Latest lifestyle, events and parties in Saint Tropez.

What Makes The Best St Tropez Rosé?

July 19, 2017 by

Rosé wine is undoubtedly the tipple of choice for those on holiday in Saint Tropez, with every bar, restaurant, supermarket and wine cellar offering a huge choice of ‘pink’ wine, most of which comes from local vineyards.

Surrounding many of our luxury villas to rent in Saint Tropez are hectares upon hectares of vineyards producing nearly half of all rosé wine consumed in France. One such vineyard is Château Minuty, on the Route de la Berle near the picturesque village of Gassin, which has been producing Minuty Rosé for three generations.

St Tropez House speaks with these top St Tropez rosé producers to uncover the history of this extremely popular label.

Minuty- Vineyards South of France

Minuty Rosé Wine – Vineyards in the South of France

STH: When was rosé wine first produced in St Tropez?

CM: It was 26 centuries ago, when the Greeks founded a colony in Marseille that the first vines and wine-growing culture were introduced in Provence. The wines made in those days had a light colour, similar to rosés, because the maceration of juices with grape skins was either unknown or only practiced on a limited basis. Provence is therefore the oldest wine-growing region in France, and the first wines to be made were rosés.

STH: Why does St Tropez lend itself to making rosé wine?

CM: Provence’s climate, soils and grape varieties are all perfectly suited for rosé winemaking. Provence is France’s leading region, representing 40% of domestic production and 5.6% of worldwide production of rosé wines. It is also the only production area specialised in this type of product, as rosé wines represent 87% of production in Provence (9% red and 4% white). The entire winemakers’ work is focused on rosé wines production, meanwhile, in the other French regions of production (Bordeaux …), rosé wines are considered as byproducts of red wines.

Minuty Rose Wine - Bottles

Château Minuty Rosé Wine Cellar

STH: What’s the secret behind the success of St Tropez rosé?

CM: Rosé is more than just a passing trend. It has become an integral part of French society as consumer trends have changed and new life styles have emerged: meals that are less structured, the increasing popularity of ethnic cuisine from around the world, greater simplicity, new encounters, good times and instant gratification. When drinking rosé, the consumer discovers a different approach to wine – easier access, without all the constraints and traditional formalities.  It is a wine that symbolises greater freedom.

STH: Tell us more about Château Minuty

CM: Château Minuty is a family estate managed today by François and Jean-Etienne Matton, the third generation of the family. Today, Château Minuty is the foremost producer of Côtes de Provence Rosé wine. Its vineyards occupy 110 hectares comprising two sites: 75 ha in the villages of Gassin and Ramatuelle on the Saint-Tropez peninsula; and 35 ha in Vidauban in the Centre Var.

Château Minuty - Gassin, South of France

Château Minuty – Gassin, South of France

STH: Which are the most popular Minuty rosé wines?

CM: Our latest creation is Château Minuty 281 which we started for the Cannes Film Festival in May 2015. This wine is made with a single variety of Grenache grape especially adapted to our soil and our climate. The production is limited to 15,000 bottles per year and this wine was reserved for the French Riviera this year and will be proposed to foreign countries next year with small allocations per country.

Château Minuty OR was created in 2009. It is made with the best lands of Grenache from the Château (95% of Grenache in the blend) and it is representative of what could be the Grenache expression on our estate. Depending on the harvest, the yearly production is more or less of 250,000 bottles. This wine is our flagship all around the world and should be reserved for the best valuable places such as Michelin-starred restaurants, high level beach clubs etc.

M de MINUTY is made with100 % purchased grapes and is our best seller all around the world. M de MINUTY rosé is exactly what you expect of a Provence rosé wine: it is light coloured, fresh, fruity and easy to drink. The yearly production is 2 million of bottles.

Minuty - Team Pain Vin

Château Minuty – Team Pain Vin

Discover Château Minuty for yourself and book on to the wine tasting course at Château Minuty in Gassin.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Wine & Dine

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez: A Fantastic Week of Sailing

October 10, 2016 by

 Les Voiles de St Tropez

The world famous regatta Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez has just drawn to a close and once again it offered a thrilling spectacle for visitors. Some of them rented a luxorious villa located near the coast. The weeklong event took place between 24th September and the 2nd October. Originally called La Nioularge, 2016 marked Les Voiles’ 18th edition, which signifies the end of the sailing season and brings together a dazzling collection of yachts. This event is renowned for its unrivalled range of classic and modern yachts.

