Bordeaux region-wideAnnual, early April (typically first week)5-7 days
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.
Pauillac and Medoc communesAnnual, second Saturday of September1 day
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.
Saint-Emilion villageBiannual: third Sunday of June (new harvest proclamation) and third Sunday of September (harvest ban lifting)1 day per ceremony
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.
Pessac-Leognanannual, first weekend of December2 days (dinner-tastings on the Friday and Saturday evenings)
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.
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.
Sauternes, Barsac, Bommes, Preignac and Farguesannual, November2 days
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.
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.
Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Cadillacannual, June (6 and 7 June in 2026)2 days
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.
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.