Bordeaux Holiday Season Tour

See Bordeaux at its coziest. The city glows with lights, the vineyards rest under cool skies, and the air smells of wine, chestnuts, and festive cheer. This 9-day journey blends world-class wines with the magic of the holidays, complete with visits to iconic châteaux, Michelin-star meals, and exclusive access to the Bordeaux Tasting event.

Whether you’re sipping sweet Sauternes beside a crackling fire or strolling through the Christmas market with a glass of mulled wine, winter in Bordeaux offers something rare and beautiful, warmth, elegance, and timeless French hospitality.

All-inclusive package pricing

2 guests starting at $5,200 (USD) per person
4 guests starting at $4,800 (USD) per person
6 guests starting at $4,300 (USD) per person

Based on double occupancy in a 4-star hotel. Early-bird reservations receive an extra discount. Your final price depends on your hotel, dates and châteaux, and we will confirm it with you before you book.

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Your Bordeaux Wine Tour at a Glance

Length:
5 to 10 days

Dates: 
December

Service:
Fully Supported, All-Inclusive Guided Tour

Appellations:
Médoc, Margaux, Pauillac, St-Estèphe, St-Julien, Graves, Pessac-Léognan, Sauternes, Fronsac, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, and Arcachon Bay or Cognac

Wine Tastings:
Bordeaux Red, White, Rosé, Crémant, Optional: Cognac Brandies

Private Transportation:
Luxury Mercedes-Benz Van

Winter Bordeaux Wine Tour Itinerary Example

Arrival Day

Bordeaux Christmas

Transfer & Hotel Check-In

Your driver will greet you at the airport or train station and bring you to your hotel in central Bordeaux. Settle in, then stretch your legs on an easy walking tour of the historic center with your guide.

  • Airport or train station pickup and hotel check-in
  • Meet your guide on an easy walking sightseeing tour of historic Bordeaux
  • Optional: Relax at one of our favorite wine bars with select Bordeaux wines paired with local cheese & charcuterie

Day 1

Bordeaux-Christmas-Market

Free Day Sightseeing & Wine Museum

Sundays in France are made for relaxing. Wander through Bordeaux’s elegant streets, shop in local boutiques, or settle into a café for a long lunch and people-watching.

  • Visit the open-air food market on the Chartrons district riverfront.
  • Tickets to the Cité du Vin (World Wine Museum) included.

Optional experiences:

  • Masterclass Wine Tasting with a local sommelier
  • French Cooking class with American Chefs

However you spend it, this easygoing day lets you enjoy Bordeaux at your own pace.

Day 2

Bordeaux-Vineyards-in-WInter

Upper Left Bank: St-Estèphe & Pauillac

We’ll drive up the ‘Route des Châteaux’ into the heart of Bordeaux’s Left Bank, to world-famous wines and the birthplace of Cabernet Sauvignon!

  • 10:00 am – Grand Cru Classé Château visit and blind tasting in St-Julien or St-Estèphe
  • 12:15 pm – Gourmet lunch at a local café or château restaurant in Pauillac
  • 2:00 pm – Second-Growth Château visit and tasting in Pauillac
  • Optional: Visit a local chocolaterie and see special vineyard-inspired chocolates
  • 5:30 pm – Return to Bordeaux for a free evening

This day is all about the Médoc, where we’ll take you behind the gates of famous châteaux, taste iconic wines, and share insider stories.

Day 3

St-Emilion-Bordeaux-Winter

Lower Left Bank: Pessac, Graves & Sauternes

Bordeaux’s southern wine country, where the region’s oldest vineyards produce elegant reds alongside golden sweet wines.

  • 10:00 am – Grand Cru Classé de Graves Château unique visit and wine tasting
  • Optional: Enjoy a First-Growth wine tasting in a world-famous château’s cave
  • 12:30 pm – Refined lunch at a fine-dining château restaurant
  • 2:00 pm – Premier Cru Supérieur Château visit and iconic tasting
  • 6:00 pm – Return to Bordeaux for a free evening

This day trip blends world-class estates, premium wines, fine dining, history, and stunning scenery.

Day 4

Bordeaux Christmas Market

Free Day & Christmas Market

Enjoy a relaxed morning exploring Bordeaux’s museums, galleries, or cafés. Visit the Musée d’Aquitaine or La Cité du Vin for an afternoon of art and wine culture, then spend your evening wandering through the Christmas Market; lights, mulled wine, and local treats everywhere you turn.

