Bordeaux Wine Tours for Discerning Gourmets
Bordeaux is a mythical destination for wine lovers, and the romantic name alone evokes images of fairy tale châteaux and manicured vineyards. The region of Bordeaux offers a diverse range of landscapes from the medieval hamlets and bucolic scenery of the right bank; to the flat, ex-swamplands of the Médoc punctuated with stately manors and wine estates; to the beaches and sand dunes of the Arcachon Peninsula. There are thousands upon thousands of wineries, many of which are household names to wine collectors. And the city of Bordeaux, whose historic mansions and graceful buildings have seen a significant facelift and cleanup in the last decade, is something of a mini Paris and utterly delightful.
This luxurious private tour of Bordeaux town and region has been designed for wine lovers who also love fine living. Visit beautiful wine estates with charming, friendly hosts and learn all about the complex and fascinating history of Bordeaux and its wines. Intersperse the wine-sipping with promenades in the vineyards, tours of Bordeaux’s golden triangle, and St Emilion with local art historians, a boat ride in the striking Arcachon basin. Try the tasting menus of some of France’s most talented Michelin starred chefs and contrast these sumptuous gourmet meals with relaxed, convivial bistro dining.
If you are looking for an unforgettable luxury vacation in Bordeaux combining fine wines, châteaux accommodation, some fabulous meals, and terrific hosts, then contact us for more information on customizing this tour.
Bordeaux Wine Tours Highlights:
- Private luxury wine tour of Bordeaux
- Wine tasting in left bank, right bank, and Sauternes
- Chauffeured Mercedes & charming driver
- Fly over the vineyards of Margaux by Helicopter
- Visit medieval Saint Emilion, chic Cap Ferret, historic Bordeaux
- Fabulous dining, from local French bistros to Michelin starred
- Private boat cruise of the Arcachon peninsula
Below is a suggested Itinerary for your private Bordeaux Wine Tours
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Bordeaux
Arrive Bordeaux- Fine Dining at L'Observatoire du Gabriel
Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux - 5* Luxury hotel, Bordeaux
- Michelin starred dinner with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
Your elegant and friendly driver and sleek Mercedes will greet you at the airport and take you into the historic center of Bordeaux, where you will be staying at a fabulous luxury hotel right across from the theatre. Check in, relax, and settle in. Your guide will collect you in the afternoon to take you on a fun and fascinating private tour of this lovely city. Begin with a stroll through the Place de la Comédie, which sits atop the ancient Roman forum. Next, admire the beautiful Grand Théatre, built in the late 1700s and now a venue for opera and events. Take in all the sights over the next few hours, including the striking Place de la Bourse, the impressive Grosse Cloche, and the ethereal 11th-century Cathédrale Saint-André. Listen to anecdotes and local legends as you trace the footsteps of historical personalities such as Thomas Jefferson, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Eleanor d’Aquitaine, and Napoleon.
Finish the afternoon with a glass of vin, of course, in an enchanting wine bar. Before dinner, you will have a chance to get freshened up.
Dinner is an elegant affair this evening in the Michelin starred restaurant of L’Observatoire du Gabriel in the gorgeous Place de la Bourse. You will be treated to the tasting menu paired with Bordeaux wines. The menu is seasonal, but you can expect such delicacies as razor clams with young leeks and truffles; braised langoustine with kumquat and citrus sabayon; lobster cooked in a cauliflower cream with perlita caviar; scallops in gravlax, Jerusalem artichoke, and grilled buckwheat; and chocolate tart in various textures with coconut sorbet and Sichuan pepper crème anglaise. A superb welcome to Bordeaux.
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Bordeaux - Graves - Bordeaux
Wine Tasting in Graves
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte - Private wine châteaux in Leognan, suite
- Full breakfast, lunch and dinner with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
The beautiful area of Leognan is in-store today, with visits to two top Graves estates. Begin with a stop at Carbonnieux, one of the oldest winemaking estates in Bordeaux. The cultivation of vines at the Carbonnieux estate dates back to the 12th century, when it was founded by Benedictine monks from the Sainte Croix abbey in Bordeaux. The estate’s wines became internationally famous in the 18th century when the monks capitalized on the remarkable purity of the white wines by coining them Carbonnieux Mineral Water. The monks even exported the wines to Constantinople, where the Grand Turk adored them. The symbol of this estate still references its origins with its cross emblazoned with the letter “S.” While the red wines here are great, the white wines are world-class, and to start your day, you will enjoy a vertical tasting of their best whites.