The regatta has three dedicated race zones, Nioulargue for the Modern yachts, Pampelonne for the Wallys and the bay of St Tropez for the 15m JIs. The sunny autumn days provided the perfect setting in the Gulf of St Tropez where the boats created stunning silhouettes against the glistening waters. The yachts competed for the Rolex Trophy and this year it was awarded to the winner of the ‘Grands Tradition’ class, MOONBEAM IV. Partners of the prestigious event include BMW, Rolex and Jetfly. The modern yachts kicked off the races on Monday, 26th September. The carbon-rigged Super-Maxis were particularly impressive and contrasted against the four unique gaff riggers that were invited to race off Portalet once again. This amazing blend of styles really demonstrates why Les Voiles is so highly regarded and in a class of its own. Michael Slade’s LEOPARD and the George David’s RAMBLER were the real standouts at the outset.

The Wallys Les Voiles welcomed 16 of the Monegasque brand, Wally, back to compete. The large yachts completed an extremely technical 24-mile coastal course offshore of Pampelonne, which you could spectate from balcony of a rented St. Tropez Villa. Despite an original breeze of around twelve to fourteen knots, the wind began to drop away later and meant the more powerful boats, like the enormous BETTER PLACE, had less of a breeze to boost their sails. However, the Centos, GALATEIA and MAGIC CARPET CUBED ultimately managed to protect their rankings by pushing through more easily than the heavier 80 footers. In recognition of their high-tech attributes, BMW chose to celebrate the Wallys by awarding its own BMW Trophy to the best Wally at the end of the week’s racing – OPEN SEASON.

The Traditional Yachts

The classic yachts usually compete on Tuesday onwards, but four 15m JIs were allowed to start a day earlier this year. It’s the final act in their annual championship and since only four out of the original nineteen remain fit to race today, the Fife designs wanted to compete in as many races as possible. MARISKA, TUIGA, HISPANIA and THE LADY ANNE each had their individual strengths and challenges. According to the new Class rules, each regatta now counts Rent. MARISKA, the prevailing leader of the annual 15m JI at the beginning of the regatta had to battle hard to hold onto its narrow lead over main rival, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s flagship, TUIGA. However, THE LADY ANNE was on course for a dramatic comeback. MARISKA’s Sébastien Audigane stated, “The Lady Anne sailed a blinder with some great starts. We managed to stay in the game, but we’re going to have to watch out for the English now in the overall ranking…” MARISKA managed to hold on for the win.

The Modern Craft 180 Modern yachts sailed around a 19-mile triangular course off Nioulargue. Meanwhile, the smaller IRC C, D and E boats competed over a 14-mile course, with the finish decided at the Portalet Tower. Conditions were bracing and led to some intense competition at the passage marks, but despite their measurement handicap, the big maxis hardly flinched and quickly finished, thus boosting their overall rankings. The respective subcategories within the modern category ended thus: IRC A Group 1st – LEOPARD (Mini Maxi) IRC B Group 1st – MUSIC (Baltic 50) IRC C Group (Edmond de Rothschild Trophy) 1st – TEAM VISION MUSIC (TP52) IRC D Group 1st – TEAM CHALETS (A40) IRC E Group 1st – ABSOLUTELY (M 36) Safety and Prize-Giving.
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2016 went as smoothly and safely as previous editions with the exceptional surveillance plan put in place by organisers. The different race zones for the yachts are identified and clearly marked out by inflatable buoys, with at least 14 ribs monitoring the three race rounds. The prize giving took place on Sunday 2nd October.

Filed Under: Lifestyle

Club 55: Saint Tropez’s Original Beach Club

February 26, 2016 by

Saint Tropez’s Pampelonne Beach is one of the most photographed stretches of sand in Europe, if not the world, with one section in particular getting more footage than most: Club 55.

Of the string of exclusive private beach clubs dotted on the three-mile long beach, the understated yet undeniably cool Club 55 is by far the most sought-after address along this stylish stretch of coastline.

Indeed, barely a day goes by in the height of the summer without some Hollywood star, supermodel or world leader being snapped as they arrive at the famous beach club, which inevitably comes with its own jetty allowing guests direct access from their superyachts moored in the bay.

Club 55 Saint Tropez’s Original Beach Club 1

Amongst last summer’s celebrity diners at the number one lunch spot near Boulevard Patch were regulars Sir Elton John and his family, comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and his wife Isla Fisher and international artist Bono, who lives not a million miles away from Saint Tropez in Eze-sur-Mer.

