Program Itinerary

Program Itinerary

Proposed Itinerary (subject to change)

DAY 1: Sunday, May 29th, 2016 : Arrival in Bordeaux

  • Pick up in Bordeaux for a group transfer to Pauillac and check in at our hotel, Château Cordeillan Bages, surrounded by vineyards. We will visit on of the chateaux in the area.

  • You will have some time to relax before are welcome dinner in the 2 Michelin star restaurant at the hotel. This will be an unforgettable dinner prepared by chef Jean-Luc Rocha.

DAY 2: Monday, May 30th, 2016 : Médoc

  • Morning visit to a cooper. The ageing in oak barrels is an important part of the making of a Bordeaux wine. We will get to know all the secrets of how to make a barrel. A fascinating visit!
  • We will have lunch at beautiful Château Phelan-Ségur in Saint Estèphe. This chateau is owned by the Gardinier family, also owner of several Michelin star restaurants. So to have lunch here is always a pleasure! We will also have time to admire the 18th century chateau that stands in an enormous garden with a splendid view of the Gironde.
  • Afternoon visit to Château Lafite-Rothschild, inPauillac, a Premier Grand Cru Classé 1855 and of course one of the highlights of the tour.
  • Late afternoon, back at Cordeillan Bages in Pauillac.
  • Free evening to relax. We recommend having dinner at your leisure at Bistro Lavinal, a typical French bistro within walking distance from the hotel.

DAY 3: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 : Médoc

  • We continue to explore the Médoc area. Today we will start with some practical work. At a Grand Cru Classé chateau we will have a blending seminar where you will feel like a winemaker for a few hours, trying to blend different grapes varieties, tasting and deciding which blend is the best. It is not so easy but great fun and you learn a lot.
  • Lunch will be at a famous chateau, the stunning Château Pichon-Baron, a Second Grand Cru Classé chateau in Pauillac, a real fairy tale chateau.
  • Afternoon visit to another of the famous 1855 Grand Cru Classé chateaux, maybe even another Premier Grand Cru Classé. 
  • We will be back at Cordeillan Bages late in the afternoon
  • Free evening to relax.

DAY 4: Wednesday, June 1st, 2016 : Saint Emilion

  • Check out in the morning and transfer to Saint Emilion. 2 visits + chateau lunch in Saint Emilion.
  • Our recommendations for lunch are Château Dauphine in Fronsac or Franc Mayne in Saint Emilion. Visit to one of the prestigious chateaux,, for example Château Pavie.
  • Walk around picturesque medieval town of Saint Emilion.
  • Gastronomic dinner in Saint Emilion and late check in at Normandie.

DAY 5: Thursday, June 2nd, 2016: Graves and Sauternes

  • Today we travel south of the city to visit the Graves and Sauternes districts.
  • Morning visit to Château Haut-Brion in Graves (Pessac-Leognan). Premier Grand Cru Classé. Haut Brion existed over a hundred years before Latour, Lafite and Margaux. Château Haut Brion is a classic château and a classic wine, majestic and of timeless elegance.
  • Lunch at Château Haut-Bailly, Grand Cru Classé in Pessac-Léognan.We will have a superb lunch with their high class red wines.
  • Our afternoon will be spent in Sauternes where they make the world famous noble sweet wines. We will visit one of the most prestigious chateaux here, like Château Suduiraut. We will taste some older vintages to see how beautifully the wines from Sauternes age.
  • Late afternoon we arrive in Bordeaux.
  • Gastronomic farewell dinner in Bordeaux.

DAY 6: Friday, June 3rd, 2016

  • We will end this week in Bordeaux with a visit to negociant house in Bordeaux. The negociants are an important part of the Bordeaux wine trade. We will have a light lunch after the visit and then drop off at airport and train station.