Provence

Some people say it served Peter Mayle right when a fan tracked him down in Provence and walked into his sitting room uninvited. The English writer's books -- "A Year in Provence" (1991), "Toujours Provence" (1992), "Encore Provence" (2000) and "Provence A-Z" (2006) -- turned the village of Ménerbes and the beguiling Luberon Mountain region around it into tourist central, complete with crowds and souvenir shops. For a while Mayle's Ménerbes must have seemed almost as overrun as the Italian hill town of Cortona, visited by hordes since it served as the setting for bestselling author Frances Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun" (1997)

After centuries, sleepy Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhone is waking up and changes are afoot at one the appellation's premier estates.  First there was the Famille Perrin iPad app. Now, the family has a new joint winemaking project with actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. According to a story on the British wine magazine Decanter 's site, the Perrin family of the renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Château de Beaucastel and the Central Coast property Tablas Creek , will be making the wine at the Hollywood stars' Provence estate, Château Miraval , in Correns, France.

A cycling tour through Provence doesn't have to be all about the bike. France-based Cyclomundo offers a self-guided bicycling trip through the southern French countryside that's good for families with children or folks who want to travel at their own pace. The eight-day Provence With Youngsters itinerary starts in Avignon and winds down quiet roads to Graveson, Fontvieille, Les Baux de Provence and other stops before arriving in Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Roman ruins.

Our travel group took a wonderful trip to the French Riviera in September. The best thing about the trip were the guides: Jean Bardot, of the American University of Paris, and wine and food expert Patrick Bulteau. They are leading a trip to Provence from May 25-June 7 that will combine the history and spectacular scenery of Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Roman ruins and Van Gogh's art in Arles with wine tasting in the Rhône Valley. For more information, go to http://www.travelswithJeanandPatrick.com or call (775)

My wife and I have just returned from a glorious trip to France, including a number of days in the Provence area. Those days were made very enjoyable because of the article Judy Fayard wrote in Traveling in Style on the Alpilles region ("Provence in Dark and Light," March 7). We followed her excellent recommendations on hotels, opting for L'Oustau de Baumaniere in Les Baux-de-Provence, wonderful restaurants in Fontvieille, St. Remy and Arles, and benefited from her descriptions of the various areas we visited.

Most Americans associate Mardi Gras festivities with New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, not with Nice, France . But the city in the Provence region in southern France puts on quite a Mardi  Gras show. And nearby communities hold other festivals around that time too: Nice (Feb. 18 through March 8): The exuberance of this Mardi Gras celebration will begin with the King of the Mediterranean’s lavish entrance -- accompanied this year by a queen -- to applause and rejoicing.

Tuscany seems to be every American's dream destination these days. The very word "Tuscany" has become a magical incantation, an evocation of all that is natural and beautiful and comforting and accessible in our modern, turbulent world. But before Tuscany, there was Provence. Before Frances Mayes and "Under the Tuscan Sun," there was Peter Mayle and "A Year in Provence."

Twenty-five years ago, when we first discovered Venasque, doves were nesting and cooing in the blackened ruins of some medieval buildings. The only epicerie in the village had no refrigeration and almost no light. Instead, a cool marble counter top kept tasty foods--earthy French ham, brie cheeses and local olives--from perishing, while the darkness aided this process by keeping out the hot sun of Provence.

Re your review of "Gardens in Provence" (July 19), in which Elaine Kendall praises "the delightful and the aesthetic so typical of Southwestern France": Has somebody moved Provence since I was there in 1989? LEETHA RENWICK, SAN PEDRO

After centuries, sleepy Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhone is waking up and changes are afoot at one the appellation's premier estates.  First there was the Famille Perrin iPad app. Now, the family has a new joint winemaking project with actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. According to a story on the British wine magazine Decanter 's site, the Perrin family of the renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Château de Beaucastel and the Central Coast property Tablas Creek , will be making the wine at the Hollywood stars' Provence estate, Château Miraval , in Correns, France.

A cycling tour through Provence doesn't have to be all about the bike. France-based Cyclomundo offers a self-guided bicycling trip through the southern French countryside that's good for families with children or folks who want to travel at their own pace. The eight-day Provence With Youngsters itinerary starts in Avignon and winds down quiet roads to Graveson, Fontvieille, Les Baux de Provence and other stops before arriving in Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Roman ruins.

