WINE TOURS IN BORDEAUX

A glimpse of the Bordeaux vineyards, appellations and wines

The region producing Bordeaux wines stretches across the banks of the Gironde estuary as well as the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. There are over 50 appellations (AOC) in the Bordeaux wine region, including some exceptional ones: Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Sauternes or Entre-Deux-Mers, each of them with their own identity thanks to their winemakers, their different grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon, Semillon and Muscadelle to name a few)and the gravelly or clayey-limestone soils they grow on.

Get a taste of the Bordeaux culinary scene

It is said that Bordeaux has more restaurants per inhabitant than any other French city. In any case, when your goal is to discover wine and food pairings, you can’t go wrong in the region. Go for classic or original wine pairings, depending on how daring you want to be. With salty Bay of Arcachon oysters, you might stick with a lively white wine from the Bordeaux appellation, or go for something original and try a fresh, fruity rosé with charcuterie platter at a local wine bar. A woody white wine from Pessac-Léognan goes perfectly with chicken or a stuffed capon for a festive meal. An entrecôte à la bordelaise with its shallot and red wine sauce is a big favourite, or why not try a round wine, like Bordeaux Supérieur with a savoury duck dish or Pauillac lamb?

Bordeaux highlights

The city of Bordeaux and the medieval village of Saint-Émilion – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites – offer churches, bell towers, abbeys and more. And after visiting the region’s vineyards to the north, south, east or west of these charming towns, head for the coast, its beaches and the famous Bay of Arcachon with the Dune du Pilat. While in Bordeaux, you can also embark on a sensory and interactive experience at the Cité du Vin – the city’s iconic wine museum.    

And now a little help with some vocabulary specific to Bordeaux wines:
Courtier: a broker who arranges the sale of wines between négociants and producers
Négoce/négociant de vin: trade/wine trader
En primeur: wines sold by négociants the year after the harvest, once they’ve been evaluated by experts, but bottled about 2 years later after ageing in barrels
Entre-Deux-Mers: literally meaning “between two seas”; this is the geographic area between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers

How to reach Bordeaux

By train: Eurostar from London (2 hrs 20 min) and high-speed (TGV) train from Paris, in just 2 hours. Click here for French train timetables and prices.

By plane: Bordeaux-Mérignac International Airport, about 8 km from the city centre, easily reached by shuttle bus or tram. Click here for info on getting to and from the airport.

By car: Bordeaux is easily accessible via major motorways and toll-free roads, placing the wine capital close to its vineyards and just a few hours from France’s major economic areas.