Domaine la Veronique
Languedoc Gourmet Tour and Cooking Workshop

Guests: 6	Your Hosts: Peter and Sally Shaw
Size: 3 bedrooms	English Speaking Crew of: 2
Last Visited: 2011	Bicycles: To be advised
Rating: Deluxe

2012 rates

Private Party of 4 guests: $11,880
Private Party of 5 guests: $13,800
Private Party of 6 guests: $15,120

2012 dates

April 1 - 7	May 27 - June 2	July 22 - 28	September 16 - 22
April 8 - 14	June 3 - 9	July 29 - Aug 4	September 23 - 29
April 15 - 21	June 10 - 16	August 5 - 11	September 30 - October 6
April 22 - 28	June 17 - 23	August 12 - 18	October 7 - 13
April 29 - May 5	June 24 - 30	August 19 - 25	October 14 - 20
May 6 - 12	July 1 - 7	August 26 - Sept 1	October 21 - 27
May 13 - 19	July 8 - 14	September 2 - 8	October 28 - Nov 3
May 20 - 26	July 15 - 21	September 9 - 15	November 4 - 10

Peter and Sally Shaw are old and dear friends of The Barge Lady. They successfully operated the barge La Tortue for many years on the Canal du Midi. Both Peter and Sally are multi-talented; Peter as a chef and amateur architect, Sally as a guide at the historian level and composer/musician. They bring these diverse backgrounds, as well as superb customer service orientation, to the new venture at Domaine la Veronique.

Designed by Peter and decorated by Sally, this villa deep in the countryside welcomes parties of six guests for land-based programs featuring Peter’s gourmet cuisine and Sally’s touring of towns, markets and historic sites of the region. This is the perfect ADD-ON to a cruise in Burgundy or Provence!

Caroline Sack Klein recently visited the Domaine and enjoyed lunch on the terrace with Peter and Sally. Here is her report:

"We arrived to Domaine La Véronique and were warmly greeted by Sally and Peter Shaw. Situated in the peaceful French countryside, the villa is a spacious retreat with all creature comforts. Olive trees and rolling vineyards surround the villa as far as the eye could see – I really was deep in the serene countryside! The modern spa style pool is the main attraction of the outdoor space. Around the pool are various sitting areas to relax with a good book and a glass of local vino. A designated bocce ball area is available for those feeling competitive. This tranquil oasis was a perfect setting for a “gourmet break”!

The first floor has inviting open kitchen with luxurious granite counters, ample kitchen space, and a big dining table with long benches that begs for family dinners, laughs and memories. All of the fancy cutlery and kitchen tools are at an arm’s length reach for some serious cooking lessons! It is here that the magic happens with Peter who is clearly a natural in the kitchen. He prepared a divine lunch for us using all fresh ingredients purchased that day from the local market. Perfectly paired wines and cheese complemented the main course. Of course we took advantage of the al fresco dining area with a beautiful table setting. The cuisine and scenery could not be better – what a treat!

The 3 spacious bedrooms each have their own private bathrooms. The bedrooms are light and airy with an elegant, understated cottage style. I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the bedrooms and bathrooms. There is ample room for everything! The walk in showers are a luxurious touch.

The Domaine La Véronique provides a lovely setting to immerse yourself in the treasures of the French countryside. Peter and Sally create such a wonderful ambiance and are the most gracious hosts. We hope to return soon to this wonderful villa! "

Domaine la Veronique Itinerary

Languedoc Gourmet Land Tour

Peter will supply menus and recipes for the workshops. The workshops will show you how to prepare the majority of dishes you will be eating at lunch and dinner throughout your stay. It is a ‘hands on’ experience and aprons are provided!! This is just a suggested itinerary and menus, as we prefer to ‘tailor-make’ your itinerary and menus to suit your interests, and passions. Traditionally Peter serves three cheeses at lunch time, and one cheese with dinner. He will tell you the history of each cheese, and will entertain you with some enchanting ‘cheese stories’.

Sunday: Late Afternoon Arrival to Domaine la Veronique
Champagne Welcome!
Sally will meet you at 4:00pm at your designated pickup point, which can be in either Beziers, Carcassonne or Narbonne. She will then transfer you directly to Domaine La Véronique. Once you’ve settled in to your rooms, join Peter and Sally for a champagne welcome on the terrace. Take a stroll, or enjoy a quick dip in the pool, before aperitifs and your first gastronomic experience.