Recommendations:

  • Free Time for Shopping or Museums
  • Lunch at a Favorite Café or Brasserie
  • Visit to La Cité du Vin or Musée d’Aquitaine
  • Explore the Bordeaux Christmas Market

Day 5

Fog winter vineyards

Right Bank: Fronsac & Pomerol

The Right Bank offers softer, Merlot-driven wines and beautiful rolling countryside. Fronsac and Pomerol combine elegance, history, and authentic family estates.

  • 10:00 am – Tour & wine tasting at a family-run estate in Lalande-de-Pomerol
  • 12:00 pm –  Lunch with the winemaker at a the château
  • 2:00 pm – Unique cellar visit & wine tasting at a spectacular château in Fronsac
  • 4:00 pm – Vertical blind tasting at a world-class château in Pomerol
  • 5:30 pm – Return to Bordeaux for the evening

It’s a day for meeting the families behind the wine, and you’ll leave with new friends, a few favorite bottles, and a real taste of Bordeaux’s quieter side.

Day 6

saint-emilion-wine-shop-wine-shelf

Village Of Saint-Émilion

Spend the day in Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Bordeaux’s most beautiful wine villages. Saint-Émilion’s cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, and limestone cellars make it a must-visit.

  • 10:00 am – Private tour and wine tasting at a world-class château in St-Émilion
  • 12:00 pm – Lunch at the château restaurant or favorite village bistro
  • 2:00 pm – Guided tour of the underground grotto and medieval church
  • Optional: Vertical wine tasting with a local merchant
  • 3:30 pm – Private walking tour of Saint-Émilion’s cobblestone streets
  • 5:00 pm – Experience the limestone cellars of a Grand Cru Classé estate in the village
  • 6:30 pm – Return to Bordeaux for a free evening

By the time the sun sets over the vineyards, Saint-Émilion will feel less like a postcard and more like a place you know.

Day 7

Bordeaux Tasting Wine Event Place de la Bourse

Bordeaux Tasting – Day 1

The festive highlight begins. The “Bordeaux Tasting” Event brings together nearly 130 producers at the Palais de la Bourse for two days of wine, champagne, and discovery. Taste across every appellation, meet winemakers, and learn their craft.

  • Entry to the Bordeaux Tasting Event (Tickets Included)
  • Lunch Break with Local Food Vendors
  • Guided Tasting with Exhibitors
  • Return to the hotel for a cozy evening

Bordeaux Tasting is more than an event, it’s an experience. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just looking for something special to do in December, it offers the perfect mix of incredible wines, expert insights, and festive fun.

Day 8

Bordeaux-Tasting-2024

Bordeaux Tasting – Day 2

Continue exploring at your own pace. Attend expert-led workshops or relax with a glass and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

  • Return to the Bordeaux Tasting Event
  • Optional: Food & Wine Pairing Workshop
  • Explore the “Food & Chill” Lounge
  • Return to the hotel for a relaxed evening

After these couple of days, you’ll see that whether you’re hunting for the perfect holiday wine, a gift for your wine-loving friend, or just an excuse to spend a weekend drinking amazing wine, Bordeaux Tasting has you covered.

Day 9

Bordeaux Christmas Tree

Free Day To Explore Bordeaux

Spend your final day as you please, perhaps a final stroll through the markets or a quiet museum visit, before closing your trip with an unforgettable farewell dinner paired with exceptional Bordeaux wines.

  • Free Day for Shopping or Cafés
  • Lunch and dinner at your leisure

However you spend it, this easygoing day lets you enjoy Bordeaux at your own pace.

Departure Day

Airport Bordeaux

Transfer to Airport or Train Station

Enjoy a relaxed last breakfast and a final stroll through the city. Your driver will collect you and your luggage at a time that suits your flight or train, and bring you to Bordeaux airport or Saint-Jean station.

  • Breakfast at your hotel
  • Private transfer timed to your departure
  • Optional: wine shipping home, arranged before you leave

You leave with new favorite wines, great stories and friends in Bordeaux.

Bon voyage et à bientôt!

Where you'll stay in historic Bordeaux

Your price includes a hand-picked 4-star hotel in central Bordeaux, within walking distance of the best restaurants and shops. Prefer a 5-star hotel or a stay among the vines in Saint-Émilion? We can upgrade to one of our favorites.

