The term Bordeaux refers not only to the region and its capital city but also to wines produced from this area. The region is the birthplace of the first known Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines and stretches from Soulac-sur-Mer and the Médoc in the north to the vineyards of Graves and Cerons in the south. Approximately 20,000 producers farm around 250,000 acres of vines, producing approximately 850 million bottles of wine each year! Around 200 years ago, the city of Bordeaux was dubbed “little Paris” due to its distinguished 17th-century architecture and more recently has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most wines from the region are red blends, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot being the grape mainstays but also including Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Bordeaux also makes fantastic white and sweet dessert wines, often from the villages of Sauternes and Barsac.
On this tour, we’ll taste a wide range of Bordeaux wines from both the Left and Right Banks. We’ll visit several quaint, ancient villages within the region, including Paulliac, Cap Ferret, and Saint-Emilion, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll explore many breathtaking winery estates, several with quite prestigious pedigrees. We’ll venture into various wine caves with incredible histories, stores of outstanding wine, and even delicious cheeses! We’ll also climb Europe’s tallest sand dune to take in the stunning views of the Arcachon Bay (don’t worry it isn’t too strenuous of a hike!). And to round things out, we’ll add to our wine knowledge by visiting a world-class interactive wine museum, La Cite du Vin.
By the end of your vacation, you’ll have a well-balanced perspective of what Bordeaux is all about!
Fun reads for this tour: