Bordeaux - Saint Emilion Wine Tasting, Culinary Walking Tour Itinerary - 5 Days/4 Nights
Bordeaux Summary • Tour Price Includes • Bordeaux Tour FAQ • Bordeaux Hotel • 2010 - BORDEAUX TOUR BROCHURE (Adobe pdf)
Award winning Off the Beaten Path Tours voted BEST small group tours in France for active travelers by Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes Traveler, CNN Traveller, The New York Times and Travel & Leisure!
Bordeaux and Saint Emilion Winery, Wine Tasting and Culinary Walking Tours Feature:
- Professional Off the Beaten Path, LLC Guide(s) Bordeaux wine insider, culinary and walking guide(s)
- 4 Nights, luxury hotel accommodations at Les Sources de Caudalie Hotel and Spa (NO Hotel Hopping)
- 9 Meals: 4 gourmet buffet breakfasts (SHL classified wine available on the buffet), 2 lunches (1 bistro, 1 French picnic), 3 gourmet dinners
- Classified and Grand Cru wines and non-alcoholic beverages at all meals
- All restaurants and bistros on this tour are Michelin-star and/or have been featured/recommended by top "foodie" magazines or fellow Michelin-star Chefs. We dine in both gourmet restaurants and our favorite hide-a-ways cherished by the locals.
- A personalized photo album of your tour in Bordeaux.
- Private wine tasting and appreciation workshop in historical Saint Emilion village
- Private Winery Tours and VIP Wine Tasting daily at Classified Chateaux - Wine Producers, such as, in Graves-Pessac-Leognan (1855 classified Chateau Haut Brion, plus Chateau Carbonnieux, Haut Bailly & Smith Haut LaFitte), Saint Emilion (Chateau Figeac, Angelus, Fonplegade, Canon), Pomerol (Chateau Sales), Medoc (1855 classified Chateaux : Lynch Bages, Mouton-Rothschilds, Margaux, LaTour)
- Please note: We visit ONLY classified growth producers on this tour.
- Visit the barrel maker at Chateau Haut Brion and Smith Haut LaFitte first growth wine producers
- 1st hands-on culinary class with friend and prominent Chef Suzanne at her 19th century castle
- 2nd hands-on culinary class with friend and celebrity Chef Antoine at his family home in the Sauternes wine producing appellation
- (Optional visit): Private Winery Tour and wine tasting at the famous French Oenology school in Sauternes - Chateau La Tour Blanche
- 3 WALKS - (1 in the Graves-Pessac-Leognan Appellation, 1 of the Saint Emilion Jurisdiction, 1 in the Medoc)
- This exclusive Tour is limited to 8 guests per Tour date. Small Groups, Couples, solo travelers, friends traveling together all welcome to join.
Click the following link to download the detailed 2010 - BORDEAUX TOUR BROCHURE (Adobe pdf).
EMAIL US or CALL 1-877-846-2831 to speak with one of our tour specialists.
Please note: In 2011, we've made a change to the length of our Bordeaux Tour. The 2011 Tour is a 4 day/3 night Tour. Download the 2011 - BORDEAUX TOUR BROCHURE (Adobe pdf)
2010 - Day-by-Day Itinerary Outline for Our Bordeaux - Saint Emilion Tour
DAY 1: 2 PM Group Meets, Winery Tour & Wine Tasting at Chateau Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion, Visit the Haut Brion Barrel Maker, Hotel Check-in, Welcome Dinner Together - D
Arrival in BORDEAUX. Meet and greet by your tour guide at the scheduled group pick-up time at 2:00 PM at Bordeaux Saint Jean Rail Station from where you will transfer to your small luxury hotel, Les Sources de Caudalie Resort and Spa.
Tour and Tasting at Chateau Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion Prior to arrival at the hotel. Travelers enjoy a first taste and introduction to the classified producers of Bordeaux with a wine tour and wine tasting in Pessac with our friends at the famous Chateau Haut Brion, one of the original chateaux to be classified in 1855 under Napolean III. Haut Brion is also the only chateau of the original five situated in Graves rather than Medoc, and therefore the only Chateau on the list that is allowed to sell a dry white wine under the same name and appellation as its red wine.
Winery Tour and Tasting. Enjoy a fun and unpretentious tour with an introduction to the history of Haut Brion's wine production and the evolution of the chateau across the centuries followed by an exclusive visit of the Haut Brion's VAT rooms, "chais" (wine cellars) and cooperage, and a complete tour and wine tasting at La Mission Haut Brion. Travelers' first of many authentic behind the scenes experiences during this exclusive 5-day tour. Following the winery tours, travelers are invited for a private wine tasting. Afterwards, check-in at the hotel. Enjoy time to get settled into rooms, explore the surrounding area, enjoy a drink or a swim at the pool.
Dinner: A gourmet welcome dinner together at our favorite Michelin-star restaurant.
DAY 2: Private Wine Tasting Workshop, Walking the Saint Emilion Wine Jurisdiction, Two Classified Winery Tours and VIP Wine Tasting, Evening Cooking Class with friend and Master Chef Antoine at his Home in the Sauternes- B, D
Buffet Breakfast. Departure to Saint Emilion village, rated one of the most beautiful, historical villages in France. Participate in a private wine tasting workshop in the village at the local wine school. Lunch is independently at one of the many local cafes or restaurants in Saint Emilion. After lunch: Time to explore and discover Saint Emilion's history, as well as visit local artisan and wine boutiques. All of the wine merchants ship internationally.
