Wine Tasting in Bordeaux

Bordeaux's mix of regal chateaux, charming landscape and the best wines in the world, will make you feel you are somewhere special.

Wine Tasting - Medoc

Although lesser known than the big names in the region – Lafite-Rothschild, Palmer, Petrus - Beychevelle is one of the legendary properties of the Medoc with a charming history around the original owner Duc d'Epernon a Grand Admiral of France. In honor of the admiral, ships that sailed by the property lowered their sails (in French “baisse-voile”) which eventually became the name of the chateau, Beychevelle.

Chateau Beychevelle, +33 (0)5 56 73 20 70, Saint Julien, Medoc. Tours are available, in English and French, for 8€ per person, including a guided tasting. E-mail to arrange a visit: mdv@beychevelle.com

Wine Tasting – St-Emillion

St-Emilion, the oldest wine region of France, offers an Open Doors (Portes Ouverts) weekend in early May. It is the best way to get a taste of wines from smaller producers and an eye-opening experience to see the renowned bottles of St-Emilion wines coming out of someone’s garage. Don’t miss a visit to the town center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Chateau Tour

Driving through the Bordeaux region offers a great way to see the stately chateaux which range from huge palaces to modest homes.  A car is needed, unless you book a tour, but you'll need to get out of the city to see the impressive sizes of these properties.

Golf

We stayed and played at the Relais de Margaux (RELAIS MARGAUX ****L, 5 route de l'Ile Vincent BP 9, 33460 Margaux, reservations@relais-margaux.fr), a 4-star luxury chateau that offers a very nice golf course and small spa. The course held 2-person slots open in the morning, so you can play with your friend or spouse and no one else.

Where to Eat

Macarons at M le macaron, 38, rue des remparts, 33000 Bordeaux, Tel : +33 (0)9 64 23 64 65, http://www.mlemacaron.fr/

Offering a huge selection of sweet (white chocolate, cassis, coffee) and savory (olive oil, black truffle, foie gras) macarons.

Hours: Mon - Thurs: 11AM – 7PM; Fri - Sat: 11AM – 7:30PM

Next Time

• Visit and stay at the Caudalie Spa in Bordeaux.  Review the recently opened Caudalie at the Plaza, New York for a taste of what it's like.
• Dine and learn about the wines of the region at Bar à Vin, Bordeaux.

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