In fact, tables covered by the restaurant’s signatory blue and white cloths are such a premium that reservations for lunch must be made well in advance over the summer months, as do bookings for the white sunbeds which adorn the club’s private beach under casually hung white sails.

The whole look is one of shabby chic, with a simple piece of drift wood with the words Club 55 painted on serving as the welcome sign to the restaurant.

Simple too is the menu at Club 55, with freshly caught fish, grilled steaks and huge salads made up of vegetables from the owners’ garden being amongst the favourites on the single page menu.

Prices at the restaurant are fairly standard for Saint Tropez but with views, ambiance and service to ensure memories that last a life time, there are rarely any complaints.

One of the first famous guests to fall in love with Club 55 was a young Brigitte Bardot, who came to Saint Tropez to film the classic movie And God Created Woman in the summer of 1954. Legend has it that Bardot and her then husband Roger Vadim, the film’s director, used to come to the restaurant every day for lunch.

Then just a simple wooden shack on the beach, the restaurant was adopted as a canteen for all those on the set of And God Created Woman, and the rest, they say, is history…

For reservations contact +33 (0)4 94 55 55 55 or visit the website club55.fr

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , ,

Top 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Saint-Tropez

February 5, 2016 by

Saint Tropez is heaven for foodies, with a huge array of restaurants covering almost every taste and budget within its midst.

But sometimes, even those who are regular visitors to this unique corner of the South of France need some inspiration into which restaurant to choose for a special evening out.

There are numerous recommendations available online, but one which caught the eye of the team here at St Tropez House was a ‘must-try’ list by culturetrip.com, a global platform showcasing the best art, culture, food and travel for every country in the world.

Top 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Saint-Tropez 1

Its’ top 10 restaurants for the best views, greatest company and finest dining experience is as follows:

  1. Table du Marché, 11 Rue des Commerçants +33 494 97 91 91

Described by the site as a ‘contemporary bistro’, the restaurant owned by celebrity chef Christophe Leroy is said to be hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. Menus start at €19.50 for two courses.

  1. Hôtel de la Ponche, 5 Rue des Remparts +33 494 97 09 29

The place to come for “fish soup, red mullet, lobster, cod … all honored in true Provençal fashion”. Not only is the food legendary, the restaurant is also seeped in history having welcomed many famous faces over the years such as Brigitte Bardot, Francois Sagan and Pablo Picasso.

  1. La Vague d’Or, La Résidence de la Pinède, Plage de Bouillabaisse +33 494 55 91 00

Arguably the finest restaurant in Saint Tropez which features in everyone’s top 10. The chef is three Michelin-star wizard Arnaud Doncele and the food, service and scenery is quite literally out of this world.

  1. Club 55, 43 Boulevard Patch, 83350 Ramatuelle, + 33 494 55 55 55

Another very famous restaurant which is located on the golden sands of Pampelonne Beach, approximately a ten minute drive from the centre of Saint Tropez.  It’s a favourite haunt for the jet set, and a wonderful place to while away the hours over a bottle of Rosé and plate of grilled fish on a summer’s day.

  1. L’Auberge des Maures, 4, Rue du Docteur Boutin, +33 494 97 01 50

This restaurant is one of the few that is open all year round, and is a wonderful place is retreat to on a winter’s evening for a delicious meal in front of an open fire. Only open for dinner, there is a set menu of three courses for €49.

  1. Sénéquier, Place aux Herbes, +33 494 97 00 90

An institution in Saint Tropez, this cafe with red branding has been a major part of port life since it opened in 1887. Patisseries are served all day, although the website does warn that visitors should not ‘expect too much change from a 50 note for coffee and cake for two’.

  1. Le Sporting, 42 Place des Lices, +33 494 970 065

Set in Place des Lices, the heart and soul of Saint Tropez, this authentic brasserie serves some great classics for reasonable prices, and is the perfect place from where to watch the world go round.

  1. Brasserie des Arts, 5 Place des Lices, +33 494 40 27 37

Situated in the same central square is this equally informal brasserie, which, according to the website, attracts a ‘hip and arty crowd’. A great place for brunch when you have been up all night.

  1. Rivea, Byblos Saint-Tropez, 27 avenue Foch, +33 4 94 56 68 20

Located within one of Saint Tropez’s most luxurious hotels, Byblos, Rivea offers an “extravagant fine dining” experience under the instruction of internationally renowned chef, Alain Ducasse.

