Bordeaux: Médoc & St-Emilion Wine 3 châteaux with lunch
Tour two mythical wine regions of Médoc and St-Emilion in Bordeaux. Taste wines at 3 wine estates and enjoy a picnic lunch in the garden of a beautiful chateau in St-Emilion.
Day-by-day estate-visit plans for Bordeaux: weekend, first-timer and deep-cellar editions.
Day-by-day plans
Left Bank Classics Weekend ★ 4.8
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Day 1
- Morning
- Arrive Bordeaux; check in at Chateau Cordeillan-Bages hotel (Pauillac); walk the Pauillac quay and Maison du Vin for a first orientation tasting
- Afternoon
- Pre-booked visit to Chateau Lynch-Bages cellar and barrel chai; optional upgrade to visit Chateau Mouton Rothschild museum (book months in advance)
- Evening
- Drive south along the Route des Chateaux through Saint-Julien; view Ducru-Beaucaillou and Leoville facades at sunset
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Day 2
- Morning
- Pre-booked appointment at Chateau Palmer (Margaux); 90-min tour of the biodynamic estate with tasting of current and one back vintage
- Afternoon
- L'Intendant tower browsing; optional structured tasting at Bordeaux Wine School (walk-in afternoon slots)
- Evening
- Return to Bordeaux city; walk the Chartrons quay; visit Musee du Vin et du Negoce
Saint-Emilion and Pomerol Right Bank Deep Dive ★ 4.9
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Day 1
- Morning
- Arrive Saint-Emilion village; check in at Hostellerie de Plaisance; walk the village with Maison du Vin orientation tasting
- Afternoon
- Guided visit to Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot (Premier Grand Cru Classe B); underground limestone cellars and current vintage tasting
- Evening
- Jurade tower views from the village; evening free in Saint-Emilion
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Day 2
- Morning
- Drive to Pomerol; private tour at Vieux Chateau Certan (pre-booked months in advance)
- Afternoon
- Drive to Fronsac; Chateau de la Riviere cave experience tour and tasting
- Evening
- Return to Saint-Emilion; sunset walk around the vineyard plateau
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Day 3
- Morning
- Chateau Canon visit (Chanel-owned Premier Grand Cru Classe B; appointment required)
- Afternoon
- Drive south to Sauternes; Chateau Rieussec tasting appointment
- Evening
- Return to Bordeaux city
Premier Cru and Sauternes Splurge ★ 5.0
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Day 1
- Morning
- Arrive Bordeaux; check in at Les Sources de Caudalie (Martillac); Vinotherapie Barrel Bath spa experience
- Afternoon
- Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte tour and Pessac-Leognan blanc vertical tasting with winemaker Fabien Teitgen
- Evening
- Sunset walk in the estate vineyard; Vinotherapie spa
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Day 2
- Morning
- Drive north to Pauillac; pre-booked appointment at Chateau Mouton Rothschild museum and tasting
- Afternoon
- Chateau Pichon-Lalande visit (appointment required); second wine and grand vin comparative tasting
- Evening
- Chateau Cordeillan-Bages check-in
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Day 3
- Morning
- Drive south to Sauternes; check in at Hotel Lalique (Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey)
- Afternoon
- Chateau d'Yquem tasting appointment (book 6+ weeks in advance)
- Evening
- Sauternes village walk; visit producer cooperative cellar
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Day 4
- Morning
- Morning at leisure; Chateau Rieussec tasting (Sauternes Premier Cru, Rothschild-owned)
- Afternoon
- Cite du Vin museum and Belvedere tasting bar; closing the loop on Bordeaux wine history
- Evening
- Depart Bordeaux
Biodynamic Bordeaux Weekend ★ 4.7
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Day 1
- Morning
- Arrive Pauillac; Chateau Pontet-Canet visit (Demeter-certified, 81 hectares); blending workshop experience
- Afternoon
- Chateau Lynch-Bages visit (for contrast with conventional Pauillac); afternoon tasting
- Evening
- Drive to Cantenac (Margaux appellation)
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Day 2
- Morning
- Chateau Palmer visit (Demeter-certified since 2017; 66 hectares); full biodynamic cellar tour and current vintage tasting
- Afternoon
- Visit Max Bordeaux (Chartrons) for natural Bordeaux selections; Bordeaux natural wine route self-guided
- Evening
- Cite du Vin for wine-culture context
Book wine experiences in Bordeaux
Bordeaux: Médoc Wine Road Private Tour
Explore Bordeaux’s Left Bank on a private tour of the Médoc. Visit iconic wine estates, admire grand architecture, and enjoy sweeping vineyard views.
From Bordeaux: Saint-Emilion Wine Tasting Tour
Explore the medieval village of Saint-Emilion and visit two wineries on a tour from Bordeaux
Itineraries in Bordeaux, FAQ
When is the best time to visit Bordeaux for wine?
Peak wine-travel season in Bordeaux is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
Do I need an appointment to taste at Bordeaux estates?
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
What hours do Bordeaux cellars and tasting rooms keep?
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
How does tipping work at Bordeaux tastings?
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
What is the one wine to try in Bordeaux?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Bordeaux rewards trust.