You’ll be picked up near Place des Quinconces in central Bordeaux in the morning for your full-day wine tour. Aboard an air-conditioned coach, relax as you travel to one prestigious and two lesser-known Bordeaux wine regions to visit three winery chateaux, all of which are winners of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards in one of the following fields: architecture and landscape, accommodation, wine tourism services, sustainable wine tourism practices or innovative wine tourism experiences. On your drive, your guide will offer you a wine map and explain the various wine areas of Bordeaux, so you can get acquainted with the region.
Your first stop is a winery in Sauternes or in Bordeaux and Bordeaux Sup□rieur, and its signature sweet white wine is made predominantly from S□millon grape varieties but also from Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes. Bordeaux and Bordeaux Sup□rieur appellation wines may be produced everywhere in Bordeaux, and represent more than half of Bordeaux's wine production. If you visit here, you'll try the red and white wines that embody the much-appreciated Bordeaux style of harmonious elegance and aromatic complexity.
Your guide will explain the winemaking process, from the vine to the bottle, on your tour of the vat room and the cellar filled with oak barrels. As you sample the winery’s signature wines, you’ll receive tips about the art of wine tasting and pairing wine with food. For example, Sauternes wines pair perfectly with foie gras.
Your first tasting is followed by lunch at a wine estate in Fronsac, Bordeaux or Lalande de Pomerol. Fronsac is a village in the Gironde department that gave its name to the Fronsac AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrl□e) wine. After lunch, it’s time to head to your last stop, a Top Growth chateau in the St-Emilion appellation where you’ll taste the wines made on the property. Sip wine and soak up the views of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed wine region.
At the end of your day, relax on the drive back to the city of Bordeaux, arriving at around 6:30pm.