Our tours include visits to Bordeaux’s finest wineries and appellations:

The Medoc – The left bank of Bordeaux sometimes feels like Disneyland for wine lovers. The Chateaux route, “La Route des Châteaux” takes you from the city center through the great appellations of Margaux, St Julien, Pauillac and St Estephe, home to four of the five great first “growths” of Bordeaux, classified in 1855. When we travel on this road, life is all about great wine.

Graves and Pessac-Leognan –  These two appellations (they once were one) are closest to the city of Bordeaux itself.  Home to Chateau Haut Brion, the only “Left Bank” first growth outside of the Medoc, the region is also unique in producing both red and white wines of the highest quality.

Saint Emilion and Pomerol – The right bank of Bordeaux produces wines of equal but quite different quality from the great wines of the Medoc and Pessac-Leognan.  Saint-Emilion winemakers sparked the quality wine revolution known as “vins de garage”  (or wines produced in very small cellars in small quantities and of very high quality).  The town of St Emilion is a world heritage site and is exceptionally beautiful.  Wonderful restaurants too!  Pomerol is quieter but home to one of the world’s greatest wines, Petrus.

Sauternes–  The home of the world-famous sweet wine  which are referred to as “Liquid Gold”.  The world-famous Chateau d’Yquem is in Sauternes as are other great chateaux such as Rieussec (owned by the Rothschilds) and Suduiraut. A visit to Sauternes can be added to any tour.  

Cognac – The world-renowned elixir is a short trip from Bordeaux. A wonderful part of the Atlantic coast with a culture all its own and of course producing the world’s finest spirit.  The city of La Rochelle nearby is a revelation.

Accommodations
We will give you many choices from the most luxurious to the most rural to suit your needs.

The food in Bordeaux is informed by the sea, the rivers and estuary and the gentle countryside on which graze cattle and lamb.  Specialties include:  oysters from the Arcachon Bay, delicious with dry white wines; lamb from Pauillac, perfect with Bordeaux red wines;  Boeuf de Bazas, from a protected breed, delicious grilled with Bordeaux red wines;  lamprey (lamproie), river eels that are stewed in red wine, vegetables, garlic and sometimes Cognac, delicious with red wines;  white asparagus; delicious in spring time with white and red wines; cannele; egg yolk pastries that are a staple after meals and a perfect light dessert for finishing the last glass of red wine at lunch or dinner.