Would you like a little trip around Bordeaux to explore the vineyards? We'd like to recommend you 3 wine trails that are relatively easy in Bordeaux. Come on and take the train and let your taste buds savour the different nectars!
Book a train ticket
Book a train ticket
Here are our 3 wine trails near Bordeaux:
Médoc, left bank
Saint-Estèphe, château Cos Labory
The château Cos Labory, is a family business. With warm smiles, the local staff introduces you to the fermenting room, the cellar, the bottle maker and the grapevines. Tasting the 3 great vintages at the end of the visit. Classy and simple, like their wines.
Do you like to walk? Take a tour around the châteaux: 15 km on foot in the vineyards, it recharges the spirit (take the map to the house of wines). The landscapes are superb!
Château Cos Labory, domaine Audoy, Saint-Estèphe, 33 180. Tel. 05 56 59 30 22.
The House of Wines, place de l’Église, Saint-Estèphe, 33 180, Tel.: 05 56 59 30 59.
Pauillac, château Bellegrave
Pauillac, is the promised land of Cabernet Sauvignon. The park is superb, one of the most beautiful of the Médoc. The little secrets of winemaking, defining characteristics of aging in barrels and vineyard works: Ludovic and Julien have concocted a program filled with stories.
Château Bellegrave, 22, route des Châteaux, Pauillac, 33 250, tel: 05 56 59 05 53.
Info at the Maison du tourisme and vin à Pauillac, tel: 05 56 59 03 08.
Margaux, château Kirwan
Here is a little Versailles among the vineyards. Several possible tours: "The expert's test" (1 h 15), "The interactive visit" (1 h), "The gourmet aperitif" (18 h 30 - 20 h), "Freeze frame" (1 h 30), "Lunch by the grass" (booking the day before).
At château Kirwan, we see big things. Walk through the cellars via a tablet audio-guide, picnic in the park, visit of 4 margalais châteaux from Kirwan (plan the day) and have a taste of food made with seasonal products.
Château de Kirwan, Cantenac, 33 460. Tel: 05 57 88 71 00. By reservation.
Moulis, château Maucaillou
Voilà, you’re here at château Maucaillou. Mamma mia! A real architectural mix but its wealth does not detract from its beauty. The facade is a reflection of the estate's wine production: rich and powerful.
It is with good reason that the building is listed in the "Inventory of Bordeaux Châteaux" collection. On site, you'll see the museum of wine arts and crafts, a film about the property, a guided tour of the cellar and tastings. Each visitor receives an engraved glass of Château de Maucaillou as a souvenir.
Château de Maucaillou, Moulis-en-Médoc, 33 480. Tel: 05 56 58 01 23. By reservation
Libournais, right bank
Saint-Emilion, Château Faugères
Attention, a work of art! The cathedral of wine designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta is sublime. With pure lines in an ode to light, it stands, monumental, across from the 18th Century Carthusian monastery.
The basic visit includes the discovery of vineyards and a tasting with a panorama of the whole vineyard. Other arrangements are possible according to your desire: "Discovery of Château Rocheyron"; "Discovery of wine aromas"; etc.
Château Faugères, Saint-Etiène-de-Lisse, 33 330. Tel: 05 57 40 34 99.
Fronsac, La Closserie de Fronsac
The Closserie de Fronsac is the smallest area of the prestigious Libournais (1.87 hectare). Small, but formidable. An authentic old house, an exceptional environment and unbeatable hosts who will teach you the fabulous history of Bordeaux wines.
A visit here offers the chance to taste the old-fashioned production of the estate's vintages. At the French kings' court, Fronsac was nicknamed "Richelieu's herbal tea". We'll let you guess why.
La Closserie de Fronsac, Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac. Tel: 05 57 24 95 81.
Pomerol, Château Haut-Goujon
Generations have watched over this vineyard. The building is long and white, ultra-minimalist.
The estate offers two types of visit: "The classic", the winemaker’s work , grape varieties, blends, a presentation of 9 different wines, and a flavour education (1 h); "From cooperage to wine", making barrels, discovering the vat room, the winery, and tasting the Darnajou, the unpublished creative vintages (1 h 30). The Garde family gives everything, and that's so much better.
