From January 10 to March 03, 2026, the black truffle returns to its winter quarters in the South-West. For the past twelve years, Toques & Truffes has been revealing the best of the Lot region through exclusive menus, immersive experiences and gastronomic interludes in two exceptional locations: Château de Haute-Serre and Château de Mercuès, both essential showcases for the Vigouroux family. Here, the black diamond of Lalbenque – the famous Tuber Melanosporum truffle – expresses itself in perfect harmony with the house’s great Malbecs, in an atmosphere halfway between elegance, tradition and gentle gastronomic madness.
When black truffles become an art – exceptional menus and sensory experiences
In the warm setting of Château de Haute-Serre, the season opens with a 100% truffle menu by Chef Yan Boël, a bistronomic ode to the black diamond, revealed in dishes as generous as they are creative. At Château de Mercuès, Chef Clément Costes sublimates truffles in a more intimate gastronomic score, where each dish flirts with the spectacular.
But Toques & Truffes isn’t just something to be tasted: it’s something to be experienced, felt and discovered. In the Haute-Serre kitchens, a culinary workshop invites enthusiasts to tame the aromatic palette of Tuber Melanosporum before sublimating it in their own creations. In the blond stone cellar, a Truffle & Malbec tasting opens a sensory interlude where aromas respond, surprise and complement each other.
In the evening, the magic happens. In Mercuès, the Chef’s Table transforms dinner into a real show in the heart of the kitchen. At Haute-Serre, a candlelit vigil warms hearts with wine, live music and gourmet tapas. Here, the truffle is no longer an ingredient: it’s an atmosphere, a fragrance, a pretext for celebration.
Toques & Truffes Festival, a plunge into the heart of the Lot region – between cavage, stays and exceptional moments.
Toques & Truffes is also an invitation to slow down, understand and meet. Alongside Christine Vigouroux and her dog Ulysse, visitors experience the thrill of cavage, that suspended moment when the truffle is discovered beneath the fresh Quercy earth. A rare experience, extended by a visit to the winery and the discovery of the great Malbecs for which the Vigouroux family is renowned.
For those who want to prolong the magic, the Château de Mercuès, a Relais & Châteaux of incomparable charm, offers gourmet stays, perfect for a romantic weekend or a winter getaway. Special mention should be made of the Truffe mon Amour experience , a Valentine’s ritual in which truffles become the muse during an original 4- or 6-course dinner designed to awaken the senses.
In these two majestic settings, winter in Toulouse takes on the air of a gastronomic feast. Toques & Truffes 2026 isn’t just a festival, it’s a total immersion in a terroir that can be told, savored and shared, from the first scent of truffle to the last glass of Malbec.
📍Venues :
- Château de Haute-Serre – Michelin-starred winegrower’s restaurant
- Château de Mercuès – Relais & Châteaux, 4-star hotel, Michelin-starred La Table de Mercuès
🗓️ Dates : January 10 to March 3, 2026
🎟️ Events by prior arrangement