Follow with lunch at the Caudalie wine spa estate at the Table du Lavoir restaurant. This warm and rustic space has a huge open fire and a very cozy feeling. The cuisine is country fare, and you might try duck magret roast with figs or a chargrilled steak with béarnaise sauce and homemade frites. After lunch, you will visit the prestigious Smith Haut Lafitte winery on the same gorgeous property. Your host is excellent, and after a tour of the historic chais (cellars), finish the visit in their tasting room, overlooking the vineyards. Tonight, you are staying in a gorgeous privately owned nearby Château, and you will feel like the lord of the manor, with your private chef and all! So check-in and chill out. You could go for a walk through the vines on their quaint estate, take a bath with the luxury bath salts you get in your welcome pack, or watch the sunset while sipping an aperitif. Dinner will be prepared just for you in their intimate dining room. Your chef is exceptionally hospitable and fun, a real treat you will undoubtedly enjoy!
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Bordeaux - Cap Ferret - Bordeaux
Visit Cap Ferret & dine on local oysters
Arcachon, oyster beds - Private wine châteaux in Leognan, suite
- Full breakfast, lunch and dinner with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
Today you are going to visit the chic area of Cap Ferret, the “Hamptons” of Bordeaux, where the well-heeled have their villas, from movie stars to football players. Your driver will pick you up in the Graves wine country, and you will travel west towards the Atlantic and board a private boat near the Dunes of Pyla, the largest natural dunes in Europe. You have a special and unique day planned!
Explore the picturesque Arcachon Basin by boat and pop into the mythical oyster shacks and fisherman huts to taste the world-famous local oysters, paired with champagne, of course. Sail on to Cap Ferret, a woodsy beach town on the peninsula, and sit down at your waterfront table at Café Pinasse. This shabby chic locale attracts all the local celebs and high society, and above all, seafood lovers. You will have a seafood extravaganza for lunch- Aquitaine Caviar, langoustines, mussels in garlic and white wine sauce, and naturally all paired with local wines. After lunch, your driver will take you back to your Château where you can relax, enjoy some free time and have a light dinner tonight.
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Leognan- Médoc
Private Chef and Butler at Exclusive Medoc Château
Chateau La Lagune - Private wine châteaux in Médoc, suite
- Full breakfast, lunch and dinner with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning after a hearty breakfast of homemade crèpes and strawberries with just-whipped cream, Jambon ham, and local cheese and buttery croissants, explore the winery on the grounds. You will be privy to a private tour and vertical wine tasting here at Haut Bailly, a Franco-American owned historic estate. The cellar master is a real personality, and you will hear expert commentary and plenty of jokes during the tasting. After a pleasant morning of wine swirling, you will move on to the Médoc wine region further north. This is the famed left bank where you will find the wine appellations of Pauillac, Margaux, St Estèphe, and St Julien. Lunch is next at Le Saint-James, here locally sourced ingredients are essential; they even proudly name their suppliers on the menu. You might try “Pigeon from Mrs. Leguen roasted on the chest Cucumber with saté and marinated eggplant with honey vinegar 100% edible Pigeon egg” or “Vintage Oscietre Caviar Gambas from the Estuary and oysters from Joël Dupuch, Razor clams and cockles served with Rhubarb, dairy cream refreshed with a sorbet” a genuinely sumptuous treat.
In the evening, arrive at your luxurious abode for the next few nights, the absolutely stunning Château La Lagune. Be welcomed like royalty by your own private butler and settle into your bedroom with romantic, period furniture. Freshen up and explore the property with its extensive vineyards and parkland. The private VIP dinner tonight is in the prettiest and coziest French country kitchen you could imagine. You will have your own chef and dishes vary by season but might include dishes like lobster bisque, wine poached salmon with black truffles and then finished off with superb, just- made chocolate soufflé. The delicious wines of the estate will be on offer and you can taste their premier wines and discover for yourself why they have been so well received by wine critics and collectors around the world. After dinner, why not sip cognac in the drawing-room? Magnifique.
