Gastronomy & wine: the must-have local pairings for your B&B stay
A stay in a gîte in the heart of the vineyards also means the pleasure of "real" eating. Here, tables are often laid on the terrace, on the way back from the market, with an open bottle of at just the right moment. To enhance your meals, here are some Languedoc food & wine pairings easy to reproduce with Domaine Vellas vintages and local produce.
✔️ Terroir & simplicity - ✔️ Easy-to-follow tips - ✔️ Ideal for B&B stays
Our "must-have" deals (especially for B&B stays)
🔥 Grilled meats & reds with character (Pic Saint-Loup style)
Lamb chops, kebabs, grilled vegetables, short juices: the embers call for a structured, fruity red, with a hint of spice.
- Herbs de Provence + olive oil + pepper
- B&B tip: serve the wine 15 minutes before serving (neither too hot nor too cold).
- Bonus: ratatouille or candied peppers = a perfect "Southern" match
🐟 Grilled fish & fresh white/mineral
Sea bream, sea bass, gambas, lemon, fennel: choose a straight, bright white, that cleanses the fat and respects the iodine.
- Local speciality: olive oil + lemon + fleur de sel
- B&B tip: chill the white, then let it open for 5 minutes in a glass.
- Alternative: octopus salad / light anchovy paste / sweet tapenade
🧀 Cheese & gourmet red (Saint-Chinian style)
Tommes, ewe's milk, cheeses with character: a supple, fruity, "gourmand" red works very well, especially if the cheese is mature.
- Local speciality: ewe's milk + fig jam or local honey
- B&B tip: remove the cheese 20-30 min before serving.
- Also very good: cold cuts, olives, farmhouse bread
The ideal "terroir" basket to put together at the market
When staying in a B&B, happiness often comes down to a simple list. This is a perfect base for 2-4 people, but you can adapt it to suit your needs:
- Sun vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, peppers)
- Olive oil, herbs (thyme, rosemary), garlic
- Local cheeses (ewe's milk, tomme) + farmhouse bread
- Olives, tapenade, anchovy paste
- Fish or grilled meats (depending on the day)
- Seasonal fruit (grapes, figs, peaches, etc.)
The perfect time to savour (and enjoy) the place
The best match isn't just on the plate: it's in the moment. A late afternoon on a terrace, a sunset over the vines, a simple meal... That's when terroir comes into its own.
Ready for a gourmet stay at Domaine Vellas?
Discover our charming gîtes and plan your getaway between Languedoc wines, local markets and the art of living.
✔️ Authentic local produce - ✔️ Experience at your own pace - ✔️ Self-catering accommodation
FAQ - Food and wine pairing
Do you have to be a connoisseur to appreciate the matches?
No: start with your tastes. The idea is to match a simple, local cuisine with a coherent wine (red for grilled, white for iodized, soft red for cheeses). Pleasure comes first.
How to serve wine at a B&B?
Simple rule: cool white (without being icy), slightly chilled red if necessary. And above all: open 10-15 minutes beforehand to let the wine breathe.
And for a "terroir" aperitif?
Olives, tapenade, cheeses, cold meats, crunchy vegetables + a chilled wine: the perfect combo for an evening on the terrace.