Château Haut-Goujon, Montagne, 33 570. Tel: 05 57 51 50 05.
Blaye, Château Marquis de Vauban
The Château de Vauban, is an ideal place to learn about the great wines of Bordeaux. 4 possible tours: "Tasting visit", "Winemaker's lunch", "Carriage ride", "Blaye Day". Discover the (17th century) château’s history, visit the vineyards and cellars, and taste 3 of the château’s best wines.
On board an elegant carriage and according to your choice of visit, you shall discover theUNESCO-listed Blaye citadel located at 600 m, and its famous fortifications designed by Vauban. For the Blaye day, departure is at 10:30. Visit the vineyards and cellars. Then the citadel in a small train and have lunch at the château.
Château Marquis de Vauban, route des Cônes, 33390 Blaye. Tel: 05 57 42 80 37. Open from 9 am to 7 pm until 5 Nov. 2017.
Bourg, Château de la Grave
Oh how beautiful this château is! Superbly restored in the style of Louis XIII, it retains all its original presence (sixteenth century). A complete, never-ending tranquillity takes you from the gardens in such a way that the surrounding vineyards exude happiness and give the impression of being there forever.
Guided cellars tours by appointment: "Discover the unique world of wine, from the vineyard to the glass", a program that embraces the art of living well with wine on the Bourg slopes. Familial and refined.
Château de La Grave, Bourg-sur-Gironde, 33 710. Tel: 05 57 68 41 49.
South, Graves et Entre-Deux-Mers
Graves, Château de Cérons
Overlooking the Garonne, the (17th century) Château de Cérons faces a 12th century church in the heart of the Cérons old town. The scenery is old and beautiful. It's just wonderful.
Cérons is a private name, one of the oldest in the region. Several possible tours: "The tasting", "The initiation" to 3 old vintages of Cérons, "Picnic in the park". The fresh basket that is offered is made up of seasonal fruits and vegetables. It is according to taste and of high quality.
Château de Cérons, 1, Latour, Cérons 33720. Tel: 05 56 27 01 13. By reservation.
Graves, Château Pape Clément
You can be Pope and own a vineyard. This was the case of Clement V in the 13th century. Hence the name of this neo-Gothic château that spans 60 hectares of grapevines. This place has led its incredible beauty to us.
The "Taster" tour takes you through the vineyards, the vat room and the cellars. We fine tune the art of tasting with 5 wines signed by Bernard Magrez accompanied by an expert sommelier. He knows everything. There’s the highly original, "Create your own wine workshop" where you produce, bottle and leave with a personalised bottle of wine.
Careful, there's no question that you can do anything. The sommelier will advise you. For you, the test tubes of a pro! All you have to do is invite some friends to sample your creation.
Château Pape Clément, 216, av. du docteur Nancel-Penard, Pessac, 33 600. Tel: 05 57 26 38 38. By reservation.
Entre-deux-Mers, Château de Reignac
It has a familial spirit. It is an awesome château. Don't miss the greenhouse signed by Gustave Eiffel. Since the property has the unique characteristic of having soils that combine the best soils of the left and right banks, it produces atypical wines.
With its traditional and modern cellars, tasting tower (a 16th century dovecote), an insanely charming park, and landscapes for making memories, the château received the international prize for Best of Wine Tourism 2015 and we understand why. A visit under an ever truer sign.
Château de Reignac, 38 chemin de Reignac, 33 450, Saint-Loubès. Tel: 05 56 20 41 05. By reservation. Several possible tours.
Entre-deux-Mers, Château Maison noble Saint-Martin
It was a long time ago. The 14th century. Out in the meadows to the south of the château, it remained as a ruined feudal tower. But in 1997, Michel Pelisse, started a phenomenal 10 year project that brought back the architectural grandeur of the place.
"The visit to the estate" begins in the vineyards facing the château. A walk through the cellars. An encounter with the workers. A short stop by the extraordinary garden - which will make you want to take pictures - and a tasting of 4 classic vintages (2 reds, 1 rosé, 1 white): about 2 hours. "Initiation to tasting", 1 h. "Food and wine workshop", 2 h.
Château Maison noble Saint-Martin, 1, Maison Noble, Saint-Martin-du-Puy, 33 540. Tel: 05 56 71 86 53. By reservation.