We’ve officially fallen for the charm of Sanary-sur-Mer with its colorful pastel façades, charming old port, and a timeless blend of Provençal architecture and seaside vibrance that feels straight out of a postcard.
Wednesday mornings in this town mean one thing: the dockside market stretching along the port in a swirl of color, scents, and irresistible treats. Local cheeses, fresh produce, honey, warm pastries, and bread – it’s a feast for the senses, and we loved sampling everything. And it wasn’t just food – clothing, shoes, jewelry, even mattresses were on offer!
Fueled by croissants, we grabbed bikes and pedaled the coastal route to Bandol, a stunning ride with sea views. The ride from Bandol up to the wineries proved to be quite the adventure! Electric bikes helped with the ascent, but let’s just say the road was shared with cars, motorbikes, trucks, and one particularly aggressive dump truck that thought we were Tour de France contenders. Slightly terrifying, definitely unforgettable.
First stop: Domaine Ray-Jane, where we learned how the same grape can produce wildly different wines depending on the soil. Three wines. Three soils. Three totally distinct flavors. Our tastebuds were educated.
Lunch came courtesy of a cute little café: fresh baguette sandwiches that were oooh so tasty.
Next up, Domaine des Hautes, where we met Clara, the lovely owner who shared her family’s history and passion for winemaking. The wines made at this family vineyard were delightful. We’d highly recommend it!!!
Following a leisurely stroll through Bandol, we headed back along the coastal road to Sanary, stopping several times just to soak in those gorgeous coastal views.
That night aboard Kora, we opened our bottles from Domaine des Hautes and raised a glass to Clara. An absolutely perfect day!