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Bordeaux
Wine Tasting in the Margaux Region
Chateau Kirwan - Private wine châteaux in Médoc, suite
- Full breakfast, lunch and dinner with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
Spend the day in the most graceful appellation of the left bank today- Margaux. You will visit some of our favorite estates here such as Kirwan and Giscours and even admire the vineyards from the air today on a private helicopter ride! Begin the day with a private tour and tasting at Kirwan where the super friendly owner herself will greet you and join you on a captivating helicopter ride and aerial tour of the vineyards. This is a highlight of your vacation in Bordeaux!! After this riveting experience, tour the Kirwan estate and conclude with a tasting of five of their best vintages from the ’80s, ’90s and into the new millennium, and a private lunch. Here you might be treated to “Escalopes de foie gras poêlées et fruits de saison” (Foie gras escalopes with seasonal fruits), Magret de canard en croûte de sel et légumes de saison (Duck breast with a salt crust and seasonal vegetables) and almost certainly finishing with Assortiment de fromages servi avec Cheese platter served with Château Kirwan 1981 and a Tarte Tatin (Apple tart).
Next on to Château Giscours; the origins of the actual estate date back to the 14th century when it was a fortified dungeon. Wine has been made on the property since the 1550s and a century later it was being served on France’s sun king Louis XIV’s tables. Your dashing Dutch host has lived in Bordeaux for twenty years 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 surroundings. In the afternoon at your leisure (you could do some wine shopping in Margaux first if you like), return to your private Château. Dinner tonight will be based on your preferences, the chef is at your disposal.
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Bordeaux
Fine wine tour of St Estephe and Pauillac
Medieval Saint-Emilion - Luxury Relais & Châteaux, St Emilion
- Full breakfast, Michelin starred lunch with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
The tour just keeps getting better! Tonight you will head into medieval Saint-Emilion, your base for the next few nights. But first, you will visit the St Estèphe, Pauillac, and St Julien appellations and dine at one of Bordeaux’s hottest restaurants. Begin the day with a private tour and tasting at the outstanding Cos d’ Estournel, one of the absolute best estates in Bordeaux. Probably the most beautiful winery too, with its dramatic Oriental-inspired Pagodas. Cos d’ Estournel has just completed a massive, three year, multi-million euro renovation of their cellar. The gorgeous new Indian baroque style cellar room with its elephants and candles was designed by Jacques Garcia of Costes in Paris and the Regent in Bordeaux. And the stunning new vat room was created by the same architect that designed the Louis Vuitton shop on Champs-Élysées.
Take in the beautiful cellar and continue with a tasting of various vintages of Cos d’ Estournel and their unique and delicious white wine- a novelty for the region. Next up is a visit to neighboring Pauillac, with its powerful “monster” red wines adored by the likes of Robert Parker. You will visit one of the loveliest and friendliest estates, the Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande. One of our favorites, this estate is located just across the street from the fairy tale Pichon Longueville estate, and it borders vineyards with the 1st growth Latour. We love this winery not only for its terrific wines but for the beauty of the property and the warm welcome. You will also visit their small, quaint glass museum with views over the vineyards and the Gironde estuary. Super!
Don’t worry- lunch is next! And what a lunch, a tasting menu at Cordeillan Bages, a Relais & Chateaux renowned for its cuisine. The cuisine is daring, outrageous and creative, quite out of this world. You will try a variety of tasting dishes paired with wines from around France. Let your taste buds explore new dimensions! The last activity of the day is a fun, relaxed wine blending class in St Julien (only a few minutes down the road) at the highly esteemed Château Lagrange estate. Learn how the winemakers here do the “assemblage” and what makes a Bordeaux blend. In the evening, you will arrive at your boutique hotel, set amid the vineyard. You will probably not be hungry enough for dinner, but for a nibble, you can head into St Emilion. Settle in and enjoy your picturesque surroundings.
