lined with historic half-timbered houses with arcades leads to the 15th-century Church of Saint-Jacques-Le-Majeur.

In this charming little village, we visit a gourmet restaurant that celebrates creative cuisine in a typical Gers setting. Primarily seasonal products, combined with culinary expertise, guarantee a fresh and authentic dining experience. The chef sources his ingredients from local producers, placing great emphasis on quality and the unique flavors of the Gers region.

After this culinary experience, we'll take a short stroll through the historic town center, allowing ourselves to be touched and inspired by the details of centuries of history, before continuing on to the Saint Mont wine region.

In Saint Mont, we'll visit the only vineyard in France registered as a "Monument Historique," a historical monument. It's a small plot of vines of different varieties that survived the devastating phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century due to the special soil, while all the vines in the Bordeaux wine region were wiped out by the aphid (introduced from the USA, which destroyed vineyards throughout Europe). Thus, the cellars around Saint Mont house very special, little-known wines made from indigenous grape varieties such as Maseng Noir or the almost forgotten Tardif grape, which was only officially recognized as a Cépage in 2024 after a 15-year approval process. Tardif has a light red color similar to Burgundy and a similarly fruity taste, but surprises with a wonderful peppery note on the finish! Following the tour of the historic vineyard, we will taste three original vintages of these rare wines from these special indigenous grape varieties, which are not yet available for general sale (this selection varies depending on vintage availability).

After this special tasting, we will return to Château Lestéous and enjoy the time until dinner in the spacious garden, in the château itself, or in the surrounding area. We will conclude this first day in the Gers with a dinner featuring ingredients from small local producers, accompanied by the delicious wines from Saint Mont and good conversation in a small group.