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Features
 The unique, and slightly eccentric Var Village Voice celebrated its 15th Anniversary in 2010. It continues to gather readers from all over the Var region, helping them enjoy everything the Var has to offer from local village events, to major summer festivals, helping them socialise, have fun, and join in the activities of the numerous expatriate organisations dotted around the region.
 Regular
features include the superbly witty
wine articles by Ian Parkin on the vineyards of the region.
These down-to-earth, at the same time entertaining and well
informed pieces strip away many of the snobberies associated
with the whole arena of wine appreciation, inspire one to
try new vineyards, explaining all the complications that
go into making good, sound wine, and help you plan your
future wine buying trips. Incredibly knowledgeable, Ian
gives his 'apercu' on the region's wines, plus entertaining
highlights on many of the characters to be encountered in
this idyllic region.
For a recent sample of Ian Parkin's wine articles, click here
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Robert Turnbull
 Robert
recently joined VVV as Opera Critic. He fell in love with opera at an early age, and has never recovered, but apart from that is a fairly normal person. Loves exploring the back roads of Europe and out of the way Opera houses. Drives a second hand Skoda bought in Bulgaria.
He divides his time between his place in the South of France, and Cambodia, whilst writing regularly as well for Opera Now, and Opera magazine, as well as for (sometimes travel pieces) the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune and the Daily Telegraph.
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Talbot Austin
 VVV Sailing & Aviation correspondent, Talbot Austin, lives in the Var not too far from his adored boat – a Westerly Conway ketch. He started sailing at an early age in an orange crate and nearby puddles, subsequently graduating to the City of London Sea Scouts.
He and his crew had the honour to be hauled aboard the Cutty Sark on its final voyage to dry dock. Progressing successively to the Norfolk Broads, he learnt to fly a Tiger Moth as a RAF Cadet, then sailing dinghies with the RAF in Hong Kong, inbetween learning Mandarin Chinese and monitoring radio traffic. Has spent most his working life doing Computer start-ups all over Europe. He co-authored a book examining causes of crashes of the Airbus A320.
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Trencherman
 Restaurant
critiques are penned by the indefatigable eater-out and
critic "Trencherman" Socialite and inveterate
name-dropper, aka Michael Aalders, who roams far and wide
throughout the Var and elsewhere, bringing his trophies
in the way of good eating-places, from the super de luxe
four star establishments, to simple bistros, back to the
VAR VILLAGE VOICE for everyone to savour. Witty and entertaining,
tongue-in-cheek, his pieces reflect the background of so
many VVV readers, who have travelled and experienced life,
hotels, and restaurants all over the globe. A
collection of some of his highly entertaining articles for
the VVV have just been published under the title "OUT
TO LUNCH IN PROVENCE" by Kenneth Mason Publications
Ltd.
Try a sample of Trencherman's trenchant wit and helpful restaurant suggestions here!
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The Var – heart of Provence – stretching from Toulon and St. Tropez to the Lac St. Croix and the Gorges de Verdon – is always waiting to welcome holiday makers with open arms. Check out the PDF download What's on in the Var "Var Summer Festivals" to get an idea of what goes on in the Var every summer.
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 Recently Juliet Young joined the VVV roster of writers. Long time resident in the region, a marketeer and translator of French books; with a sharp, observational eye and witty pen, she discourses entertainingly about Gastronomy in all its various guises - last April she devoted her efforts to the dangers and angst of snail rearing, May saw her foraying into the high Alpes in search of one of the region's most succulent - and smelliest - goat cheeses, Banon! One never knows where she will get to next.
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