Most Americans associate Mardi Gras festivities with New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, not with Nice, France . But the city in the Provence region in southern France puts on quite a Mardi  Gras show. And nearby communities hold other festivals around that time too: Nice (Feb. 18 through March 8): The exuberance of this Mardi Gras celebration will begin with the King of the Mediterranean’s lavish entrance -- accompanied this year by a queen -- to applause and rejoicing.

Dancer-singer-actress Jennifer Lopez may have taken a tumble during a performance of her new single "Louboutins" at the American Music Awards last month, but she's on terra-firm where the sale of her French country villa is concerned. Update: An earlier version of this story showed a different sales price that appeared on the MLS Friday. The Bel-Air property she and her singer husband, Marc Anthony , had listed more than a year ago at $8.5 million closed escrow this week.

"Provence A-Z," "French Lessons," "Encore Provence," Toujours Provence," "Chasing Cezanne": Peter Mayle, best known for his bestselling "A Year in Provence," has made a cottage industry of writing about Provence and the entire South of France, with copious references to delectable cuisine and coveted wine selections. After writing mostly nonfiction in recent years, he's enjoying a return to the whodunit form with "The Vintage Caper," providing Francophiles, foodies and wine lovers a fun way to indulge their passions while helping solve the case.

"Provence A-Z," "French Lessons," "Encore Provence," Toujours Provence," "Chasing Cezanne": Peter Mayle, best known for his bestselling "A Year in Provence," has made a cottage industry of writing about Provence and the entire South of France, with copious references to delectable cuisine and coveted wine selections. After writing mostly nonfiction in recent years, he's enjoying a return to the whodunit form with "The Vintage Caper," providing Francophiles, foodies and wine lovers a fun way to indulge their passions while helping solve the case.

When Pinot Provence opened in 1998, Joachim Splichal was one of the first big-name L.A. chefs, if not the first, to venture into Orange County. The restaurant is still there, just across from South Coast Plaza and around the corner from South Coast Repertory. But Pinot Provence has suffered in the intervening years. Whereas it once had high ambitions and served truly Provençal food, more recently Splichal has seemed content to position his sixth restaurant as a standard bistro with a standard menu.

Jeane Kirkpatrick's article on Provence in Traveling in Style warmed my homesick heart. I once went to Provence for a holiday and stayed 10 years. Kirkpatrick has more pleasant surprises coming from Provence. She is obviously familiar with some of the regional wines but unaware that certain Provencal wines do indeed qualify for their own Appelation Controlee, the highest category of the French classification system. The best-known, and one that is available in the United States, comes from the Domaines Ott, which produces an excellent Cru Classe blanc de blanc.

Our travel group took a wonderful trip to the French Riviera in September. The best thing about the trip were the guides: Jean Bardot, of the American University of Paris, and wine and food expert Patrick Bulteau. They are leading a trip to Provence from May 25-June 7 that will combine the history and spectacular scenery of Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Roman ruins and Van Gogh's art in Arles with wine tasting in the Rhône Valley. For more information, go to http://www.travelswithJeanandPatrick.com or call (775)

Dear SOS: I discovered the best currant scones at La Provence in Beverly Hills. Even the shape is special: free-form and crispy. Shirley Bilfield Century City Dear Shirley: Fan of currants? Then look no further! Each of these scones is packed with those tiny little raisins, so you can be sure every bite has an extra dose of tangy sweetness. They're great served with a little softened butter, honey or marmalade, and make the perfect quick breakfast. Black currant scones Total time: About 1 hour Servings: Makes 14 scones Note: Adapted from La Provence Cafe.

Some people say it served Peter Mayle right when a fan tracked him down in Provence and walked into his sitting room uninvited. The English writer's books -- "A Year in Provence" (1991), "Toujours Provence" (1992), "Encore Provence" (2000) and "Provence A-Z" (2006) -- turned the village of Ménerbes and the beguiling Luberon Mountain region around it into tourist central, complete with crowds and souvenir shops. For a while Mayle's Ménerbes must have seemed almost as overrun as the Italian hill town of Cortona, visited by hordes since it served as the setting for bestselling author Frances Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun" (1997)