Cheers to Suze-la-Rousse

Rhone Valley wines

Located in the southern Drôme, the Université du Vin de Suze-la-Rousse has been active on the business tourism market since 1978.

It offers two spaces : the château, which has a conference room with capacity for 100 people plus three rooms offering space for 20-25 people each, and the Espace Médicis which has three rooms.

Companies choosing the venue for their seminars can combine work with the chance to learn more about wines. Situated right in the middle of the Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards, the Université du Vin de Suze-la-Rousse takes more than 200 students a year and about 2000 people for in-house training.

Alongside the training, it has been active on the business tourism market since 1978 offering conference and incentive organisers the choice of two venues.

The first is within the château, consisting of one conference room with capacity for 100 people, three rooms for between 20-25 people, a 50-cover dining room and the arms room which is mostly used for special functions and which offers space for about 100 people.

The second venue, known as the Espace Médicis, was created in 1990 within the walls of the château's old stable block. It offers three rooms, with the flexibility to set them up to take 60 people. There are also two other rooms in the Espace Médicis reserved for wine tastings and sensory investigations as well as the château's old chapel which is also used by groups of 15 people for wine tastings.

Making the most of its stunning location and easy access via the A7 and TGV stations at Valence and Avignon, the Université du Vin is especially committed to the business tourism market, and its wine-themed activities are very popular with clients.

"We offer activities centred around wine for every event and often companies will choose us especially for that," explains Jacques Avril, who is responsible for incoming groups and for organising the range of activities. "We offer various options starting with a post-meeting option lasting for three hours after a day's work. This includes an introductory tasting within the tasting rooms involving wines and tutors from the Université. For groups of between 8 and 30 people, this option costs820 € (exclusive of VAT) for an explanation in English. The second option, based on the major wines of the Côtes-du-Rhône costs 925 € (exclusive of VAT) in English, for a three hour tasting.

Lastly we also have the day's orientation coursesfocusing on the great French wines, which lasts for 7 hours from 9 am to 5.30 pm plus a lunch break. This costs 1680 € (exclusive of VAT) in English". All these costs exclude the conference room hire which is invoiced at 400 € (exclusive of VAT). The Université du Vin uses local caterers for all its meal requirements, and whilst accommodation is not available on site, there are about 100 rooms to be had in a 9 km radius including 60 in 3-star and 4-star properties such as the Pourcel brothers' Villa Augusta, the Château de Rochegude and l'Esplan. "Our facilities are best for small conferences involving 50-60 people," explains Jacques Avril. "Most of our business comes from sales meetings, often within the scientific and medical sectors. We often have requests for product launches, where clients also offer wine tastings".

Two thirds of the business comes from the Rhône-Alpes and PACA regions.

Practical

The Université du Vin, in Suze-la-Rousse (Drôme)

Tel. : 00 33 4 75 97 21 31

universite-du-vin.com

château@universite-du-vin.com

Getting around in Rhône-Alpes

the University of Wine and the castle of Suze

Seminars Oenology

Suze la Rousse University, the Science of wine for everyone

Wine has its University, its students, its trainees and its diplomas. In the heart of the vineyards of the Cotes du Rhône, one learns about the vine and the wine, its history and its culture. And it is open to everyone! Professionals, for short or long courses, and amateurs, who come to learn wine tasting during a week end.
The idea came up one day in 1978. All the ingredients were present. A beautiful castle, classified Historical building, in the heart of the vineyards of the Cotes du Rhône, and professionals who had a science, and a passion to pass on but also lots of things they have to learn themselves. Because wine men know it well: all those, who believe they know everything, in fact know nothing at all and everything remains to be learned. Wine is, above all, a school of modesty.

Since then, the University of Wine has considerably developed. More than two hundred students and two thousand people, in permanent training, come there every year and they have an extraordinary working tool.

A Documentation Centre with a large library and files available, directly on the Internet site, a specialized bookshop, a Congress Centre, seminars and receptions, an Oeno-agronomic Development and Research centre, which considers the quality of all the wines of the world, the Vine Garden, located at the foot of the castle which cultivates the seventy main types of vines of the great wine countries. And finally, a Certified Tasting Centre where the examinations and obligatory controls are held before a wine can get the famous "AOC" label (Appellation d'Origine Controllée). The tasting amphitheatre comprises thirty-six evaluation stations.

The University of Wine delivers diplomas, in partnership with other universities, and also ensures a permanent formation for professionals with training courses of short duration. But also training courses during the weekend, for the very many amateur oenophiles, who come there for pleasure while learning, in Suze la Rousse, the art of tasting.
Practical
Université du Vin, at Suze la Rousse (Drôme)
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 75 97 21 34

Week-end Initiation to Wine Tasting is organized for amateurs from September 30th. Over 2 days, 335 euros with Sunday lunch, at Château de Rochegude (Relais Châteaux).

Saturday Wine Sensation: from October 7th: 155 euros per person or 300 euros for two including the visit of the vineyard of Châteauneuf du Pape and a "wine-growers" lunch at the village.
www.universite-du-vin.com/

And to know even more about the region
Tourist Office of Suze la Rousse
http://www.otsuzelarousse.com/