Just imagine if you could be transported to the south of France, then deposited in a region that remains quintessentially French. Better still if you were visiting friends (or at least very-soon-to-be friends) that speak the language, know all the secret hidden gems, and have the time to take you to visit as many places as you wish. Best of all, what if, one of those friends was a top chef who will cook for you, and maybe even provide a couple of Michelin-starred chefs to cook for you as well?

Too good to be true? Well, it would be if someone hadn't devised perhaps the best collection of local tours that you will find anywhere.

Let's introduce Angus Longstaff, whose name you might have heard before. You may remember that he was part of the team in Woolloomooloo, the first Australian restaurant opened in Paris, back in 1995. After this he continued working in France in the high-end hospitality industry of the Alps and later with other private clients as a chef and guide. With this cred, and now resident in southern France for the past decade, he is your ideal new 'best friend' to organise a tour for you in his region.

And being a chef, it is inevitable that Angus has quite a menu of tours – far too many to fully talk about here, but they are very clearly outlined on his website Fine Wine Tours South of France. They are in two regions: Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi Pyrenees.

Here's just a brief appetiser of what's on offer:

There are Chefs master classes with starred Michelin chefs, and of course these involve trips to the local market to gather the fresh ingredients before you come back to the kitchen to cook.

There are ten-day, 7-day and long weekend tours, as well as Bespoke Tours. Tours can include a chef's masterclass with a Michelin-starred chef and visits to welcoming vineyards sampling wines and gaining a unique insight into production techniques.

There are opportunities to meet local producers and sample the large range of real French foods made in this exciting region. ?Angus can arrange for you to meet a local truffle specialist for the day learning about and hunting out this rare specialty which the locals refer to as 'black gold'.

The Live Like a Local option allows you to do just that, guided and mentored by Angus so that, even though you are relaxing without the pressures of a tour group, you don't miss out on anything and can absorb the rare experience of being part of the local culture.

Wine-lovers will be thrilled to experience the wines of Languedoc and the South of France, the south that hugs the Mediterranean Sea and gently folds into the Pyrenees Mountains. The VIP private guided tour encompasses the largest wine producing region in the world. The Languedoc region has transitioned itself into a promising and dynamic region with splendid boutique wine estates that benefit from the diverse terroir. The outcome of their efforts over the years has resulted in some truly wonderful wines for you to enjoy.

For more information you can also find current tours on offer at the Sud De France Travel Academy under local tour operaters

CONTACT ANGUS: to see if you can join the tour being hosted later this year by Sally and Gordon Hammond from this website!