Valley D'Argon Wine Tour (with Lunch) - Wine Tasting/Lunch/Entrance

Marrakech,

Just 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of the bustle of Essaouira's iconic medina, head into the surrounding countryside to the French-owned Val d'Argan. Owned and developed by Charles Melia, a Frenchman with Algerian ancestry dating back to the 1800s, the Val d'Argan's rich and fertile soil has been producing a range of organic Clairette grapes since the 1940’s. Sprawling and verdant, the vineyard is picturesque: grape vines growing in neat rows among bright blooming rose bushes, wild green fields as far as the eye can see, and the healthiest and happiest caramel-colored horses. Enjoy a walking tour of the vineyard and the cellars of this unique, organic winery. Afterward head upstairs to the Val d'Argan restaurant. Scoring full marks for the venue, the restaurant is simple and set high in a covered veranda entirely lined by Moorish-style windows looking out onto the acres of land with a cozy ensemble of tables. In the open kitchen at the far end of the room, the domain's ladies create a little feast of fresh cooked meats, vegetables, and fruits, and prepare the most delicious selection of olives and more, which all come fresh from the garden. The result is an eye-popping spread of fresh salads, sauces and purées, followed by tender lamb, chicken, beef or fish skewers, all accompanied by rice, potatoes and an array of vegetables and all that washed down with some of the property's gorgeous mellow wines. A perfect afternoon indulging in some of the region's very best produce, the Val d'Argan Wine Tour is highly recommended.