Wine fairs and en primeur weeks in Bordeaux worth planning a trip around, by month.
Wine fairs and en primeur weeks in Bordeaux worth planning a trip around, by month.
Bordeaux wine festival held biennially on the Garonne quays since 1998. 70+ wine pavilions, 35,000 tasting tokens sold; classified-growth chateaux pouring current releases and select back vintages.
Host: CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) and Bordeaux City Council
Featured producers: chateau-margaux, chateau-lafite-rothschild, chateau-mouton-rothschild, chateau-latour, chateau-haut-brion, chateau-cheval-blanc, petrus
Annual consumer and trade grand tasting organised by the Bettane et Desseauve wine guide, held in Hangar 14 on the Chartrons quay. 250+ Bordeaux producers presenting current releases and en-primeur samples.
Host: Editions Bettane et Desseauve
Featured producers: chateau-pontet-canet, chateau-palmer, chateau-cos-destournel, chateau-ducru-beaucaillou, chateau-figeac
The world's leading international wine and spirits trade fair, held biennially at the Bordeaux exhibition centre. 2,400+ exhibitors from 40+ countries; Bordeaux first growths always prominently represented.
Host: Vinexpo (Reed Exhibitions / GL Events)
Featured producers: chateau-margaux, chateau-latour, chateau-mouton-rothschild, chateau-haut-brion
The annual en-primeur tasting week when international trade and press taste barrel samples of the new vintage at the chateaux before release. Prices set and allocations agreed; a central commercial event in the Bordeaux calendar.
Host: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB)
Featured producers: chateau-margaux, chateau-lafite-rothschild, chateau-latour, chateau-mouton-rothschild, chateau-haut-brion, chateau-cheval-blanc, petrus
Wine-themed marathon founded in 1985: 42.2km through the Pauillac and Saint-Julien vineyards with 23 chateau wine stops en route. Costumed participants; oysters and Medoc wines at each station.
Host: Association Marathon du Medoc
Featured producers: chateau-lafite-rothschild, chateau-latour, chateau-mouton-rothschild, chateau-lynch-bages, chateau-pichon-baron
The ancient Jurade brotherhood's medieval ceremonies held twice yearly in Saint-Emilion village: the June ban on harvesting and the September proclamation of the vintage from atop the Tour du Roi. Street processions and open tastings.
Host: La Jurade de Saint-Emilion
Featured producers: chateau-angelus, chateau-cheval-blanc, chateau-pavie, chateau-figeac, chateau-canon
Open-house weekend of the Pessac-Leognan appellation: about forty chateaux open for visits, tastings, workshops and food on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, with dinner-tastings on the Friday and Saturday evenings at 90 euros per person including VAT, booked by phone only. The 2025 weekend ran on 6 and 7 December with 39 chateaux.
Host: Appellation Pessac-Leognan
Tip: Visits to La Mission Haut-Brion run on fixed time slots booked by email; the dinner-tastings are booked by phone only, from the appellation's event page.
Open-house weekend of the Sauternes and Barsac appellations, with close to 50 chateaux in Barsac, Bommes, Preignac, Sauternes and Fargues opening for tastings, visits and workshops. The 2026 edition is on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, 11:00 to 18:00; tastings are free and need no reservation, while some activities such as a masterclass at Chateau La Tour Blanche (30 euros) are paid.
Host: ODG Sauternes & Barsac
Tip: Visits at some estates, for example Chateau Climens, are by reservation only and run on a single day; check each estate on the programme page.
Open-house weekend of the Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux appellation, with around thirty chateaux and wine estates offering tastings, activities and food. The 31st edition was held on 6 and 7 June 2026, 10:00 to 19:00; one-hour tasting workshops at the Maison des Vins de Cadillac, led by a trainer from the Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux, cost 3 euros per person.
Host: Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
Tip: The workshops at the Maison des Vins de Cadillac need no booking and run at fixed times on both days, subject to available places.
Explore Bordeaux’s Left Bank on a private tour of the Médoc. Visit iconic wine estates, admire grand architecture, and enjoy sweeping vineyard views.
Enjoy a food and wine tour in the Saint-Emilion region starting from Bordeaux. Explore a UNESCO-listed village, visit three wineries, and enjoy a picnic lunch at a château.
Discover the magnificent village of Saint-Emilion on a customized wine tour from Bordeaux. Enjoy an expert tasting in a grand cru château. Stop for photos to capture t...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Bordeaux (88) · Wine tours and day trips in Bordeaux (137) · Wine and cheese tastings in Bordeaux (25) · Wine tours by bike in Bordeaux (18)
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.