Behind the Pour: Curating Wine Experiences for Camp Joy Retreats in the South of France - Ménerbes 2025

How time flies! I can’t believe it has already been two weeks since the last edition of Camp Joy. Just like before, I had the pleasure of working with Monique and Marea, the sisters behind the magic of these retreats, on the second, and very successful, edition of Camp Joy.

This time, we headed to Ménerbes in the Luberon, with its stunning scenery, iconic cypress trees (true totems of Provence), endless vineyards, and picturesque hilltop villages. The retreat took place in a gorgeous and sumptuous Provençal villa called La Magnagerie, just a few minutes from the village and yet in utter serenity.

Of course, no Camp Joy would be complete without unforgettable food, and this edition was no exception. We did not go hungry. Doug and Glen, two wonderful chefs from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, spoiled us with meals so good I still get hungry just thinking about them. That’s how good it was! It was a real pleasure for me to work alongside such passionate, talented, and kind people, and to bring my wines to the table to complement their creations and to make each evening a little more special.

Just like the first edition, my role at Camp Joy Retreats was to curate the wine list for the dinners and apéro hour. It was an honour to once again be part of the team and contribute to making the week a little more magical. From light reds to zesty whites, fruity rosés to bold reds, and of course a touch of fizz, every sip was part of creating unforgettable wine experiences in the South of France!

So, without further ado, let me take you behind the pour and share what our lovely ladies and the team enjoyed at Camp Joy Ménerbes.

Curating Wine Experiences in the South of France for Camp Joy Retreats: A Look at the Week’s Lineup

Sunday : Sparkling Beginnings & BBQ Night

This edition welcomed on Sunday ladies from the US, Canada and the UK. After long travel days and a bit of jetlag for some, Sunday is the day to settle in, take in the beautiful surroundings, and of course, enjoy a nice glass of wine to unwind. For apéro, I brought back the Lavender Spritz, a huge hit at Camp Joy Cotignac in June. Floral, fresh and bubbly, it's the perfect way to celebrate the first day and for the guests to start bonding. And really, what says Provence more than lavender? I like to call it Camp Joy’s Signature Welcome Drink, so if you decide to join one of next year’s editions, you already know what to expect (😉).

For our first dinner, we enjoyed a delicious BBQ with grilled chicken, merguez (spicy lamb and beef sausages), and prawn skewers, along with an array of side dishes and salads. Now, I specialise in Languedoc wines, but since we were in the Luberon, also a winemaking region, I thought it would be nice to suggest a couple of local wines throughout the week. It’s tricky to find light Luberon reds; like in many southern regions, the heat and dryness are a challenge for winemakers, and the wines are often high in alcohol and can lack freshness. For a BBQ, I usually go for lighter, fruitier wines that don’t overpower the grilled meats and are easy to drink. Here's what the ladies enjoyed for their first Camp Joy evening :

• Les Pampres Rosé (2024, IGP Pays d'Hérault) by Mas Laval A fresh and fruity rosé made from 100% Aramon, with notes of raspberry and stone fruit, lifted by a delicate floral touch.

• Château Thourame (2023, AOP Lubéron) by Cave de Lumières

  A lovely blend of Grenache and Syrah with jammy notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, hints of spice and pepper. Still a solid 14% ABV, but it went down beautifully, and the ladies loved getting a taste of the region from our very first evening!
  

  

  

  

Monday : Sipping through Ménerbes & Fresh Fish

After a first day exploring Ménerbes, apéro took place at the Maison du Vin et de la Truffe, an 18th-century building classified as a historic monument in the village. Carefully renovated, it now houses a boutique épicerie fine, a wine cellar, and a restaurant. We tasted an array of wines accompanied by some lovely bites to nibble on. The setting was beautiful, and their wine cellar boasts 170 wines, all from the Luberon.

After a good two hours of snacking on delicious, fancy finger food, Doug and Glen had prepared a divine dinner of salmon and pollock with Camargue rice which went perfectly with :

• Les Pampres Blanc (2024– IGP Pays d'Hérault) by Mas Laval

  Another lovely wine from Mas Laval, this time a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier. The wine opens with exotic aromas of passion fruit, freshly cut grass, and stone fruits like nectarine and peach, along with a subtle minerality. On the palate, it paired beautifully with the fish : the Viognier and Grenache Blanc bringing fullness and texture, without oak aging, while keeping a lovely vivacity, tension, and fruitiness.
  

• Rosé Tradition (2024 - AOP Luberon) by Château Val Joanis A lovely pale rosé with bright notes of red fruits and grapefruit. Fresh and vibrant, with just the right delicacy to pair beautifully with fish.
  

