All-Encompassing Bordeaux Wine Experience
10-Day | Premium | From $8,495 pp
Immerse yourself in the South West of France and the world-renowned Bordeaux wine region for a comprehensive 10-day journey. This all-encompassing experience covers more than 15 appellations and offers private explorations of 10 different châteaux, estates, and family-run wine producers. Your days will be filled with many wine tastings, showcasing the best this region has to offer, complemented by the region’s exquisite cuisine in our favorite restaurants. Wander through Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street, and unwind in a quaint café, all while soaking in the exquisite French architecture and the vibrant “joie-de-vivre.” This vacation promises unforgettable memories, complete with all transportation and guidance provided by your personal tour guide.
Tour Details
Length: 10 days, 10 nights
Dates: You choose! Pick any dates from April to November
Service: Fully Supported, All-Inclusive Guided Tour
Appelations: Médoc, Margaux, Graves, Pessac, Sauterens, Fronsac, Pomerol, St-Émilion, etc.
Wine Tastings: Bordeaux Red, White, Rosé, & Crémant
Private Transportation: Luxury Vehicles, 9-Seater Mercedes-Benz Van
Ten Day Tour Itinerary
Bordeaux Like A Local With Your Personal, Friendly Wine Guide and Host!
Day 1
Arrival:
Bordeaux Sightseeing & River Cruise
Transportation from the Airport or Train Station to your Hotel in Bordeaux Center
4:00 pm – Sightseeing Tour of Historic Bordeaux
Optional: Evening River Cruise Experience with Bordeaux Wine Tasting, paired with Cheese and Charcuterie.
Day 2
Left Bank:
Médoc & Margaux
9:30 am – Leave Hotel
10:00 am – Château Tour & Tasting in Margaux
12:15 pm – Gourmet Lunch
2:00 pm – Château Tour & Tasting in Saint-Julien
4:00 pm – Chocolatier Visit
5:30 pm – Return to Bordeaux
Day 3
Southern:
Sauternes, Pessac, & Graves
9:30 am – Leave Hotel
10:00 am – Château Tasting & Visit in Pessac
11:00 am – Grand Cru Château Tour & Tasting in Pessac-Léognan
1:15 pm – Michelin-Guide Gourmet Lunch
3:00 pm – Premier Cru Superior Château Tour & Tasting in Sauternes
6:00 pm – Return to Bordeaux
Day 4
Free Day
Bordeaux, Museuems, & Michelin Star Dinner
Wander through the charming old town at your own pace, enjoying coffee, wine tasting, and leisurely strolls along cobblestone paths. Don’t miss the world of wine at the Cité du Vin Wine Museum or regional history and artifacts at the Musée d’Aquitaine.
We’ll always recommend experiencing French fine dining à-la-Bordelais. Enjoy a four-course Michelin-star meal in one of our favorite restaurants in the world, which happens to be in Bordeaux.
Day 5
Right Bank:
Fronsac & Pomerol
10:00 am – Leave Hotel
11:00 am – Grand Cru Château Tour & Vintage Tasting in Fronsac
12:00 pm – Lunch at the Château
2:00 pm – Family Wine-Estate Tour & Variety Tasting in Lalande-de-Pomerol
4:00 pm – Château Visit & Wine Tasting in Pomerol
5:30 pm – Return to Bordeaux
Day 6
Saint-Émilion
9:00 am – Leave Hotel
10:00 am – Private Walking Sightseeing Tour of Medieval Saint Émilion
11:00 am – Guided Tour of Underground of Saint Émilion
12:00 pm – Michelin-Chef Gourmet Lunch
2:00 pm – Historic Wine Estate Tour & Tasting
3:30 pm – Horizontal Wine Tasting at a local wine merchant
5:00 pm – Picturesque View from a Historic Château
6:00 pm – Return to Bordeaux
Day 7
Bordeaux
& Arcachon Bay
Relax, take the morning off. We always recommend strolling one of the open-air markets and getting a seafood lunch with a nice bottle of white wine.
Meet after lunch for a ride to the coast to enjoy an afternoon by the sea. Stroll the boardwalk and snack on local treats that the area’s known for, paired with sweet or smooth white wines.
Climb the Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe (Optional and highly recommended)
Dine in a Michelin-Star experience with a view of the ocean, before heading back to Bordeaux.
Day 8
Northern:
Blaye & Bourg
9:00 am – Leave Hotel
11:00 am – Family-Run Domaine Tour & Horizontal Wine Tasting in Blaye
12:00 pm – Lunch at a local Bistro
2:00 pm – Historic Property Visit, Wine Workshop & Variety Tasting in Bourg
5:30 pm – Return to Bordeaux
Day 9
Visit Historic Cognac
The rich terroir of South West France doesn’t limit itself to world-class wines but also Grape-Base Apéritifs, and Fine-Brandy Digestifs from Cognac. Explore world-famous “Maisons” in this historic village just a short drive north of Bordeaux.
9:00 am – Meet at hotel
10:30 am – Private Tour of a Grand Maison de Cognac
11:00 am – Visit Cognac Riverfront
12:00 pm – Gourmet Lunch
2:00 pm – Historic Cognac Estate Tour & Tasting
6:00 pm – Return to Bordeaux
Day 10
Free Day & Gourmet Dinner Reservation Recomendations
Spend a delightful last day exploring the charming city of Bordeaux! Wander along the picturesque Garonne River, snatch up any final souvenirs, and catch any missed shops or museums.
