Private Médoc Wine tour

North of Bordeaux, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, the Médoc is home to some of Bordeaux’s greatest red wines. Shaped by its gravel soils and by the influence of the estuary and the Atlantic, it is a land where Cabernet Sauvignon leads the blend, and home to nearly all the châteaux ranked in the famous 1855 Classification. This private day takes you into that world of legendary names and family estates, with your guide by your side to share the stories behind each château.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

Duration: a full day, about 8 hours
Experience: entirely private, transportation included, with your local, English-speaking wine expert, who is also your driver
Estates: 2 to 3 châteaux, from Grands Crus Classés of the 1855 Classification to Crus Bourgeois and family-owned properties
Route des Châteaux: a drive along the Médoc’s legendary wine road
Departure: from your hotel in Bordeaux (or another location in the city)

Download the itinerary here

YOUR DAY

Discover Médoc, home of the most renowned red wines in Bordeaux, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king.

Bordeaux / Médoc / Bordeaux (65 miles/ 2h30 total transfer time)

9:30 AM
Bordeaux
Your guide meets you at your hotel, or at any address in Bordeaux.
10:30 AM
Visit a « Grand Cru Classé » or a Visit to a Cooperage
Visit a premium winery in the Margaux or Saint-Julien appellations and taste the estate’s wines.
OR
Visit a family-owned cooperage and discover the vital role French oak plays in Bordeaux winemaking (subject to availability). Then drive along the legendary Route des Châteaux and admire the grand estates along the way.
12:15 PM
Lunch
Lunch at a charming local brasserie or a gastronomic restaurant, or a picnic at a château.
2:15 PM
Visit to a Family-Owned Estate
Visit a Cru Bourgeois or another family-owned estate and discover the character of its wines.
3:30 PM
Tasting at a « Grand Cru Classé »
Taste the wines of a top estate in Pauillac or Saint-Estèphe.
5:30 PM
Bordeaux
Your guide drives you back to your hotel.

Wineries visited / Organization / Price

Examples of wineries visited during the day:

Château Pichon Baron, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château du Tertre, Château Beychevelle, Château Branaire-Ducru, Château du Moulin Rouge, Château Margaux, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Prieuré Lichine, Château Paloumey, Château Lamothe Bergeron, Château Cos d’Estournel, Château d’Issan, Château Lascombes, Château Léoville Poyferré, Château Gruaud Larose, Château Kirwan, Château Giscours, Château Léoville Barton, Château Cantenac Brown, Château Brane Cantenac, Château Pedesclaux…

Note: some top wineries (1er Grand Cru Classé mainly) are very selective and are closed to visits during several periods of the year. As they have very limited availability, they need to be booked several months in advance.

Each visit usually lasts between 1 and 2 hours and includes a presentation of the vineyard, the history of the chateau, a guided tour of the vat room and cellars. Your tour finishes with a tasting of the wine(s) of the estate.