The wine-led hotel estate in Provence reopens after an architectural restoration. We take a look inside.
Under the honeyed light of the Luberon, Domaine de Fontenille rises from the landscape with elegant authority. This 19th-century bastide anchors a compelling wine-led hotel estate in Provence, balancing rural authenticity with a distinctly contemporary sensibility.
A short drive from Aix-en-Provence, on the edge of the discreet village of Lauris, the Domaine unfolds across 35 hectares of organic vineyards. Olive groves, cherry trees, and vines ripple across the terrain, framed by the Luberon mountains and the quietly meandering Durance River. The journey to the estate feels symbolic: lush greenery takes hold, birdsong replaces the traffic’s hum, and time begins to stretch. The reward is immediate; shoulders drop, breathing slows, and the outside world recedes with remarkable ease.
For owners Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher, the project marked a deliberate shift in life’s priorities. Stepping away from Parisian intensity, the pair returned to their agricultural roots, seeking a sanctuary where days follow the seasons rather than schedules. Wine lay at the heart of their vision, yet hospitality emerged as its natural extension—a destination devoted to rest, reconnection with terroir, and understated pleasure.
The architectural restoration, led by château specialist Alexandre Lafourcade, preserved the bastide’s classical elegance while integrating a state-of-the-art winery. Interior decoration remained in the owners’ hands, resulting in spaces shaped by instinct rather than formula. The effect feels intimate and considered, an organic evolution of a historic home.
Arrival sets a restorative tone. Cypress-lined avenues guide guests through a park rich with laurel, lavender, and ancient rose bushes. Hydrangeas and irises punctuate sweeping lawns leading toward the vineyards and the tiled rooftops of Lauris. In front of the bastide, a reflective pond shaded by plane and cedar trees invites stillness. a moment to pause, exhale, and observe.
Inside, four interconnected salons reveal a layered, restrained aesthetic. Floral wallpapers and white walls introduce softness, paired with light-toned furniture from Caravane Paris and bespoke wooden pieces by Margaux Keller. Oak-and-straw seating, ceramics, and poetic lighting complete an atmosphere designed for lingering conversations and quiet afternoons.
The 25 rooms and suites extend this sense of calm. Spacious, light-filled, and opening onto the park, they favor natural materials: solid wood, parquet floors, linen, and stone. Six newer rooms within the bastide add subtle contemporary accents of glass and metal, offering a modern counterpoint firmly rooted in Provençal restraint.
On the sun-drenched southern terraces, La Cuisine d’Amélie expresses the estate’s philosophy. Produce arrives directly from the Domaine’s permaculture garden, supported by a close circle of local artisans. Menus evolve with the morning’s harvest; simplicity reigns, yet the flavors are generous, honest, and quietly memorable.
The true soul of Fontenille, however, is found within its soil and winemaking. Under the direction of oenologist Xavier Balespouey, the estate’s organic viticulture yields wines of remarkable precision. Guests are invited to go beyond the glass, immersing themselves in the tactile reality of the harvest. In the golden months of September and October, one might pull on rubber boots to join the vendange, plucking grapes alongside the pickers to witness the birth of a vintage.
As the seasons shift, the experience becomes one of leisure and learning. Long afternoons are best spent with a gourmet hamper for a picnic among the vines or in the park, where the estate’s crisp Rosé or vibrant Rolle whites, or fruity Grenache or Syrah are served in the very environment where they were conceived. For those seeking deeper insight, blending workshops in the cellar offer a rare opportunity to understand the alchemy of the grapes.
Beyond the cellar, Fontenille is never far from soothing activities. Whether exploring the Luberon by bicycle, paddling along the Durance, or taking a quiet vineyard walk at dusk, every experience encourages a disconnection from urgency.
Domaine de Fontenille succeeds in offering something increasingly rare: a true retreat with high gastronomic class within easy reach of the Riviera. It is a destination where relaxation arrives naturally, stress dissolves, and the simple act of slowing down itself becomes the ultimate luxury.
