Day 1 - Arrival / Pauillac
Pick up your rental car at the Bordeaux rail station or airport
and begin driving north to Pauillac. This quaint village of just over
5000 people is seated amidst the famous Medoc wine region and will
make an excellent base from which to tour the area. Overnight in Pauillac.
Day 2 - The Medoc Wine Region,
Part 1
In the morning, depart with your private, English-speaking
tour guide. With the help of your guide you will begin the exploration
of the Medoc region and its wonderful history of world-famous viticulture.
Today’s tour will include a stop and tasting at Chateau Lafite-Rothschild.
Overnight in Pauillac.
Day 3 - The Medoc Wine Region,
Part 2
The Medoc region is so rich in world-class vineyards that
one could never hope to see it in one or even two days. By adding
a second day of guided touring, we hope to give the connoisseur a
fuller understanding of just how many fantastic wines are created
here – and to allow you to the time to taste as many as possible!
Overnight in Pauillac.
Day 4 - St. Emilion
After breakfast, take the D2 wine road towards Bordeaux,
but then turn east towards St. Emilion. The Romans planted vines here
as far back as the 2nd century AD and that tradition continues to
this day. In addition to many gastronomic delights, the village of
St. Emilion itself boasts a myriad of wine boutiques, art stores,
and antique shops which will keep you wandering its cobbled streets
for hours. Just below the village is a monolithic church carved entirely
out of a limestone cliff. Overnight in St. Emilion.
Day 5 - The St. Emilion &
Pomerol Wine Regions
In the morning, embark on a full-day
guided tour of the St. Emilion/ Pomerol vineyards. The region which
hosts one of France’s most picturesque villages also produces
some of its finest and rarest wines, especially merlots and cabernet
francs. Many of the wines you will taste are known only to a few connoisseurs
throughout the world, and you will have the opportunity to discuss
wine-making methods and philosophies while tasting them. Overnight
in St. Emilion.
Day 6 - Martillac/ Bordeaux
After breakfast, enjoy the scenic drive from St. Emilion
to Martillac, near Bordeaux. Check into Les Sources de Caudalie, a
lovely vineyard property with a spa offering unique treatments such
as a “Merlot Wrap,” “Wine Barrel Bath,” and
“Crushed Cab Scrub”. Indulge in an afternoon of treatments
or head into nearby Bordeaux to explore the city. Wander through its
stately medieval squares and ancient architecture, all of which speaks
to its vibrant history as one of the world’s oldest port cities.
Overnight in Martillac.
Day 7 - The Graves & Sauternes
Wine Regions
Depart from your hotel for a full day guided tour of one
of the oldest wine regions in France. Graves, getting its name from
the gravel beds under its soil, produces some of the world’s
best Savignon Blanc and Semillon wines. Along the way, you will see
and stop at some of the spectacular chateaux for which Bordeaux is
famous. The Sauternes subregion will demonstrate a very painstaking
and complex winemaking process, where the harvest can stretch over
2 months but yields astonishing results. Overnight in Martillac.
Day 8 - Return Journey
Having tasted only a cross-section of the wines the area
has to offer, today we will sadly depart Bordeaux. Your location is
convenient both to the Bordeaux airport and rail station, making your
departure stress-free. Continue on to your home or your next big adventure!
