Where to drink by the glass in Bordeaux: natural, classical and grower-focused lists worth the detour.
Where to drink by the glass in Bordeaux: natural, classical and grower-focused lists worth the detour.
Intimate wine bar in the Saint-Pierre quarter with sommelier-curated rotating glass list strong in crus bourgeois and petit chateau Bordeaux; food-friendly plates.
The list: Bordeaux-focused list of 200+ references by the glass and bottle; daily rotating Medoc and Right Bank by-the-glass selections
Pours: Pauillac fifth growths, Pessac-Leognan blanc, Sauternes by the glass
Ground-floor wine bar of the historic Chapon Fin brasserie (founded 1825), with a 600-reference cellar list. Flights across all major Bordeaux appellations; full food menu available.
The list: 600-label Bordeaux-centric cellar; by-the-glass list rotated weekly by sommelier team; vertical flights of classified growths available
Pours: Medoc classified growths, Pessac-Leognan rouge et blanc, Sauternes grands crus
Sommelier: Nicolas Lascombes
Saint-Michel neighbourhood wine bar with a progressive list balancing natural Bordeaux producers against classic appellations; unpretentious atmosphere popular with vigneron community.
The list: Independent natural and classic Bordeaux list; 150 references; strong Pessac-Leognan and satellite appellations; natural producers from Fronsac and Entre-Deux-Mers
Pours: Fronsac artisan producers, Cotes de Bourg natural wines, Graves blancs
Riverside bar in the historic Chartrons wine-merchant quarter, with 250 Bordeaux references from affordable crus bourgeois to classified growths. Regular producer meet-and-greet evenings.
The list: Chartrons merchant-district wine bar with 250+ Bordeaux references; focus on second and third labels of classed growths; well-priced by-the-glass programme
Pours: Second wines of premiers crus, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Sauternes with foie gras
Cazes family-run village bar and bistro in the beautifully restored Bages hamlet, offering Lynch-Bages and Medoc pours alongside traditional Girondine food; popular lunch stop on Medoc vineyard tours.
The list: Cazes family bistro and wine bar in the village of Bages; Lynch-Bages, Echo de Lynch-Bages, and regional Medoc producers by the glass; full-appellation Pauillac list
Pours: Lynch-Bages by the glass, Echo de Lynch-Bages, Medoc crus bourgeois
Village wine bar in Saint-Emilion with a Right Bank-focused list and regular producer vertical tastings. Terrace seating with views over the medieval village.
The list: Saint-Emilion specialist bar; 120 references spanning Grand Cru to Premier Grand Cru Classe; vertical flights of 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020 available
Pours: Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru flights, Right Bank Cabernet Franc expressions, Pomerol by the glass
Chartrons wine bar with a sommelier-driven 200-label list mixing Bordeaux appellations with a short international selection. Long bar counter and cave seating; popular wine-trade social venue.
The list: International plus Bordeaux selection; 200 references; strong Pessac-Leognan and Graves blanc programme; regular themed tastings with growers
Pours: Pessac-Leognan blanc sec, Medoc fifth growth flights, Sauternes with cheese boards
Introduce yourself to the art of tasting and discover the richness of the Bordeaux vineyard in an intimate and uninhibited atmosphere, the wine will no longer seem lik...
Become a wine specialist in 1,5 hours followed by an afternoon tour of the prestigious St-Emilion vineyards.
Enjoy Saint-Emilion's most beautiful landscapes and learn more about one of the most famous wines.
Peak wine-travel season in Bordeaux is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Bordeaux rewards trust.