Saint-Émilion and Sauternes Wine Experience
2 nights from $2,025pp
Join us on a journey to discover the true lifeblood of France. Soak up the delights of Bordeaux City as you explore the charming Old Town and the new La Cité du Vin, then delve into the surrounding countryside with a full day of private chauffeured wine tasting tours in the Graves region, visiting the famous Sauternes, and a day discovering the Saint-Émilion vineyards!
Highlights of our Saint-Émilion and Sauternes wine tour
- Return flights to Bordeaux (hold luggage not included)
- Enjoy the hustle and bustle of brasseries, bars and monuments with three nights accommodation in a four-star hotel in the centre of Bordeaux with spa access.
- A full wine discovery day starting with a blending workshop in Bordeaux centre and a French rustic lunch with wines included, ending with visits and tastings at two estates in Saint-Émilion
- Spend time exploring La Cité du Vin.
- Explore in style with a private chauffeured wine tasting tour in Graves, visiting the famous village of Sauternes.
- Visit and tastings at two prestigious châteaux in the famous Sauternes village known for it’s intense “liquid gold” sweet dessert wines
- Indulge yourself with a three-course lunch with wines paired in a restaurant overlooking the Sauternes vineyards!
Day 1: First Wine Tasting Tour in La Cité Du Vin
After arriving in Bordeaux city, and settling into your four-star spa hotel in the heart of Bordeaux, discover the world of wine in La Cité du Vin. Embark on an adventure to discover the cultures and civilisations of wine, where wine comes to life through an immersive, sensorial approach, all set within an evocative architectural design. Nearly twenty different themed areas invite you to take a voyage of discovery and enjoy a unique experience exploring the many and varied facets of wine across time and space. The tour also includes access to La Cité du Vin’s Belvedere, where you will discover a 360° view of Bordeaux whilst tasting a glass of world wine.
Day 2: Chauffeured Wine Tasting Tour Through Saint-Émilion
On your second day, enjoy a full-day private chauffeured wine tour with your English speaking guide discovering the Saint-Émilion appellation. The day will start with a tasting class of the four main wine regions of France. Bordeaux wines are blends of different grape varieties (most Bordeaux blends include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot), learn the characteristics of each variety and blend your very own cuvée! Enjoy a rustic lunch in Bordeaux city centre, before heading into the vineyards to Saint-Émilion. Visit an authentic and charming family-run estate’s vineyards, traditional vat room and cellars. The second winery is a Great Classified Growth estate overlooking the Saint-Émilion vineyards where you will learn the wine-making processes from vine to bottle. Your tasting will be paired with French delicacies such as fresh bread, cheeses etc.
Day 3: Chauffeured Wine Tour of Sauternes
Enjoy a full-day private chauffeured wine tour in Graves visiting the famous village of Sauternes (the most expensive wine produced in all of Bordeaux) with an English speaking driver and guide. This is where the Garonne and Ciron rivers meet and form a perfect micro-climate for these wines. Visit the cellars of a boutique estate and learn all there is to know about the history of the estates and the chemistry and complexities behind the wine-making process… and, of course, taste the wines! Enjoy lunch paired with wines in front of the vines of Sauternes. In the afternoon, learn about the sweet wine making process in Sauternes; from grapes affected with Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) to the bottling procedure. After, taste some of the wines, and on your way back to Bordeaux see some of the most famous Châteaux of the area such as the Premier Cru Supérieur estate Château d’Yquem.
Day 4: Your Final Day to Explore Bordeaux at Leisure
On your final day, relax in the hotel spa and explore the city of Bordeaux, and enjoy the ambiance, restaurants and bars that the city has to offer. Stroll along one of Europe’s longest esplanades, spend some time shopping in the Bordeaux’s many boutique shops, or perhaps visit some of Bordeaux’s 350 historical monuments, and take in the city’s splendid 18th century architecture.
Where You Could Stay in Bordeaux
We craft each itinerary just for you. Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable wine journey exploring Saint-Émilion and Sauternes.
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