The Médoc wine country encompasses the mythical wine appellations of Margaux, St Julien, Pauillac, St Estéphe, and Haut-Médoc, all located on the left bank of Bordeaux. This star-studded wine region is packed tightly with thousands of famous Châteaux and vineyards. The Atlantic Ocean is to the west, and the Gironde estuary is to the east, which both help to create the unique terroir as they affect not only the microclimate but also the soils that characterize each appellation.
The grapes on the left bank make the region’s rich red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon (which dominates), Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and occasional, very targeted Malbec and Petit Verdot. The best examples of Médoc wines are full-bodied, concentrated, and extremely elegant.
A wine-tasting tour of the Médoc is de rigueur for French wine lovers, and we have created various one-day tours from Bordeaux City to offer our guests a unique introduction to the region’s excellent food and wine. We work with an array of extraordinary, hand-selected wine estates, making incredible wines but also friendly, welcoming, personalized tours, elegant hospitality, and a superb wine tourism experience. You will have a private chauffeur to ensure maximum enjoyment and an enjoyable tasting experience. Contact us today and start planning your Médoc adventure.
Signature journey
Highlights include Luxury Transportation, VIP tour and tastings, and Gourmet Experience.
Day 1Médoc
Gourmet lunch at Maison d’Estournel
This morning, your elegant and friendly private chauffeur will collect you at your hotel or château in or around Bordeaux City. Board the plush Mercedes, sit back, and relax. Destination: Médoc. Dutch engineers arrived in the 1600s and began draining the once-salt marshes, making the flat region suitable for viticulture. Little by little, aristocrats and tycoons of the day moved in and established large estates with enormous châteaux and vineyards.
Thomas Jefferson was vital in bringing the region’s wines to the world with his enthusiasm and insistence that the fine wines be bottled so he could take them home. Learn all about the history of the region today while tasting fabulous wines!
Arrive at your first estate of the day, Château Giscours. Built in the 19th century in honor of Empress Eugenie de Montijo, the winery owns 82 hectares in the prestigious Margaux appellation—the estate’s origins date back to the 14th century, when it was a fortified dungeon. Wine makers have produced wine on the property since the 1550s, and a century later, it graced the tables of France’s Sun King Louis XIV. Your dashing Dutch host has lived in Bordeaux for decades and is passionate about his adopted wine region. Tour the estate and learn all about the history of Giscours, taking in the beauty of the majestic property and even lovelier château. The highlight this morning will be your premium, private wine tasting inside the Château- exclusive and memorable.
Lunch: At this stage, you will be ready to settle into a terrific meal. We have a wonderful treat planned- a Bistronomic menu paired with estate wines at the gorgeous La Maison d’Estournel. This beautiful Médoc gem is located in the former private villa of Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel, the founder of the mythical Château Cos d’Estournel. La Maison d’Estournel is very atmospheric, with its historic Château decorated with Cos d’Estournel’s iconic Oriental-inspired pagodas.
Acclaimed 3-Michelin-starred chef Jérôme Banctel (of Le Gabriel in Paris) oversees the culinary experience here, and the concept is “refined French countryside”. The cuisine combines Michelin-level technique with a relaxed approach. Lunch is stylish yet informal, and the dishes are contemporary interpretations of regional specialties that focus on the high quality and authenticity of the area’s ingredients and local food producers. Enjoy “L’art de vivre” as you sip your delicious wine and soak up the regal surroundings and manicured grounds.
Afternoon: After a memorable lunch, you have another exciting activity to look forward to, an “Assemblage” private tutorial at the cru classé Château Lagrange winery in the beautiful wine country of St Julien. Learn how the winemakers here select the percentage of vinified single varietal wines for their blends, and have fun making your blend. Finish with a tasting of your blend and, of course, a bottle of Lagrange. This is an entertaining way to finish your wine tour of the Médoc.
Evening: After a VIP day to remember in the Bordeaux wine country, your driver will drop you off at your hotel or château in Bordeaux/ St Emilion. We hope you had a great time!
Cellar Tours private itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, winery appointments, restaurant planning, and practical support before and during your journey.
Depending on the destination and proposal, your tour may also include private guides, tastings, special experiences, cultural visits, regional transfers, and dining reservations.
Your custom proposal will clearly show what is included, what is optional, and what is not included.
Our custom itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, private winery appointments & tastings, restaurant planning, and support before and during your travel.
International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, optional spa treatments, gratuities and meals or tastings not listed in your itinerary are usually not included unless specifically stated.
All itineraries are private and pre-arranged for your party.
Yes, 100%. Share mobility considerations, allergies, dietary preferences, and pacing needs early so we can adapt hotels, transport, restaurants, and visits wherever possible.
