Venessa Alexander

I found myself in the tourism industry quite by accident but now I am here, there really is nowhere I would rather be. Having studied languages at A Level, I had no clue what to do afterwards until I heard that the first ever Tourism Studies degree course was being launched in Bournemouth. The location and the course sounded like they would go quite well together and with visions of long afternoons spent on the beach (in my dreams) I found myself on a four year degree course. I never did use my languages but the course did catapult me into a fantastic industry that is never the same from one day to the next.

My specialist subject is marketing and I started marketing US destinations to the British holidaymaker and the British travel industry. Being half French, I knew that one day, one way or another I would find myself back in France. So here I am in the Languedoc and what a fantastic place. Less well known that the French Riviera and the Dordogne, it offers a little of everything, great food and wine, great weather, beaches, skiing, amazing scenery and history and some of the most interesting characters you could meet. Having worked with the Alabama Tourist Board, that is really saying something.

Having bought a little house in the vineyards, I felt I wanted to contribute in some way. The Languedoc is the largest wine producing region in the world and for many years the quality of this wine was at best average. A new generation of wine producers have now emerged who really are passionate about what they do and are producing wine of exceptional quality. The problem is that only a minority know how to sell this wine outside of France. Hence Tastes of Languedoc. I call this wine tourism! Of course not only wine - there is the food. Here shopping is a daily ritual, everything truly revolves around eating and drinking and frankly let's face it, with the fresh, beautifully tasty ingredients on offer here, who can blame them!

Lits Philippou

Lits came to the Languedoc almost by accident after he had reluctantly sold his busy restaurant, which he loved dearly. After twenty years of working with his brother they decided to separate. He was feeling a little lost and with his future undecided he volunteered to help his friend move to her newly acquired small hotel in the Haut Languedoc. It was a region he knew very little about and was soon so allured by it that he began to return more frequently and eventually stayed for longer!

These days Lits is more settled and has made many friends. He is a 'people person' and is happy again to be able to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for life in this magical region of southern France. He will ensure you experience the taste and flavours of life behind the scenes in the real Languedoc.

He is an expert on the local way of life of what is good to see, do and eat: whether sat outside a small bar watching the sun set over the small fishing boats, whilst feasting on freshly opened oysters washed down with a bottle of well chilled Picpoul de Pinet or resting under the shade of an olive tree at midday surrounded by vineyards, to the sound of the clicking crickets, picnicking on saucisson, creamy goats cheese and a rich red wine of St Chinian.

Lits knows exactly the right place and what's more he will ensure you enjoy the best. He is never happier than when he is sharing these experiences with his guests and introducing them to the local characters either at work on their farms, down in their cellars, amongst their vines or selling their wares at the market providing us with the most wonderful cooking ingredients:

Bountiful fresh fruits; mounds of sweet smelling cherries, apricots peaches and melons; home grown vegetables; asparagus, artichokes, courgettes, sweet onions, peppers and tomatoes. Meat and cheeses from naturally reared animals and shiny fish and shellfish of all varieties freshly landed from the shores of the Mediterranean only minutes away. What more could we wish for to prepare our meals!

Lits also loves the countryside and will help you to explore the beautiful unspoilt landscape; from remote sandy Mediterranean beaches, to rugged wild herb covered hillside whilst revealing secrets of its rich culture history with stories of the Knight Templars and Cathars.

Finally Lits is passionate and knowledgeable about the wines of the region. Languedoc is the largest wine region in the world. Formally renowned for supplying copious quantities of 'vin de table' it is now offering exciting, quality, and affordable wines. Blessed with such a variety of styles to choose from, it is a veritable voyage of discovery for either the beginner or the expert, to learn and taste . . . Lits will ensure you do both!

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