Private Full Day Bordeaux

Private Full Day Bordeaux
Excursion Highlights:
  • Experience the luxury of a private, full-day Bordeaux wine tour, guided by a knowledgeable, English-speaking driver.
  • Visit three Bordeaux wine regions of your choice, tailoring the experience to your personal preferences.
  • Enjoy the comfort of air-conditioned transport, complete with an onboard PA system for live commentaries and free Wi-Fi.
  • Discover the history of renowned wine regions such as Saint Emilion, Pomerol, Medoc, Graves, and Sauternes.
From $122.00/person to $487.00/person (Select "Individuals" below) Price varies based on number of individuals in your group
Choose Options My Cruise Itinerary
?
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Private
Shore Excursion Type Private Sightseeing
Shore Excursion Duration 8 Hours
Activity Level ? Easy
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? The Cruise Ship Pier.
Food/Beverage Provided Not Included
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable, weather appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes. You may wish to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
Restrictions Guests must be able to get in and out of the transportation. This tour involves some walking, and is not recommended for persons with reduced mobility. This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Private Full Day Bordeaux

Your local, friendly representative will escort you to your comfortable ride, equipped with an internal PA system with live commentaries and descriptions during the drive, audible no matter where you are seated. Your knowledgeable, English-speaking driver / wine guide will offer a very intimate and one-on-one experience with you and your family or friends. Bottled water is provided in your van as you travel in air-conditioned comfort, and you will find Wi-Fi available onboard as well. You'll visit 3 of Bordeaux's wine regions of your choice on this highly customizeable private wine tour.

There are several villages around the Saint Emilion region that are permitted to label their wines with this name. Merlot is the dominant grape in the area, followed by Cabernet Franc. The climate and damper, cool soils make it difficult for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to fully ripen, and thus it is less often used. The wines take a little longer to mature than the ones in Pomerol, but are still able to be drunk relatively young for a Bordeaux (4 to 8 years). In favorable vintages, the wines have a good aging potential. If you wish, you can also take an approximately 2 hour walking tour of the village at your chosen pace.

Pomerol was first cultivated by the Romans during their occupation of the area. Up until the early 20th century, the area was known mostly for its white wine production. The famous wines of Pomerol have a high composition of Merlot in their blends, and are considered the gentlest and least tannic and acidic of the Bordeaux wine region. Cabernet Franc, known in this area as Bouchet, is the second leading grape, and helps to contribute to the dark, deep coloring that is typical of Pomerol wines. Due to the reduced tannins found in these wines, they can typically be drunk much younger than other red Bordeaux.

The Medoc wine region includes the four famous communes of St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux. Without a doubt, this is one of the most popular Bordeaux wine regions. All the wine made here is red and the main grape variety used is the Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Graves region is considered the birthplace of Claret. In the Middle Ages, the wines that were first exported to England were produced in this area. In 1663, Samuel Pepys' mention of Chateau Haut-Brion was the first recorded mention of French Claret in London.

Sauternes is known for its intensely sweet, white, dessert wines, such as the Premier Cru Superieur classified Chateau d'Yquem. The intense sweetness of these wines is the result of Botrytis cinerea, a fungus that is commonly known as noble rot. In the autumn, the Ciron river produces mist that descends upon the area and persists until after dawn. These conditions are conducive to the growth of the fungus, which desiccates the grape and concentrates the sugars inside. The three main grapes of this area are Semillon, Sauvignon blanc, and Muscadelle. The grapes are harvested individually from the bunch. The wine is then fermented in small oak barrels.

Explore Bordeaux's wine regions at your own pace on this relaxing and customizeable private tour.

Please Note: Tasting fees in the wineries are not included and are payable upon arrival. Each tasting may cost approximately 30 EUR per person, per tasting. Entrance fees to monuments, museums, or attractions, and meals will be extra and at your discretion. Lunch can be organized in Bordeaux or in the wine region that you have chosen.