Following lunch, Walk #1: Saint Emilion Jurisdiction: Embark on a guided walk through the 1st (first) growth vineyards of the Saint Emilion Jurisdiction, the most renowned "Merlot" producing region of Bordeaux. Each winery tour includes an introduction to the producer's history, harvest practices and unique vinification, barreling and bottling practices, followed by an insider visit of the VAT rooms and "chais" (wine cellars), an authentic behind the scenes experience followed by wine tasting of several vintages.
Dinner: Hands-on cooking class with our friend and Master Chef Antoine at his home in Sauternes. We will prepare a three course meal of Bordelais recipes. Afterwards, cocktails with Antoine and a gourmet dinner of the recipes we prepared during class, accompanied by Antoine's professional selection of classified wines.
DAY 3: Free Morning at Leisure OR Optional Visit at the School of Oenology in Sauternes, Lunch in the Medoc, Afternoon Walk in the Medoc, Winery Tours and VIP Wine Tasting, Dinner Independently - B, L
Buffet Breakfast.
CHOOSE YOUR OPTION:
1. Morning: Enjoy your morning at leisure to pursue independent interests, try the caudalie spa, a massage or other spa service. Bicycles are available to borrow for travelers to enjoy a ride around the local vineyard filled countryside or simply enjoy a morning walk of the hotel property.
2. Private Winery Tour and wine tasting (two vintages) at the famous French Oenology school, first growth, grand cru Chateau La Tour Blanche, in Sauternes, classified growth wine producer and teaching school for up and coming cellar masters.
Lunch together in the Medoc prior to our walk.
Afternoon: Walk #2: MEDOC Vineyard Walk: "The 1855 Classification, Vineyards Walk" This is an exceptionally beautiful walk through some of the oldest and most prestigious of the Bordeaux wine country. Our walk takes travelers through classified vineyards that comprise the 1855 classification and along the spectacular Gironde Estuary. Winery Tours and Wine Tasting at classified growth producers during our walk. We walk through prestigious vineyards from producer to producer this afternoon. Again as with all of our winery tours, each one includes an introduction to the producer's history, harvest practices and unique vinification, barreling and bottling practices, followed by an insider visit of the VAT rooms and "chais" (wine cellars), "Another Authentic Behind the Scenes Experience" followed by VIP wine tasting.
Dinner: Independently this evening.
DAY 4: Walking in the Graves Appellation (and Pessac-Leognan), Three Winery Tours & Wine Tasting, French Picnic in the Vineyards, Visit at SHL Barrel Maker, Evening Culinary Class in a 19th Century Castle- B, L, D
Buffet Breakfast.
Morning: WALK #3: "Graves: Pessac-Leognan: Gods of the Vineyard". The third walk of our Bordeaux Harvest takes travelers through not only the most prestigious of the Graves appellation vineyards, but also exposes travelers to some of the largest classified estates of the Graves appellation, and a chance to witness extremely different harvesting and vinification processes from what has been witnessed in Saint Emilion, Sauternes, the Medoc and at Chateau Haut Brion in Pessac. Winery Tours and Wine Tasting throughout the walk. As with each of our walks during this tour, we are walking through prestigious vineyards from winery to winery (producer to producer) where travelers are welcomed for exclusive tours and wine tasting. Each winery tour includes an introduction to each producer's estate and its history, harvest practices and unique vinification, barreling and bottling practices and an exclsuive visit of the VAT rooms and "chais" (wine cellars) followed by VIP wine tasting.
Today three authentic behind the scenes experiences await travelers as we again tour inaccessible areas at each producer and enjoy exceptional VIP wine tasting at the conclusion of each visit.
Lunch: A traditional French picnic with wine in the vineyards during our walk.
Remainder of afternoon at leisure following our walk.
Evening & Dinner: A hands-on cooking class preparing traditional Bordelais specialities with our private Chef at her home, a private castle. Our Chef's 19th century castle is situated in the heart of the vineyards just outside of Bordeaux. Welcomed as friends we prepare a traditional gourmet Bordelais dinner together in the castle's kitchen. Following cooking class, indulge in a pre-dinner Bordeaux regional cocktail with our Chef. Plus there will be wine tasting of several of our her wine selections accompanied by a royal dinner of the recipes we prepared together in class.
DAY 5: Tour Conclusion - B
Buffet breakfast. Trip concludes today with a 10 AM arrival to St. Jean TGV Rail Station in Bordeaux, France. Earlier and later departures can be organized. Please contact us for details.
Click the following link to download the detailed 2010 - BORDEAUX TOUR BROCHURE (Adobe pdf).
(B) = Breakfast Included, (L) = Lunch Included, (D) = Dinner Included
Bordeaux - Saint Emilion Tour Guest Testimonials:
"Loved all of the wine tours and tastings, the bread baking class, cooking class and the hotel! We greatly appreciate your kind consideration and expertise. Thanks for making our tour so enjoyable!" Charles and Susan Kollar, Princeton, NJ (Bordeaux Wine and Culinary Walking Tour, Loire Valley Castles and Culinary Tour)
"Everything really was excellent. The most important factor to me was how comfortable you made the trip for all. It's obviously very important to you that your guests are happy and it shows. This is an incredibly well thought out and planned trip! The variety of activities and winery tours, the different vinification processes and how each is so unique is very well done. There is no repetition and the week just flies by. Not only was it an awesome vacation but I also made new friends, and am very glad we did this trip. Merci!" Dwayne Jarrell, Mike Mitterman, Chicago, IL (Bordeaux Wine and Culinary Walking Tour)