We’re happy to make dinner recommendations and reservations for a last-night fine dining experience.
Optional Cooking Class
Free Day in Bordeaux
Afternoon Cooking Class
Learn from a French Chef in a 3-hour workshop (that starts at 2:00 p.m.) and culminates with an apéro spread where we enjoy our prepared dishes, with paired wines, of course.
Departure
Transportation to Airport or Station
After breakfast and checking out this morning, you will be met at your hotel by your guide and transferred to Bordeaux International Airport to catch your departing flight or the Saint-Jean Train Station to get on your train.
Bon voyage les amis!
What’s Included;
- 10 nights accommodations in a 4-Star hotel, breakfasts included
- 7 Gourmet Lunches, including wine
- 2 Michelin-Star Dinners, including wine
- 10 Châteaux / Estate Tours
- 35+ Unique Wines tasted
- Private wine guide and host
- Transportation for excursions
- Entrance fees to Estate Visits and Châteaux Tours
- Full support from a local concierge
- Transfers from/to Bordeaux Airport or Train Station
What’s NOT Included;
- Transportation to and from Bordeaux
- Travel & Health Insurance
Starting at $8495 per person
Discounts available for group reservations
We stay in very nice hotels that have been hand-selected to maximize comfort while minimizing cost.
- Hotel de Seze
- Yndō Hotel & Spa
- Villas Foch Bordeaux
- Le Boutique Hotel & Spa
- InterContinental Bordeaux – Grand Hotel & Spa
Over the years, we have found a few amazing 4-star and 5-star properties that distinguish themselves beyond their rating.
For self-guided tour parties wishing to upgrade their accommodations, we can provide custom pricing for four- and five-star hotels, pending availability.
For groups of 4 or more, short-term rental options such as Airbnb can be recommended.
We are your local guides! Who better to show you around breathtaking Bordeaux than local expats that have fallen in love with this region!?!
Having the local perspective enhances your experience, providing insider knowledge and opportunities that only a local resident can offer. From greeting guests when they arrive to personally handling reservations and transportation, to curating excursions, to problem-solving (e.g., unexpected cancelations and other unforeseen issues), your concierge is here to help make your trip unforgettable.
What To Expect On A Day-Trip?
Bordeaux Wine Vacation Day Trips start by picking you up from your hotel in a first-class touring van and driving through a sea of vineyards to the wine region of the day. You’ll visit 2 to 3 different wine-producing estates with tasting and tours of each property, enjoy a five-star gourmet meal that’s typically French, and pair the experience by tasting a comparative selection of fine wines from the region. At the end of the day, your guide will shuttle you back to your hotel and give recommendations or reservations for evening activities in Bordeaux.
What's it like to visit a Château?
Château tours last between 1 and 2 hours, often including a presentation of the vineyard, the history of the château, and a guided tour of the vat room and cellars ending with a vintage tasting of the wine(s) Mis En Bouteille Au Château.
Which Château do we visit?
Examples of Château we visit:
Château Beychevelle, Château Léoville Poyferré, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château de la Riviere, Château La Mission Haut Brion, Château Haut Bailly, Château Pape Clément, Château Valandraud, Château Saint-Georges, Château Guiraud, Château D’Yquem, etc.
Is there a special estate that you want to visit? Let us know! We’d love to help organize your dream tour 🙂
Which hotel will we stay in?
We generally target very nice 4-star hotels and some excellent 5-star properties, which we hand-select to maximize comfort while minimizing cost.
Over the years, we have found many amazing 4-star properties that distinguish themselves beyond their rating. We have loved developing all of our hotel relationships and sharing them with our guests. For self-guided tour parties wishing to upgrade their accommodations, we can provide custom pricing for four- and five-star hotels, pending availability.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes! We offer discounts to group reservations of 4 to 7 guests. Contact us to learn more.
Tour Highlights
• Embark on a truly French immersion of discovery in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
• Relax at a luxury hotel with 19th-century decor and a world-class restaurant.
• Learn about historic French architecture on a walking tour of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Ride along the Route des Châteaux and enjoy leisurely scenic drives through the French countryside.
• See for yourself the sea of vineyards stretching across rolling hills in the Médoc and limestone plateaus of St-Émilion.
• Tour world-famous Châteaux, wine estates, and unique wine making facilities.
• Discover the many wine appellations of the surrounding region: Médoc, Pomerol, Graves, Sauternes, Fronsac, St-Émilion, many more.
• Enjoy gourmet meals and Michelin-Star dining experiences.
• Visit the Atlantic Coast, and enjoy freshly caught seafood.
• Climb Europe’s largest sand dune, an impressive view of land and sea.
• Stroll the medieval streets of Saint-Émilion for a step back in time.
• Shop the many storefronts along Rue Saint-Catherine and the luxury boutiques of Bordeaux’s Triangle d’Or.
• Explore ancient underground wine cellars stocked with priceless collections and hidden treasures.
• Taste many different Bordeaux wines, often on location and some straight from the barrel in the cellar.
• Compare notable vintages and historic winemaking methods.
• Uncover the vibrant nightlife of the city center.
• Capture breathtaking pictures and memories that will last a lifetime!
Bonjour Bordeaux!
For information and reservations, please contact us to chat about your ideal Bordeaux Wine Vacation…