  1. Le Kikouiou, Route de Bonne Terrasse, Ramatuelle, +33 494 79 83 94

Last but by no means least on the list is this hidden gem with views over the vineyards near Pampelonne Beach. The website describes it as “a welcome step back from the beach club bling” where you can find great salads, pizzas and grilled fish.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Wine & Dine Tagged With: ,

Saint Tropez Beaches: What to look out for in 2016

January 29, 2016 by

Days lounging around on a white sandy beach may seem a long way away right now, but we find the months pass with alarming speed these days.

So we thought we would offer you a flicker of light at the end of this recurring ‘tunnel’, otherwise known as winter, and look ahead at some of the best beach clubs due to open in Saint Tropez this year.

Saint Tropez is famous for its highly exclusive and luxurious beach clubs, with dozens lining the three mile long white sandy Pampelonne Beach. The first, the legendary Tahiti Beach Club, opened in 1946, with arguably the most sought–after establishment, Club 55, setting up a short distance away on the same stretch of sand some nine years later – in 1955.

Saint Tropez Beaches What to look out for in 2016 (2)

It is virtually impossible to pick out our favourites, as they all offer an excellent service and share the same incredibly beautiful backdrop, but if we had to choose five, they would probably be:

  • Relative newcomer Riva Plage opened its doors to customers at the beginning of the last year. Situated along the Patch stretch of Pampelonne Beach close to some of our premier properties for sale and rent, it is a welcome addition to the more established clubs along this stretch of coast. For reservations call +33 (0) 4 94 79 96 95.
  • Another new restaurant which we expect to be making waves again this summer is Bagatelle, which opened in 2014 close to Route d’Epi. Bagatelle is owned by Aymeric Clemente and Remi Laba, a dynamic duo who also have successful restaurants in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, St Barths and Sao Paolo. bistrotbagatelle.com
  • We love the cool vibe and great tunes you can enjoy at Moorea, which boasts one of the most famous bars on the beach, Claudy’s Bar. The cocktails here are particularly good, as are the massages which you can enjoy in cabins on the beach. mooreaplage.fr
  • For a really fun afternoon on the beach, we recommend you head to Nikki Beach which belongs to the same family as Nikki Beach in Miami and St Barths. Here you can party to your heart’s content around the pool at this popular club set back from the beach by a few hundred metres. Nikki Beach will open this year for Easter, on March 27th. nikkibeach.com/sttropez

We mentioned Club 55 earlier, but we think this world-famous club deserves a few more lines. Hidden behind a discrete garden in the middle of Pampelonne beach, Club 55 is the favoured Saint Tropez restaurant of world politicians, Hollywood stars and supermodels. Here you will find delicious grilled fish, simple salads and bags of charm and ambience.  www.club55.fr

Filed Under: Articles, Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , ,

Christmas 2015 Countdown

December 22, 2015 by

With exactly 12 days until Christmas, there is plenty to keep families in Saint Tropez busy and feeling festive in the run up to possibly our favourite time of year in the South of France.
If you are staying in a luxury villa in Saint Tropez this December or indeed are lucky enough to live here all year long, why not check the St Tropez House countdown to Christmas below:

Day 12: Check out the Christmas Theatre show at the Cinema La Renaissance where a performance of Les Deux Timides (the Two Shy People) will start at 5pm with music from ABBA.
Day 11: Make sure you are padded up well and try your hand at ice skating on the ‘Pop-up’ ice rink in the Place des Lices. Perhaps pick a day when the kids are still at school for ultimate safety.
Day 10: Visit the Marche de Noel in Place des Lices, where you will find piping hot mulled wine, Christmas present ideas and general merriment.
Day 9: For the last Wednesday of term time, a classic Disney film will be showing at the Cinema La Renaissance; Mulan – as part of the Disney Festival in Saint Tropez.
Day 8: A spot of Christmas shopping in the town centre. There are some fantastic boutiques all within walking distance and a wide range of choice so you are sure to find something for all the family.
Day 7: Time for another theatre production, this time a play called ‘Sous Les Sapins des Emmerdes’ at 9pm, again in the Cinema La Renaissance.
Day 6: The first day of the Christmas holidays for most children in Saint Tropez, so things could get a little busy in town. It’s also the first day of the Salon du Chocolat et des Gourmandises at the Salle Jean Despas. The exhibition is on until December 21st, from 10am to 7pm.
Day 5: Really get into the Christmas spirit with festive music in La Pastorale at the Cinema la Renaissance at 3pm.
Day 4: More Disney fun at the Cinema La Renaissance at 4pm, this time Beauty and the Beast.
Day 3: Today yet another festival begins in Saint Tropez. The Festival Declarations d’Humours will run from 22 to 23 December in Cinema La Renaissance.
Day 2: Take the family on a tour of Saint Tropez on the mini Christmas train.
Day 1: Father Christmas arrives by boat at the Quai Suffren — and Christmas begins!

