Refined dining at dusk in the heart of Provence’s vineyards
As the sun sets over the Sainte-Baume mountains and the cicadas fall silent, the Domaine du Deffends lights up to welcome its guests to an exceptional dining experience. On select Thursday evenings in the summer, Chef Bruno Gazagnaire offers an outdoor gourmet dinner in the setting of the estate’s wine cellar, an evening where regional cuisine meets the wines of Deffends under a starry sky.
What you’ll experience
Generous, tasty and comforting cuisine, made entirely from carefully selected local produce. The menu includes a starter, main course and dessert, accompanied by water and coffee. An optional wine pairing with Domaine du Deffends vintages extends the evening’s pleasure. The atmosphere is relaxed, the service attentive: an enchanting Provencal interlude, ideal for a romantic dinner with friends.
Chef Bruno Gazagnaire
Bruno Gazagnaire is a former student of Alain Ducasse at the Louis XV in Monaco. His career has taken him to some of France’s most prestigious establishments: the Palais de l’Élysée, Château Saint-Martin in Vence, La Bastide de Gordes, Château Eza in Èze, and the Palme d’Or in Cannes. Settled in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume since 2013, he now puts his talent at the service of sincere, masterful local cuisine.
Dates for 2026:
Thursday, July 23, 7:30 p.m.: Stuffed seasonal baby vegetables served in a fresh salad. Veal chuck prepared osso buco-style with citrus.
Lavender-infused peach with sorbet.
Thursday, July 30, 7:30 p.m.: Basil-flavored cottage cheese mousse and tomato gazpacho—all so refreshing. Cod fillet prepared like aioli. My apricot clafoutis.
Thursday, August 6, 7:30 p.m.: Eggplant tartine with caviar, Brousse du Rove cheese, and grated fresh truffle. Poached free-range chicken with a lightly creamed lemongrass broth. Walnut biscuit with Solliès figs and Provençal honey.
Thursday, August 13, 7:30 p.m.: Eggplant tartine with caviar, Rove brousse cheese, and grated fresh truffle. Poached free-range chicken with a lightly creamed lemongrass broth. Walnut cookie with Solliès figs and Provençal honey.
Practical info
- 📍 Location: Domaine du Deffends, Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, Var (83)
- 🕰️ Time: 19:30
- 🍽️ Menu: appetizer, main course, dessert – 54 €, not including drinks
- 🍷 Optional wine pairing with Domaine du Deffends – 24 €. Wine sold by the glass (7–9 €) or by the bottle (20–30 €)
- ☔ In case of rain: dinner is held in the estate cellar
- 📅 Reservations required 24 hours in advance
Ideal for: gastronomic dinner in Provence – romantic evening in a vineyard – romantic dinner near Aix-en-Provence – night-time wine-tourism experience – things to do in Provence on summer evenings – restaurant étoiles Var – summer outing vineyard Saint-Maximin – original couple activity Provence