The best of Bordeaux wines – Discovery week by car
Price per person
From 1225€
Type of stay
Location
Duration
Departures
Capacity
Reference
Your stay
Journeys to the heart of Bordeaux’s greatest wines. Eight centuries of history are not enough to explain the immense prestige of Bordeaux wines! Wine lovers will love this exceptional journey through one of the world’s most extensive vineyards: Pauillac, Margaux, Haut Médoc, Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Sauternes, Graves and Pessac Léognan. You’ll be welcomed by the producers, who’ll reveal all the secrets behind the making of our great wines, from the most industrial to the most artisanal. You’ll discover two cooperages, take part in an introduction to wine-tasting and cultural visits, and stay in hotels or bed & breakfasts in châteaux each more seductive than the last.
You'll enjoy :
- Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac: start your visit with a guided tour of this prestigious 1er Cru Classé de Pauillac. This château is world-renowned for its incomparably elegant wines, often referred to as “Vin du Roi”. The tour includes a tasting of this legendary wine, and an introduction to its history and production techniques.
- Route des châteaux du Médoc: explore the famous route des châteaux, passing through emblematic Bordeaux estates such as Margaux and Haut-Médoc. The route offers spectacular panoramas of vineyards and chateau architecture.
- Visit a cooperage: witness the making of oak barrels, essential for maturing wine, and discover the craftsmanship that contributes to the quality of Bordeaux’s great wines.
- Village of Saint-Émilion: a UNESCO World Heritage site, this medieval village is a must-see. Enjoy its cellars, picturesque streets and renowned Grands Crus, produced from grape varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
- Sauternes region: visit an estate specializing in Sauternes sweet white wine, renowned for its softness and complex aromas. The tasting will allow you to explore the unique balance of this wine, perfect for accompanying refined dishes.
Daily program
Day 1
Your visit to Pauillac begins in the early afternoon with a guided tour of the famous Château Lafite Rotchschild. This 1st Cru Classé Pauillac, with its scent of almond and violet or blueberry, is world-renowned for its elegance and delicacy.
Since Louis XV made it “Vin du Roi”, monarchs have come and gone, but the vintages of Lafite’s Grand Vin have made history.
After a stroll through the Médoc, along the Route des Châteaux, you’ll reach your 4* hotel or charming B&B in Pauillac.
Day 2
In the morning, you’ll be met right next to your hotel at Château d’Arsac, one of the oldest Domaines in the Médoc with 112 hectares, including 40 in the Margaux appellation.
A guided tour of the cellars and the park with its many sculptures will be followed by a tasting of Haut Médoc and Margaux Crus Bourgeois. 3 bottles of Haut Médoc red will be given to you on departure.
Lunch and free afternoon tour of the main districts and monuments of the city of Bordeaux, inextricably linked with its vineyards.
Dinner in the heart of Bordeaux and the Allées de Tourny, in a warm, wooded setting, with an exceptional wine bar (190 vintages from around the world, including some 20 to taste).
Overnight in a 3-star hotel next to the restaurant, in the heart of historic Bordeaux.
Day 3
You’ll then head off to Libourne for a guided tour and tasting at another château producing Pomerol, described as “a full-bodied, elegant wine with an incomparable bouquet and finesse. For many connoisseurs, subtle, elegant quality is indeed the hallmark of this wine.
Departure for St Emilion and free lunch.
In the late afternoon, visit the Château de Môle estate, an 18th-century residence where you’ll also spend the night. The owners will share with you the charm of this guest house, located at the château, and invite you to discover the fragrance of their land and taste their wine. You’ll dine in a St Emilion restaurant.
Day 4
In the morning, visit the Jacobins convent, followed by a tasting of their vintages.
Lunch at your leisure in the medieval city.
In the afternoon, a guided tour (approx. 1h00) of the underground monuments of the medieval village of St. Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll discover the Grotte du Moine Emilion, the Chapelle de la Trinité, the Catacombs, an ancient underground cemetery, and one of the largest Monolithic Churches in Europe.
You will then leave for the Sauternes region, staying in a hotel or bed & breakfast in or near Sauternes. Dinner will be preceded by a glass of Sauternes.
Day 5
Guided tour of the estate and tasting of red Premières Côtes de Bordeaux with your hosts.
Departure for Fargues, free lunch and afternoon visit to Château Rieussec.
This 110-hectare château and vineyard was acquired by Domaines Barons de Rothschild in 1984. Lovers of sweet wines will appreciate Château Rieussec, which has been one of the leading Sauternes references for several generations.
Regional dinner and overnight stay in a charming B&B in the heart of the village of St Symphorien, with its impeccable decor and warm welcome.
Day 6
In the late morning, you’ll be welcomed by the “passionate and passionate” owners of a beautiful chartreuse, set amidst splendid parkland and vines. They produce Graves wines and will take you on a tour of their vineyards and winery. You’ll discover a more artisanal approach to winemaking (grapes are still picked by hand) on a smaller scale, and you’ll be able to taste both whites and reds. You’ll leave the estate with a souvenir of 3 of the production.
Lunch at your leisure in a restaurant next to the property or at the site of the afternoon tour.
In the afternoon, a guided tour of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a Graves Grand Cru Classé in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The tour ends with a tasting of this world-renowned wine, after discovering the underground cellar where the wine is filled into wooden barrels, the château’s own cooperage. You’re free to explore the grounds (vineyards, pond, hotel, restaurant, vinotherapy center).
Overnight in a charming B&B in an 18th-century château, tastefully renovated with respect for the stone. Dinner at an excellent restaurant serving regional specialities, 3 km from the château.
Day 7
End this tour after breakfast, on the wine trail of our magnificent region, with memories of these sumptuous residences and the artists who bring them to life. Possibility of a self-guided tour of Château de Montesquieu.
rates
Price per person
- 7 days – 6 nights: €1,225
Price includes
- 6 nights with breakfast (in double/twin room)
- 6 dinners (excluding drinks)
- Guided tours and wine tastings indicated in the description
- Bottles of wine as mentioned in the description (for 2 people)
- 24/7 technical assistance
Further information
Your travel file corresponds to the documents or files you receive prior to your trip (usually one month before) and on arrival at your first accommodation.
It includes :
- A welcome letter with key practical information:
- Baggage transport times
- Details of delivery and collection of rental bikes if required
- Your local contact and emergency telephone number(s)
- Any additional information
- Travel logbook including map with route (at the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist and practical information
- Necessary voucher(s) to be given to the service provider(s) (only if necessary!)
On request and depending on the tour:
- Download the “Evazio” application onto your smartphone for GPS navigation with visual (reading the route on your smartphone screen) and/or spoken guidance.
- The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no Internet connection is required.
- Loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
- Send GPX tracks of each stage for use with your own navigation device
The type of accommodation is classified into 3 ranges:
Comfort: The tour features mainly 2 and 3-star hotels (or equivalent) and bed & breakfasts.
Superior: The tour features mainly 3- and 4-star hotels (or equivalent) and charming bed & breakfasts.
Luxury: The tour features mainly 4 and 5 star hotels or equivalent
For the duration of your stay, our telephone assistance service is available:
- 7 days a week
- from 07:30 to 20:30.
Itinerary
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