Bordeaux

Wine Tour

One of the main reasons to visit Bordeaux is to see its well-known wine region. There are many different options to choose between and tailor to your desires including half day and full day trips to Saint Emiliion, Medoc, chateaus, vineyards and wine shops for tastings. Depending on what sounds most appealing to you and what you have time for will help you narrow down your options.

Rustic Vines Wine Tours

Rustin Vines Wine Tours offers half day and full day trips. They offer small group tours daily and have various different options. We did the full day tour that met around 8:30 in the morning. The tour started in Bordeaux and headed to the Right Bank, known for Merlot and Cabernet Franc wines. We drove to Saint Emilion where we received a short walking tour of the town before visiting a wine shop for a tasting around 10:30. After the tasting, we drove to a Chateau (Chateau Tour de Pressac) where we received a tour of the property and learned about the wine made at the vineyard. The visit ended with a tasting of a few of the wines they produced.

From the Chateau, we drove back to the starting point and had lunch at the Rustic Vines shop. After lunch, the second half of the tour began and we drove the opposite direction to the Left Bank and specifically to Medoc. The Left Bank is known for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Here we started at Chateau Haut-Breton where we received a tour of the property and learned about the wine produced before ending with a wine tasting. After the tasting, we drove to a famous estate to admire the chateau before heading to the final stop. The last stop was a wine shop called Cave l’Avant Garde where we enjoyed another tasting.

In total, the full day tour included a visit to Saint Emilion, two chateaus with wine tastings, and two wine shops with tastings along with a break for lunch.

Saint Emilion

Quaint village about 30 minutes from Bordeaux that draws in wine lovers. The place is alive in the summer and very quiet in the winter, where you may run into just a few people. The town has cute cafes and wine stores along with a very nice hotel. Check the train scheduled from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion as trains run between the two French towns, but not extremely frequently. Enjoy a day-trip to Saint Emilion, strolling through the town and stopping into shops for wine tastings.

Medoc

Area that makes up the majority of the left bank of the Bordeaux wine region

Place de la Bourse

A beautiful square and the one that is typically associated with Bordeaux located on the edge of Old Town along the river. It is definitely worth venturing over to the river and admiring the facade

River Path

Due to its location, Bordeaux tends to stay warmer throughout the year. Enjoy a walk or run along the path on either side of the river.

Chateau Pape Clement

Chateau located between the center of Bordeaux and the airport. The Chateau offers organized tours of the property providing background on the vineyard and ending with a wine tasting. The daily tours are with medium sized groups (typically around 20 people) and last about 90 minutes. The tour is nice and the wine tasting at the end is a great way to end the trip. This can easily be squeezed in on the afternoon before flying out of the Bordeaux airport and works well with some time to kill as the property is about 10 minutes from the airport. The Chateau also operates as a hotel and has some rooms for guests that wish to stay in a Chateau.

Chateau Tour de Pressac

Chateau located not far from Saint Emilion with a beautiful property and gorgeous view over the vineyards as it sits up on a hill

Chateau Haut-Breton

Nice Chateau found in Medoc that offers guided tours and tastings. Drop-ins are welcome to stop by and have a tasting in the wine shop

Marche des Quais

Sunday market located along the Garonne river, just opposite Darwin. The market is set up with tents where people sell fruits, vegetables, fish, seafood (including oysters!), meats, cheeses, and more. If you walk through here on a nice weather day, it will surely be busy with people

Darwin

The Darwin neighborhood has a bit of an edge and different vibe to it than other areas in Bordeaux. The more hipster neighborhood is on the opposite side of the river as the Old Town area. The area has more street arts, boutique restaurants and is largely residential.

Rue Sainte Catherine

Busy shopping street in Bordeaux that is made for pedestrians only