Filed Under: Articles, Lifestyle

24 hours in Saint Tropez

July 28, 2015 by

DSC_0097

The sun is shining, the sky is a deep turquoise blue and you’re heading for arguably the coolest resort in the south of France: Saint Tropez!

This beautiful seaside has over the years become one of the most fashionable places on earth in which to spend the summer months, but if you only have 24 hours there, what should you do?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , ,

Top 5 Luxury Car Rentals in St Tropez

July 10, 2015 by

mclaren 650s Bentley GTC Jaguar F Type S Convertible Ferrari

Fast cars. Luxury villas. Incredible beach clubs. This is what the French Riviera is all about. Beautiful roads with stunning views are another major draw to the area, ensuring that driving is both enjoyable and relatively stress free. We have selected five of the best car rentals you can enjoy for the duration of your stay in St Tropez. These luxury cars can be delivered to the door of your villa, or you can be met with your car as soon as you have left the airport.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , ,

International Polo Cup Saint-Tropez 2015

July 9, 2015 by

polo 1

From the 2nd to the 12th of July 2015 the International Polo Cup, one of the most prestigious tournaments of the Polo Club in St Tropez, takes place. The tournament is registered in the international calendar of the World Polo Tour and, thus, allows players to score points for the world ranking of the sport.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Lifestyle, Outdoor Tagged With:

Stars in Saint Tropez This Summer

July 3, 2015 by
star-inst-tropez-lady-gaga

Image Attribution: CC 3.0, L-l-CLK-l-l

Local and international newspapers have already given plenty of column inches to celebrities visiting Saint Tropez this year, with particular coverage being given to the arrival of a bare chested Cristiano Ronaldo in town.

The Real Madrid star came to Saint Tropez at the beginning of the month where he was spotted relieving himself behind a parked car after coming out of Le Quai nightclub.

The Portuguese striker was also spotted hanging out on a luxury yacht belonging to Topshop boss Sir Philip Green during his South of France jaunt, which followed a sejour in Monaco for the famous grand prix.

The British businessman is also a huge fan of Saint Tropez and is frequently photographed at various hot spots such as Club 55, a prestigious hangout close to our selection of waterfront properties near Pampelonne Beach, with his equally famous friends.

But who else can you expect to rub shoulders with this summer in Saint Tropez while you holiday in one of the most famous resorts in the world? Here are some celebrities to look out for:

  • Kate Moss

British model Kate Moss is a regular visitor to Saint Tropez with her husband, The Kills musician Jamie Hince, and daughter Lila Grace.

  • Sir Elton John

With a house just one and a half hours drive away in Nice, it’s an easy trip to Saint Tropez for Sir Elton John, his partner David Furnish and their two young sons Zachary and Elijah.

  • Beyonce + Jay Z

American pop artist Beyonce and her boyfriend Jay-Z are firm fans of Saint Tropez, with Jay-Z even featuring the resort in one of his songs.

  • Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has also been known to cross the ocean to come and holiday in Saint Tropez, where she was spotted last year hanging out on a luxury yacht off Pampelonne Beach!

  • Leonardo DiCaprio

Last year Leonardo DiCaprio headed straight to Saint Tropez after the Cannes Film festival in May but this year he is jet to have been spotted all those in one of our luxury villas in Saint Tropez should keep their eyes peeled.

  • Johnny Depp

Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp has also been a regular visitor to Saint Tropez but all this might change now that he has decided to put the property he owned nearby with former partner Vanessa Paradis on the market for a staggering €23 million. The house in Plan de la Tour, a short drive from Saint Tropez, was put on the market this month.

  • Geri Halliwell

Geri Halliwell from Spice Girl fame is often seen holidaying in the upmarket resort although she is not thought to have made it this far west during her last visit to the South of France. Gerri, now known as Mrs Horner, was pictured on the Cote d’Azur earlier this month after tying the knot with Red Bull manager Christian Horner.

For any information about properties to rent in Saint Tropez over the summer, please go to the website here.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
Next Page »