France
 

SOUTHWESTERN HOSPITALITY
LAND OF AUTHENTICITY, FLAVORS AND TRADITIONS

11 days/10 nights from $5199 per person*

Discover a beautiful, gourmande and festive region with a strong identity, a
long history, forceful traditions and a rich culture…indulge your curiosity in
the historical and gastronomic discovery of the many facets of this unique
region…enjoy a veritable open air museum…its heritage, its thousand and
one aromas, its lively inhabitants...you’ll be sure to have a very warm
welcome in the fascinating Southwest of France.

 

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!

 
Package Price Includes:
 
  • 3 nights accommodation at the 4-star Chateau Cordeillan-Bages in Pauillac
  • 2 nights accommodation at the 4-star Chateau Hotel Grand Barrail
  • 2 nights accommodation at the 4-star Les Sources de Caudalie just south of Bordeaux
  • Daily breakfast
  • 7-day compact car rental, manual, A/C, insurance
  • 2 Full-day private tours of the Medoc wine region
  • Full-day private tour of the St. Emilion & Pomerol wine regions
  • Full-day private tour of the Graves and Sauternes wine regions
  • Hotel service charges & VAT

*Price is per person, double occupancy. Rates subject to availability and change due to trade shows, weekend or holiday periods, and currency exchange rate. Other hotels may be substituted at different rates.
Wine-tasting fees not included.
 
©2008 Art du Voyage