Roger Sherman Inn launches summer wine and culinary series

Nes and Joseph Jaffre, owners of Roger Sherman Inn, have announced it is launching a four-­part wine and culinary series, the inn's own RS Tour de France that spans the summer months.

Starting Sunday, June 3 and running through Sept. 23, the RS Tour de France will transport guests to different regions of France, world famous for food and wine. The entire series will take place on the inn's porch, and each event will uniquely reflect the celebrated region in its food, wine and ambiance.

Jeff Barbour, owner of The New Canaan Wine Merchants, is selecting the wines for each events while serving as a wine resource at the events for those interested in learning more about the characteristics of the different regions' wine.

The tour begins with a paired salute to the wines from the Rhone Valley and French Moroccan cuisine, creating a combination of French and French-­influenced tastes.

Moroccan entertainment will liven the evening with belly dancers and hookahs. Next, on Sunday, July 1, the RS Tour de France reaches Stage 2, Provence, a culinary and wine destination that will deliver a family-­styled farm table feast, accented with rose and red wines.

The third installment in the series travels to the historical home of kings and queens, the fertile Loire Valley, known for its innovative cuisine and white wine.

The series concludes with the hybrid Alsace, where Germanic and French flavors rendezvous to create distinctive food, wine and beer selections.

"With our fabulous porch and the summer season upon us, we wanted to celebrate the fantastic food and wine that the many regions of France offer with four unique events throughout the summer months. Since I'm of Egyptian descent, we thought a little Moroccan fun would be a great way to launch our RS Tour de France," Nes Jaffre said. "Who needs to travel this summer, when all you need to do is join our tour."

The series is scheduled on Sundays starting at 6 p.m. June 3: Rhone Valley Meets Morocco; July 1: Provence; Aug. 26: Loire Valley; and Sept. 23: Alsace.

For each event, the cost is $70 per person; the whole series of four is priced at $200 per person, or $50 per event (a 25 percent discount).

Seating is limited so contact the Roger Sherman Inn to reserve a space at 203-­966-­4541 or email info@rogershermaninn.com.