Bordeaux produces by far some of the most sought-after wines in the world. On the Left Bank, there is abundance of round pebbles, gravels and cobbles from the Pyrenees, beginning several million years ago. The Right Bank is sedimentary, with clays and sandstones from the Massif Central layered on top of a Jurassic limestone base.
Wineries of interest are Premier Grand Cru Mouton-Rothschild, Grand Cru’s in Margaux, Pauillac, St. Estephe, Sauternes & St. Emilion, Ch. Haut-Brion. You will understand why the wines from Mêdoc & St. Emilion are so different, and meet the winemakers at Ch. Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux’s Ch. du Tertre, plus the new generation and more. Along with its great wines, Bordeaux is also known for outstanding food.
During your free time, the trendy city of Bordeaux and lovely St. Emilion and its neighbors beckon.
A professional driver and comfortable bus will transport us from start to finish so there is no need to worry about driving once you get there.
You will have the opportunity to purchase and ship wine home if you wish.
What’s Included:
- Expertise of tour leaders
- Hotel accommodations for 6 nights along the tour route
- Meals as noted in the itinerary (B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner)
- Daily wine tastings
- All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
- Transportation between hotels and for all daily itineraries
- Assistance with transport at tour’s end
- All gratuities
- Pre-tour and in-tour information
- Suggested reading list
Bordeaux Left & Right
Tour Dates: TBD
Adventures in the Wines and Geology of Bordeaux
What’s Included:
- Expertise of tour leaders
- Hotel accommodations for 6 nights along the tour route
- Meals as noted in the itinerary (B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner)
- Daily wine tastings
- All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
- Transportation between hotels and for all daily itineraries
- Assistance with transport at tour’s end
- All gratuities
- Pre-tour and in-tour information
- Suggested reading list
What’s Not Included:
- Passport and all visa fees, photos, immunizations, or other travel documentation fees
- Airfare for flights to and from France
- Train fare or other travel before and after the tour
- Airline or train transfers and baggage handling
- Personal items such as souvenirs or wines that might be purchased for personal use
-Other items noted as optional or not specifically mentioned as included
- Optional travel insurance including cancellation/delay/lost baggage insurance
Rates: Double Occupancy: $5,925/person Single Occupancy: Add $875
• 3 pm: Rendezvous at hotel TBD in Bordeaux city (note: TGV from Paris Gare Montparnasse and/or CDG to Bordeaux Gare Saint Jean virtually every hour) • Briefing at hotel on the week ahead, geology overview of Bordeaux, Bordeaux AOC’s, wines and classifications • Visit "Cité du Vin" museum on your own • Dinner together at Bordeaux restaurant TBD
• Breakfast at hotel • Presentation, Q&A on bus of geology, AOC’s of the Médoc • Tour and tasting at Ch. du Tertre (AOC Margaux) • Tour Haut-Médoc AOC’s: Margaux, Listrac-en-Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe • Lunch at Maison d’Estournel in Saint Estephe • Tour and tasting at 1er Grand Cru Ch. Mouton-Rothschild (AOC Pauillac) • Enjoy Bordeaux restaurant scene for dinner on your own
• Breakfast at hotel • Tour AOC Pessac-Léognan, AOC Graves, AOC Cérons and AOC Barsac • Tour and tasting at Ch. Guiraud (AOC Sauternes) • Lunch at La Chapelle • Tour and tasting at 1er Grand Cru Ch. Haut Brion • Geology and wines of AOC’s Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Loupiac, Cadillac, Premiéres Côtes de Bordeaux • Tasting at hotel and briefing on geology and wines of the Right Bank • Dinner together in Bordeaux
• Breakfast at hotel • Travel to St. Émilion • Geology and wines of AOC Entre-Deux-Mers, AOC Bordeaux and AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux • Picnic lunch in the vines • Tour and tasting at Ch. Reignac (AOC Bordeaux) or Ch. d’Aiguilhe (AOC Castillon CdB) • Tour thru St. Émilion “satellite” AOC’s: Lussac-, Puisseguin-, Montagne-, and St. Georges-St. Émilion • Check into Hotel • Dinner together in Saint Émilion
• Breakfast at hotel • Briefing on St. Émilion geology, AOC and Grand Cru classifications • Tour of St. Émilion vineyards • Tour of limestone cellars and tasting at Grand Cru Classé Ch. Rochebelle • Lunch together in St. Émilion • Afternoon to explore St. Émilion • Tasting by DDK at hotel for those interested • Dinner on your own
• Breakfast at the hotel • Tour geology and wines of Libornais AOC's: Pomerol, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Fronsac, Canon-Fronsac, Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg • Picnic lunch in the vines • Tour and tasting at top château (Ch. Petrus? Ch. Cheval Blanc?) • Farewell dinner together in St. Émilion
• Breakfast at the hotel • Guidance with travel to Bordeaux TGV Gare Saint-Jean • Au revoir les amis du vin et de la géologie
This itinerary and lodging arrangements are subject to change based on weather conditions and the availability of scheduled wineries/vineyards.