4-star Included

Queen-sized deluxe

Hôtel De Sèze

Classic Bordeaux elegance, with antique artwork and custom leather furniture inspired by the city’s 18th-century heritage. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, and Le Spa de Sèze is there when you want to unwind.

5-star Upgrade

King-sized deluxe with terrace

Le Boutique Hôtel

A family-owned 18th-century mansion in the historic center, with original stone walls and parquet floors. Its wellness area adds a heated pool, sauna and steam room.

Tell us your preferred bed size and bath style when you plan your trip, and we will request them for you.

What’s included:

  • Nights in a 4-star or 5-star hotel, breakfast included
  • Private châteaux and estate visits, entrance fees included
  • Select wine tastings at every visit
  • Gourmet lunches with wine
  • Tickets to the Bordeaux Tasting wine event
  • Tickets to La Cité du Vin Wine Museum
  • Your private wine guide and host
  • Private Mercedes-Benz van for all excursions
  • Airport or train station transfers on arrival and departure
  • Trip planning and all reservations
  • Local concierge support throughout your stay

What’s not included:

  • Flights
  • Travel & Health Insurance

We are your local guides. Who better to show you around breathtaking Bordeaux than local expats who 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 cancellations and other unforeseen issues), your concierge is here to help make your trip unforgettable.

For more info, head to our About Us Page

Tour highlights

  • Celebrate the festive season in Bordeaux, when the city sparkles with lights and winter charm.
  • Stay in a 4 or 5-star hotel in the heart of Bordeaux, surrounded by cozy cafés and Christmas markets.
  • Visit both Left and Right Bank appellations, including Margaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, and Sauternes.
  • Taste iconic Bordeaux wines, from rich reds to golden dessert wines, at Grand Cru Classé châteaux.
  • Experience the Bordeaux Tasting event, where nearly every appellation pours under one roof.
  • Stroll through the Bordeaux Christmas Market, filled with local crafts, mulled wine, and festive cheer.
  • Enjoy Michelin-star dining and gourmet French cuisine paired with perfectly aged wines.
  • Explore the city’s history on a private walking tour and visit La Cité du Vin wine museum.
  • Travel comfortably with private luxury transportation and full support from your local guide and concierge.
  • End your tour with a farewell Michelin-star dinner, raising a glass to the warmth of winter in Bordeaux.

Start Planning Your Bordeaux Vacation

Craft your wine adventure effortlessly. Fill out our form or book a complimentary 20-minute phone call with a Bordeaux local, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through Bordeaux’s wine country.

Hi, I’m Daniel. I’m an American who moved to Bordeaux in 2013, married a Bordelaise, and fell in love with this city. I’d love to tell you all about it and design your dream vacation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I customize an itinerary?

Yes. In fact, every Bordeaux Wine Vacation is customized based on your interests, preferred wine styles, and pace of travel. We combine our experience and local partnerships to create an itinerary that’s unique to you.

A Bordeaux château visit typically includes a warm welcome, a guided tour of the vineyard and cellars, and a seated tasting of the estate’s wines. You’ll learn how the grapes are grown, harvested, and aged, often hearing stories about the château’s history and winemaking philosophy. Visits usually last about an hour and a half, offering an authentic glimpse into both the craft and culture behind Bordeaux wines.

The Left Bank (Médoc, Graves, Pessac-Léognan) is known for Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends, while the Right Bank (Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Fronsac) focuses on Merlot. Both sides offer world-class wines, landscapes, and history.

Most Bordeaux Wine Vacations day trips include visits to 2 or 3 châteaux, allowing time for guided tours, tastings, and a leisurely gourmet lunch. Longer itineraries feature a balance of vineyard visits and cultural experiences.

Yes. Not only are we English-speaking, we’re a small group of international globetrotters fluent in English, and passionate about Bordeaux’s history, culture, and wine traditions.

Smart-casual clothing is best for Bordeaux wine tours. Comfortable shoes are recommended for walking through vineyards and estates. During warmer months, bring a hat and sunglasses; in cooler months, a light jacket or sweater is ideal. Wine cellars stay at a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Bordeaux is a coastal city, so a small travel umbrella or light rain jacket is never a bad idea.

We aren’t a large agency with staff that’s out of touch. We’re a small group of local Bordeaux enthusiasts offering private, all-inclusive itineraries curated just for you. We focus on authentic, personalized experiences and handle every detail, so you can enjoy Bordeaux with confidence and ease.