We typically plan two château visits on a full touring day, sometimes one on a lighter or half day. We keep the pace relaxed on purpose. You’ll have time to walk the cellars, taste properly, enjoy a real lunch, and not feel rushed from one appointment to the next. Some guests want to add a third visit on certain days, and that’s easy to arrange. Others prefer to slow things down even more. We build the rhythm around what feels right for you.
Absolutely, and we encourage it. If there’s a château you’ve always wanted to visit, tell us and we’ll do our best to make it happen. Bordeaux availability varies and can’t be guaranteed for specific dates, so the earlier we know your wish list the better. Reservations made more than six months out significantly improve the odds of securing the big names. A few of the most famous estates are also simply closed to visits right now, so we’ll always be straight with you about what’s realistic and suggest wonderful alternatives when needed. Between the prestigious names and the family-run gems, we’ll build a lineup that fits exactly what you’re hoping to taste.
Our Bordeaux wine tours range from 1 to 10 days. Shorter tours focus on must-see regions like the Médoc and Saint-Émilion, while longer itineraries include additional regions such as Pessac, Sauternes, Graves, Pomerol, Arcachon Bay, and even Cognac.
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.
The best time to visit Bordeaux for wine tours is from April to October, when vineyards are active and the weather is ideal. September is especially popular for the harvest season, and December offers festive wine-themed holiday experiences.
The short answer is no, you don’t need to speak French to have a great time in Bordeaux. Of course, the customary “Bonjour” and “Merci” go a long way, but you do not need to worry about being able to communicate in English. We are native English speakers, and the various châteaux guides and hosts are all perfectly capable of touring in English (with a very charming French accent!)
We love to visit a mix of world-famous, prestigious châteaux and family-fun estates.
Some of our favorites are: Château Beychevelle, Château Léoville-Poyferré, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château de la Rivière, Château La Mission Haut Brion, Château Haut Bailly, Château Valandraud, Couvent des Jacobins, Château Fleur Cardinale, Château Carbonnieux, Château D’Yquem, etc.
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.
Yes. Our all-inclusive Bordeaux wine tours include carefully selected 4- and 5-star hotels with breakfast, and we handle all the reservations for you. We’ve stayed in these properties ourselves, so we can recommend the rooms that offer the best value and take care of communicating any special requests to the hotel on your behalf. If you’d prefer to book your own accommodations or use points, that’s no problem at all. We simply adjust the program accordingly. Note that our self-guided itineraries are planned differently, with hotel booking left in your hands unless you’d like us to arrange it.
We use carefully selected 4- and 5-star hotels, always with breakfast included. In the city we often place guests at properties like the Intercontinental for a more luxurious stay, and we have favorite boutique options as well. In Saint-Émilion we love using Château Grand Barrail and other charming village stays. And yes, you can absolutely upgrade. We handle the reservations on your behalf and simply pass the cost through, so if you’d like a nicer room category or a specific property, just tell us, and we’ll take care of it. Some guests also prefer to book their own accommodations or use an Airbnb-style rental, which is no problem at all.
Pricing varies depending on what you’d like your trip to include. Since every itinerary is custom-built, we design each program around your preferences, from hotels and châteaux visits to meals and private experiences.
Most of our tours average between $700 and $1000 per person, per day, depending on the level of comfort and style you’re looking for. Once we chat and learn more about your travel plans, we’ll outline clear options so you can see exactly what fits best.
All prices shown in USD for convenience. Final invoices are issued in EUR to reflect local costs.
Yes. Your château visit and tasting fees are included in your program. We work from a set budget for tours, visits, and meals, and we use our local contacts to get you the best possible experiences within it. Some estates cost more to visit, others offer a deeper range of wines to taste, and we balance all of that so you get the most out of every day.
Only some, and that’s by design. Most programs include a few standout lunches, often a fine-dining château lunch or a gourmet meal with wine pairings. On other days we simply reserve a table for you at a local favorite so you can order what you like and pay at the restaurant. In our experience this is what guests prefer, since it keeps things flexible rather than locking you into a set menu every day. Dinners are generally left open so you can explore Bordeaux’s restaurant scene in the evenings, and we’re always happy to recommend and reserve spots for you.
If you need to cancel your trip, we’ll always do our best to assist. Please note that the deposit at the time of booking ($995 per person) is non-refundable. Refunds on the remaining balance are based on when we receive your written notice of cancellation:
All refunds are processed within 10 business days of receiving written notice. In the event of an unforeseen circumstance, we’ll do everything possible to recover and refund as much as we can from our partners.
Step 1: Let’s talk
We start with a friendly phone conversation to get to know you and hear all about your dream Bordeaux vacation; what you love, what you’d like to see, and how you enjoy traveling.
Step 2: Your trip outline
We’ll send a custom program draft with ideas and options that match your interests, so you can share feedback and fine-tune the experience.
Step 3: Confirming your program
Once we’ve refined the plan together, we’ll confirm your itinerary. This is also when you’ll pay the deposit, so we can begin securing all your reservations.
Step 4: We make the magic happen
Our team books every château, hotel, and activity in your itinerary, double-checking each detail so everything runs seamlessly.
Step 5: Final payment
90 days before your trip, you’ll make your final payment, and we’ll finalize any last-minute touches or special requests.
Step 6: Tour package delivery
Around 45 days before departure, you’ll receive your complete Tour Packet via an online portal and offline PDF with your confirmed itinerary, reservation details, daily summaries, restaurant suggestions, free-time recommendations, and helpful packing tips.
Step 7: Bienvenue à Bordeaux!
As soon as you arrive, we’ll roll out the Bordeaux-red carpet and handle everything from here. All you have to do is relax, stroll, sip, and enjoy the wine-cation of a lifetime.
Step 8: After your trip
Once you’re back home, we’ll reach out for your feedback (and hopefully a kind Google review!) to help us keep refining and sharing Bordeaux with future travelers.