Tuesday : Kir Royal & Pastis Chicken

Three days in, all the ladies were bonding, laughing, and enjoying quality time together. The barriers were down, and it felt only fitting to offer a Kir Royal to make things even more bubbly. Kir Royal is a classic apéro and an all-time crowd-pleaser. The term Royal comes from the use of Crémant instead of still white wine. This classic Burgundian mix of Crémant de Bourgogne and crème de cassis made for the perfect sunset-and-chitchat drink! For dinner, we had Pastis Chicken, braised chicken with fennel and a hint of aniseed, served with all the usual yummy sides. To pair with it, I chose two single-varietal wines, one red and one white:

• Marsanne (2024 – IGP Saint Guilhem-le-Désert) by Mas d'Agamas A lovely aromatic white made from 100% Marsanne grapes. The plot where the vines grow is called Fréjulous, which means “cool/fresh” in the Occitan dialect, giving us a little hint of what to expect in the glass. Marsanne, the emblematic white grape of the northern Rhône Valley, is also the only white variety harvested at Mas d’Agamas! Expect lovely notes of ripe fruits like quince and peach, with touches of acacia. On the palate, there’s roundness and richness from lees aging, with a certain freshness, and the finish has a subtle aniseed note that paired perfectly with the Pastis chicken.
  

• Que du Grenache (2022 – IGP Saint- Guilhem-le-Désert) by Villa Dondona

  This is one of my go-to reds and will definitely become a Camp Joy classic, given how popular it is each time (I always make sure to bring extra bottles because they disappear quickly!). I’ve spoken about this wine many times, both in a full review and on my Instagram. Light, juicy, and 100% Grenache, it bursts with ripe berries and just the right amount of freshness!

  

  
  
  

Wednesday : Provençal Peach Bellinis & Mushroom Risotto

Wednesday called for Bellinis at apéro. It wasn’t the planned drink, but we had some lovely local peach nectar to use up, and plenty of bubbles, so why not!? For dinner, Doug and Glen treated us to a delicious and comforting mushroom risotto. You really can’t go wrong with such a dish! For the pairing, I chose a white and a specific style of rosé:

• Picpoul de Pinet (2024 – AOP Picpoul de Pinet ) by La Croix Gratiot

  One of my favourite grape varieties and appellations. It’s vibrant, citrussy, zesty, and just a little salty, it’s simply delicious. Typically, Picpoul is paired with oysters, but I thought the saltiness and minerality would make an interesting match with the umami from the mushrooms. The bottles only lasted 10 minutes.
  

• Rosé Tavel (2022 – AOP Tavel) by Vallongues d’Aqueria

  We had visited a winery that day, and many of the ladies asked me how rosé is made. I thought the timing was perfect, as I had planned to serve a specific style of rosé to illustrate the different types that exist. I offered a rosé de saignée from Tavel AOP, which showed a deeper color and bolder structure than your classic Provençal rosé. It’s a wine you can pair with more complex flavors and textures, and I thought it would be a nice in-between, a step between a pale rosé and a light red. If you’re curious to learn more about the different types of rosé, I have a blog article just for you right here!
  

  

  

  

Thursday : Last Toasts & Lavish Lamb

And just like that, we had come to our final evening at Camp Joy. After a week of love, laughter, self-exploration, and relaxation (not to mention an insane amount of food), it was time to raise a glass for the final toast. I chose a classic Vouvray bubble, refreshing, elegant, and the perfect way to celebrate the end of a magical week. Just like at Camp Joy Cotignac, we were treated to slow-roasted lamb and gratin dauphinois potatoes for dinner (one of my all-time favourite meals, may I say). Of course, when there’s lamb, one must serve red, a bold red with character and complexity, preferably with a some oak ageing to carry the gamey taste of the meat. I went for a Languedoc red (because I’m biased) and a Rhône Valley red, to showcase something from home and something from the Rhone Valley region.

• Cuvée Tradition (2020 – AOP Terrasses du Larzac) by Domaine de Brunet

  Domaine de Brunet is a safe bet when it comes to reds, lucky for them, as their appellation only allows them to produce reds! AOP Terrasses du Larzac is an appellation gaining attention for its rich, bold, aromatic, and fresh reds. The Cuvée Tradition is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre, offering ripe berries like blackberry and raspberry, hints of floral violet, and delicate notes of vanilla and mint, with an elegant and silky mouthfeel. I decanted this wine before serving for the optimal experience, it was simply divine with the lamb.
  

• Crozes-Hermitages (2022 – Crozes-Hermitage AOP ) by M.Chapoutier For the Rhône Valley option, I chose the 2023 Crozes-Hermitage by M. Chapoutier, a well-balanced red from one of the most respected names in the wine world. Made from 100% Syrah, it offers expressive fruit, subtle spice, and elegant structure. This wine paired wonderfully with the lamb while showcasing the distinct character of Northern Rhône terroir. (The Luberon, in the Southern Rhône, produces different styles dominated by Grenache, but I wanted to introduce this iconic winemaker to the group.)

Bisous bisous ...

Another beautiful and joyful week celebrating inner joy and sisterhood came to an end in Ménerbes. Once again, it was an honour to be part of the Camp Joy adventure, and I’m already looking forward to the future retreats planned for next year. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend reading my Behind the Pour article about Cotignac last June, you might even want to book yourself a room for next year (you won’t regret it!).

Cheers,

Ana xxxx

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At Wine by Ana, I love bringing the perfect wines to your events, retreats, and special gatherings, whether it’s a sunset apéro, a festive dinner, or a full-on wine experience in the South of France. My goal? To make every sip a little moment of joy and help you discover wines that spark conversation, laughter, and

connection.

Curious to find out more? Check out my Wine Experiences and Events page to explore what I do and how I can bring a little extra magic to your next event.