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St Emilion- Sauternes-St Emilion
Barsac & Sauternes Tastings
Chateau Coutet - Luxury Relais & Châteaux, St Emilion
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
Yesterday was a full day, so you have the morning today to sleep in late, relax or go for a swim in their beautiful natural swimming pool overlooking the vines. At noon your driver will collect you, and you will travel to the Sauternes appellation on one of the prettiest country roads in the French wine country. Arrive at the Coutet estate in Barsac, our personal favorite is the region with its historic Château, 13th century English tower, and incredibly charming French-American owners. Instead of yet-another tour and tasting, today, you will taste their wines as they were made to be tasted- over a meal.
In the private family home, enjoy a specially prepared multi-course lunch paired with their best wines (sweeties from Barsac-Sauternes) and with the owners themselves. This is an intimate and friendly experience, and if the weather is nice, you can even sip the aperitif on their scenic terrace, overlooking the vines. Lunch will be in their homey dining room amazingly unfussy, even with its original Chagall painting. It will include perfectly executed dishes like quail piccatta, buttered lobster, monkfish in a lemony sauce, pressed chicken in a terrine. This is a unique and special highlight of the tour at one of the top 1st growths in Sauternes.
There is no rush today, and at your leisure, head back into St Emilion. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this medieval gem. Dinner tonight is on your own; there are several excellent bistros and wine bars in the village.
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St Emilion
VIP Wine Tasting & Michelin Starred Dining
Haute cuisine, Saint Emilion - Luxury Relais & Châteaux, St Emilion
- Full breakfast, Michelin starred dinner with wines
- Chauffeured Mercedes
Alas, today is the last day of your tour. We better make it unique! How about tasting some incredible wines, visiting medieval wine caves, exploring underground churches, and finishing up with a spectacular tasting menu at St Emilion’s most famous gourmet haunt? You will start the day in the heart of the ancient hamlet of St Emilion, a UNESCO world heritage site. Escape the hordes of tourist above ground, for a private, underground tour! Trace the steps of the crusaders and saints. Admire the fantastic monolithic cathedral from the inside and hear about local legends ranging from the catastrophic 14th-century plague to modern-day grave robbers. After a fascinating morning, you will be personally greeted at Château Beausejour by one of the château’s owners of this family-run estate, who will take you on a special guided tour of the property, which is not usually open to the public. The tour includes a walk through the vineyard, a presentation of the winery and underground cellar, and then a vertical tasting of 3 vintages of Château Beausejour Premier Grand Cru Classé in the small lounge of the Château. A truly unique experience!
Next, enjoy a fabulous wine country lunch at Le Clos Mirande, this lovely, chic-rustic restaurant overlooking the vineyards of Montagne Saint-Emilion, is run by chef proprietor Laurent Supiot. Laurent creates tantalizing Bordelais specialties presented with panache. Now we have selected Château Fonplégade for you, with its beautiful setting, impeccable wines, and excellent hosts. This is the perfect place to conclude your epic wine tasting journey in the region. After a private tour and tasting of 2 or 3 of their spectacular wines, you will return to your hotel to relax and freshen up. Dinner tonight is at the superlative, 2 Michelin starred Hostellerie Plaisance, in St Emilion, where Chef Ronan Kervarrec is at the helm. Dinner is a decadent tasting menu that will include seasonal dishes such as Line-fished lean – Grilled fillet, braised leaks, “Esprit de Pavie” red wine sauce Squab pigeon – Roasted breast, preserved legs flavored with marjoram herbs and Ewe’s milk cheese – Au gratin in a potato, small thin slice of ham and then a sweet finale such as Cherry amaretto – Almond soufflé and cherry sorbet, crisp macaroons. After a splendid dinner, take a walk around St Emilion, lit up and ever so magical at night.
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Bordeaux
Depart Bordeaux
See you again soon, Au Revoir! - None
- Full breakfast
- Chauffeured Mercedes
Your driver will take you to Bordeaux airport for your outbound flight today and this concludes your unforgettable wine tasting tour of Bordeaux! You will leave with a lifetime of sweet memories, not to mention some fantastic photos and a few Cellar Tours gifts! We hope to see you again for your next tour!