From Portoferraio, the charming, medieval villages of the island of Elba lead the way to La Chiusa, a 17th-century wine estate where rumor has it, Napoleon once stayed during his exile. The enchanting scenes of the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre beckon from its “sixth town”, Porto Venere. Get up close to the island’s natural beauty on a fishing excursion with a local captain, where you may be invited to a hands-on cooking class with fresh-caught fish, and savor the moment with fellow explorers. The narrow, cobblestone streets of Saint-Paul-De-Vence, a quaint village you can reach from the cosmopolitan Nice, take you on a journey through local artistry and onto a wine tasting of French varietals. Sète’s Thau Lagoon sets the scene of a natural haven rich in oyster and mussel farming you can explore along with newfound friends before endeavoring on a vermouth tasting at the Noilly Prat Cellars.