What is a Wine Tour in Bordeaux ?
Firstly you have to know that wine tourism is still "new" in Bordeaux. A few years ago visting the estates or Chateaux was relatively uncommun but things are changing. However, don't be mislead into to thinking this is just like in "Napa" where you can stop at the first winery on the road, ring the bell and ask for a taste. Most of the Chateaux will be happy to welcome you, but it is better to make an appointment and to select the place where you want to visit and take part in tastings.
A visit takes around 1-1h30 hours, where the tour guide will explain you the history of the estate, the "terroir", the vineyard itself, and the process involved. You will then be able to have a taste of the wines from the estate. On average you can visit 3 Chateaux per day.
Rule 1: the more famous the winery, the more difficult it is to gain access. Forget about Cheval Blanc, Yquem, Margaux, Lafite or Latour. On the other hand, many other Chateaux are open to visitors and have their own staff who lead the tour and tastings.
Rule 2: The less prestigious Chateaux are also well worth a visit. Most of the time you will meet directly the owner or the winemaker as they are usually family run estates and they therefore don't have staff. A wine tasting is not just a glass of wine in your hand it is also an unique opportunity to share the owner's passion and products.
Depending on your expectations and budget a good solution is to use the services of a local wine tour operator as 33 Tour Bordeaux & Chateaux . They will organize visits for you and will drive you throughout the day to each destination. This type of tour has an added advantage in that it offers a bespoke and personal service with a guide who has a detailed knowledge of the wine region.
Understanding Bordeaux wines can be quite confusing, so the use of a guide is very valuable, they will be able to explain the vineyard in detail, as well as grape varieties, designations and the classification system. Also they will drive you safely from places to places as they are not drinking alcohol.
St Emilion, Sauternes, Pauillac vineyards are far away from each others. So you will need to think about one day per region. For example one day for St Emilion, one day for Medoc, one day for Sauternes. A full wine tour it is a minimum of 3-4 days. The city of Bordeaux offers the best location to start your journey.
A good value option is also to visit the Bordeaux Tourist Board , who organizes group tours.
The best time to visit vineyard is from April till October and harvest take place usually between Sept-Oct but, it is also very busy, so be sure to book early. From Nov to March you will have a greater chance to gain acess to the more famous Chateaux and vineyards.
Showing posts with label Bordeaux Wine Tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bordeaux Wine Tours. Show all posts
Medoc & Sauternes
We are happy to inform you about our new tour : Medoc & Sauternes, red and sweet wines.
This tour will give you the opportunity to experience wines from Margaux, Pauillac,St Julien, Pessac Leognan and of course Sauternes.
It is all the diversity of the Bordeaux vineyard Terroirs that you will taste.
The Chateaux visited are all Grand Crus Classes and produce different style of wines.
We have also plan lunches in some of the best local gourmet restaurant to taste at the French gastronomy.
More about this wine tour on our website : Bordeaux Wine Trip
Some information about the Medoc wines : http://www.medoc-wines.com/accueil.aspx
and Sauternes : http://www.sauternes-barsac.com/z/index.php
This tour will give you the opportunity to experience wines from Margaux, Pauillac,St Julien, Pessac Leognan and of course Sauternes.
It is all the diversity of the Bordeaux vineyard Terroirs that you will taste.
The Chateaux visited are all Grand Crus Classes and produce different style of wines.
We have also plan lunches in some of the best local gourmet restaurant to taste at the French gastronomy.
More about this wine tour on our website : Bordeaux Wine Trip
Some information about the Medoc wines : http://www.medoc-wines.com/accueil.aspx
and Sauternes : http://www.sauternes-barsac.com/z/index.php
Medoc Wine Tour
Located on left bank of the Gironde, the Medoc is a long wavy strip of land, known for its famous wines : Margaux, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Saint Estephe and prestigious Chateaux : Margaux, Palmer, Latour, Mouton Rothschild ...Grands Crus Classes 1855, Crus Bourgeois or "artisans" vintages, come and meet men and women who make these wines of exceptions.
we have created a spacial Medoc Wine Tour dedicated to Grand Cru Classe 1855.
A guided tour will make you discover terroir, appellation, vat room, ageing cellar and all the winemaking process from the grape to the glass.
A commented wine tasting of different vintage will close the visits.Medoc it is also forest, water, gastronomy and a wonderful architectural heritage testifying to its richness and past.
Bordered by wonderful residences and fields, discover the famous “Chateau wine road” which curves through all the Medoc like an open air museum.
More information on Medoc wines
we have created a spacial Medoc Wine Tour dedicated to Grand Cru Classe 1855.
A guided tour will make you discover terroir, appellation, vat room, ageing cellar and all the winemaking process from the grape to the glass.
A commented wine tasting of different vintage will close the visits.Medoc it is also forest, water, gastronomy and a wonderful architectural heritage testifying to its richness and past.
Bordered by wonderful residences and fields, discover the famous “Chateau wine road” which curves through all the Medoc like an open air museum.
More information on Medoc wines
St Emilion Wine Tour
Saint-Emilion the vineyard and the landscape are listed by the UNESCO as World Heritage. Just a handful of wonderful highlights are honoured by such a distinction.Visit, stay and taste this unique spot, which is as much a village as an extraordinary nectar.The wine is a great tradition, and it was already well known during the Gallo-Roman period.
This appellation produces a tremendously wide range of wines, for the greater delight of wine lovers everywhere in the world and owes its amazing variety to the rich diversity of their terroirs.Young wines have aromas of blackcurrant, raspberry, and blackberry, as well as vanilla and fresh toast. Older wines have a bouquet of leather or venison and generally have a better structure and more strength…
Meet the wine-makers, talk to them and share in theirs methods, their passion and history: it's going to be an outstanding and unforgettable event for you.Saint Emilion is close of other appelation as Lussac, Montagne or Pomerol.
Saint Emilion Wine Tour
Toursim Office Board
This appellation produces a tremendously wide range of wines, for the greater delight of wine lovers everywhere in the world and owes its amazing variety to the rich diversity of their terroirs.Young wines have aromas of blackcurrant, raspberry, and blackberry, as well as vanilla and fresh toast. Older wines have a bouquet of leather or venison and generally have a better structure and more strength…
Meet the wine-makers, talk to them and share in theirs methods, their passion and history: it's going to be an outstanding and unforgettable event for you.Saint Emilion is close of other appelation as Lussac, Montagne or Pomerol.
Saint Emilion Wine Tour
Toursim Office Board
Sauternes Wine Tour
Sauternes
King of the white syrupy wines, Sauternes is a natural sweet wine.Of a major yellow colour, we can find honey flavours, orange or white flowers. Getting old, it becomes sweetier and then takes a more spiced taste, like gingerbread.It goes perfectly with the "foie gras", sweeted-salted dishes and nut-tasted cheeses or Roquefort.The secret of this wine so particular is due to the geographical situation of its wines, set up in a small valley crossed by a river (Ciron), which makes the climatic condition so particular to growth the grapes to an extreme maturity.
Graves
The Graves production is white and red wine. Powerful with a complex bouquet and notes of candied and dried fruits, give an expression to these wines very appreciated by world wine lovers.
Sauternes Wine Tour
King of the white syrupy wines, Sauternes is a natural sweet wine.Of a major yellow colour, we can find honey flavours, orange or white flowers. Getting old, it becomes sweetier and then takes a more spiced taste, like gingerbread.It goes perfectly with the "foie gras", sweeted-salted dishes and nut-tasted cheeses or Roquefort.The secret of this wine so particular is due to the geographical situation of its wines, set up in a small valley crossed by a river (Ciron), which makes the climatic condition so particular to growth the grapes to an extreme maturity.
Graves
The Graves production is white and red wine. Powerful with a complex bouquet and notes of candied and dried fruits, give an expression to these wines very appreciated by world wine lovers.
Sauternes Wine Tour
Introduction
Welcome on the 33Tour blog.
33Tour is a local transportation agency specialized in Bordeaux Winery Tours .
"33" is the local administrative number of the Gironde (Bordeaux + wine region), It is why 33Tour evoke the company geographic identity.
Because the Bordeaux vineyard is one of the most famous in the world but also one of the most complicated to understand (even for French people !). These pages try to explain what are the mains appellations, classification, terroir ...
33Tour is a local transportation agency specialized in Bordeaux Winery Tours .
"33" is the local administrative number of the Gironde (Bordeaux + wine region), It is why 33Tour evoke the company geographic identity.
Because the Bordeaux vineyard is one of the most famous in the world but also one of the most complicated to understand (even for French people !). These pages try to explain what are the mains appellations, classification, terroir ...
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