Monday: Day 2
Ready, Set, Cook!
AM: Cooking workshop – preparing lunch and dinner. PM: Sally will take you to Pezenas, a Merchant Town near Beziers, dating back to medieval times and made famous by Moliére and Clive of India. Stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of the old quarter of Pézenas, and you take a walk right back in time – here to the Middle Ages with gargoyles peering eerily from the Hôtel Jacques Coeur, there to the Renaissance period before original mullioned windows. The entire old town is rich with wonderful wrought iron balconies, stone sculptures and ornate doorways. There are also wonderful little shops and cafés to enjoy.


Tuesday: Day 3
Market Day in Narbonne
AM: Excursion to Narbonne. Peter will take you round the outstanding covered food market ‘Les Halles’, specifically the fish stalls. He will choose which fresh fish you will be cooking for your dinner. Afterwards, Sally will then take you to the amazing Gothic Cathedral with one of the highest naves in France, walk along the Via Domitia (a recently uncovered Roman road ), visit the Horreum (Roman underground tunnels where they used to store the food for open-air markets) or just do some shopping in the chic boutiques on the charming pedestrianized streets.

PM: Cooking workshop preparing dinner.


AM: Cooking Workshop preparing today’s lunch, plus ‘Duck Confit’ (for Cassoulet) and ‘Foie Gras’ for Day 6.

PM: Sally will lead you on a walk, straight from La Véronique, up in to the hills and through the woods to the nearby Priory of Sainte Christophe. Supposedly there was a tunnel that used to connect Véronique to the priory!! Back to La Véronique to refresh before going out for a wine tasting at nearby Domaine Milhau.


PM: An excursion to the Olive Oil factory at Bize, followed by a visit to the goat’s cheese farm at Combebelle. See the goats being milked and taste their delicious range of fresh and aged cheeses. Next door to the goats cheese farm there is the very interesting vineyard of Combebelle, which is run organically. All will be explained by the owner as she takes us round the vineyard, and then for a tasting in the cave.

Friday: Day 6
Medieval walled city of Carcassonne and a special Winetasting
A morning visit to Carcassonne, La Cité, the finest example of a medieval walled city in the whole of Europe. Marvel at the towers and defense walls (parts dating back to Roman times) which protected the inner castle.
PM: Cooking workshop preparing dinner. Early evening there will be a wine tasting at La Véronique with Master of Wine, Juliet Bruce-Jones.


Saturday: A Sad Farewell
A Sad Farewell
After breakfast, Sally will chauffeur you to you departure point. Go back to Paris via an early morning TGV train from Narbonne – or rent a car for your onward journey in France. Wherever you go next, we hope you will carry happy memories of your week at Domaine la Veronique.

Please note: this is a sample itinerary which may be subject to change depending on local conditions. Contact The Barge Lady for reservations and more information about Languedoc Gourmet Land Tours and Gourmet Tours in France. Or call us toll free at (800) 880-0071.

Domaine la Veronique
Guest Book 

"Thanks both for a fantastic week. La Veronique makes a perfect location for striking out and exploring in all directions, and when we get back home, guess what? The exploring has not finished! The food, oh boy, was fantastic. Peter went above and beyond."

"Thank you so much for our fabulous week! Your blood, sweat and tears in rebuilding La Véronique was well worth it! We learned a tremendous amount in our cooking classes, and even more important, had a great time doing it. The food, the wine, the music, the wine, the tours, the wine, the hospitality, the wine – all were perfect! I hope we will see y’all again in the not too distant future."

"Wow! Wow! Wow! What a fantastic holiday we have had. La Véronique is a fantastic location and is certainly a location you can both be proud of. The food was brilliant…. We will definitely return as there is so much to see and explore. Thank you so much for making us all feel so welcome in your lovely home."

"Thanks for such a fantastic week. It was fabulous. It has all been a little taste of paradise."

"With heartfelt thanks. Wow! Everything was great and the food beyond belief. We look forward to returning again and again."

"We thought you couldn’t outdo the first time, but you did! A relaxing experience in an enchanted cottage. Good food, good wine, good people – what more can you ask for? Thank you always."

"What a fabulous experience! This will always remain at the top of our sweet memories – companionship, food, music…"

"What can I say – you are the perfect hosts. The food was excellent. The pool and your home perfect. You both deserve only the best for the future."