June 2023

The land in the Bordeaux wine region is very varied, offering a large variety of soils and different climatic conditions favorable to different grape varieties. Generally speaking, the terroirs can be broken down into Left Bank, Right Bank, and also Entre-Deux-Mers.The River Garonne runs through the city of Bordeaux, and the Left Bank indicates the appellations to the left of the river, and the Right Bank those appellations on the right of the Dordogne river. Entre-Deux-Mers (‘between-two-seas’) is the area to the east of Bordeaux city, in between the tidal tributary Rivers Garonne and Dordogne, which forms an upside-down Y-shape, before the rivers converge and become the River

The best Bordeaux wines have a complexity to them, they’re multi-layered, influenced by the “terroir”, weather, time of harvesting, carefully blended grape varietals, vats and barrels used, the fermentation and maturation processes, and so on. Bordeaux’s wine classification systems are similarly complex, at first glance, not least because there isn’t one simple overriding system, there are several. So, to help you understand what they all mean, we’ve written an introduction for you.Bordeaux wine classifications 101The most well-known classification systems are the 1855 Classification and the classifications of: Saint-Émilion; Sauternes and Barsac; and Pessac-Léognan. Some classifications are revised relatively regularly, some rarely, so they’re more of a snapshot in

THE BEST OF BORDEAUX When you’re looking forward to visiting Bordeaux’s beautiful châteaux, hearing the fascinating details about the wine production process, and tasting all the delicious wines… what to wear is probably not at the forefront of your mind! Generally speaking, although there’s no official dress code for visiting the region’s wineries, think casual chic, the kind of attire you’d wear for dinner at a nice restaurant.Don’t worry, we’ve compiled some top tips for you, so you can get the most out of your wine tours experiences. Here’s our head-to-toe guide:Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen (and Sun Hats)Bear in mind that although you’ll be visiting some indoor facilities,

THE BEST OF BORDEAUX Reading a wine label may seem intimidating at first, but with a little knowledge, it can be easy to work out. We want to share with you our tips on how to read wine labels so that you can impress your friends and become a real expert! #1 - Look for the name of the wine, this information is usually the most prominent element on the label. It can be either :  An estate wine, in which case it is written “Château …” or sometimes (but less frequently) “Domaine …” or “Couvent …”, “Clos …”.   A branded wine (as “Mouton Cadet”) or a wine from a cooperative (the

The practice of purchasing wine ‘en primeur’ has its roots in Bordeaux, dating back to the early 18th century, and has been adopted by other regions such as Burgundy and the Rhone Valley as well as regions outside of France. ‘En Primeur’, also known as wine futures, is an annual event that starts in April, where wine merchants and critics across the world gather to taste and purchase wines from the latest vintage that are still aging in barrels in the cellars of the wineries.  Based on their assessment of the quality and potential of the wine, they place orders for the wine at a price that is usually

Medoc is a wine region located north of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde estuary. The region is known for producing some of the world's most prestigious red wines, made primarily from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. The following top picks of wineries in Medoc have been selected by our team of experts who have visited these châteaux themselves and have loved them – so we are recommending some of the best options out there! Here are our top picks of wineries in the Medoc region: 1 - Château Pichon Baron We’re jumping straight into one of the most renowned wineries of the region, located in the town of

Are you looking for a unique and breathtaking experience? Join us on a visit to the Dune du Pilat (aka Dune du Pyla), the tallest sand dune Europe has to offer, located on the coast of the Arcachon Bay area, approximately an hour drive from Bordeaux city center, it’s the perfect day out away from the city. Standing tall at 107 meters, the Dune du Pilat offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and the ocean. The dune is constantly shifting and evolving, making it a truly dynamic and ever-changing natural wonder. One of the best ways to experience this landmark is by taking a private tour with our knowledgeable guides

Bonjour, As you’ve probably heard, there have been ongoing protests and strikes taking place around France about the pension reforms. We’re here to let you know what it's like travelling to France during protests at the moment and whether it could affect your trip. Yes, it is ok to travel to France! Despite the ongoing protests and strikes, as locals, we can confidently say it is still totally safe for tourists to travel to France. While some demonstrations and strikes may disrupt public transport, the other days it is normal and the streets are calm. That said, it’s important to be aware of any protests or strikes that may be taking