My First Wine Tour Holiday
Wine regions are such good holiday destinations; it would be a shame to restrict them just to those with a passion for the grape. France is very convenient and easily accessible for those based in the UK, and is probably the first destination you might consider for a wine tasting holiday.
I just got back from my first wine tasting holiday in Bordeaux and I have to say it was amazing. The Bordeaux region is rich in history, and the area is filled with ancient towns, monuments and of course vineyards. The city of Bordeaux itself is a must-visit attraction, with great restaurants and fascinating architecture, there’s plenty to see and do.
We arrived in Bordeaux midday on a Sunday, checked-in at the hotel and enjoyed a lovely lunch in a French restaurant in one of the many squares of Bordeaux City. After lunch we went on a half day chauffeured wine tour through the Medoc`s vineyards. We visited one Grand Cru Chateau in Margaux, had a tour of their wine cellars and had a wine tasting on 3 different wines. Our next stop was a wine bar in a winery where we discovered Bordeaux through a wine tasting of 5 wines accompanied by commentaries of a qualified sommelier. This experience was a wonderful wine-tasting initiation for me and a good way to end our guided wine tour for the day. We then enjoyed a delicious dinner in a typical French brasserie and headed back to the hotel getting ready for the second day in the vineyards.
Next morning after breakfast I was ready for another fun filled day of wine tasting. Our stops: Saint Emilion and Pomerol. The winding lanes snaking through these vineyards provide breathtaking scenery around every corner. Saint-Émilion, located on a hillside amongst ancient vineyards, is one of the most beautiful and world’s famous vineyard region, listed as an UNESCO world heritage site. Our guided wine tour included visits of the wine cellars and wine tastings at two prestigious chateaux. It was fascinating to hear the techniques they use and the passion and pride they have in producing their wines. We than had a visit to one of the many wine shops in St. Emilion, where we tasted 5 different wines. Definitely the place where the wines with the best value for money are to be found! The wine tastings were incredible and is an experience I would highly recommend. Our wine guide drove us back to the city and we went to an amazing wine gallery where we tasted 3 Grand Cru Wines with cheeses and charcuterie. The dinner was delicious, we treated ourselves to a bottle of Pauillac red wine, a mouth watering steak and a perfectly cooked duck.
Unfortunately the last day arrived, our bags were packed with bottles of wine and brochures about Bordeaux, its regions and its wines and we were ready to head to the airport. I just got back and I am already planning for my next wine tour to Champagne!