We invite you to consult the guide Voyage au Pays des Vins de Bordeaux (available in French only), published by the Gironde Tourism Committee. This guide is a handy companion which can not only help you understand the magic of wine (history, terroirs, varietals, appellations and classifications) but also provide you with valuable practical information to help you organise your trip. To consult the guide online or download a PDF version, click here.
North of Bordeaux, the presqu'île of Médoc is easily accessible. The Wine Route towards Pauillac and the Pointe de Graves leads to the finest terroirs and to the Grands Crus Classés. There is a wide variety of possible activities: visiting wine cellars, tastings or strolls along the Gironde estuary. The village in Médoc offer small auberges, charming hotels and some important gourmet restaurants.
In the Libournais region, the châteaux are less imposing than those in Médoc, but the countryside is much greener. Vast expanses of vines alternate with medieval and Roman monuments. The small town of Saint-Émillion, a UNESCO world heritage site, is worth a detour. The food is wonderful there, and you are guaranteed to find a good bottle of wine.
East of Bordeaux, the Wine Route begins and ends with the Côtes de Bordeaux, with the beautiful Citadelle de Blaye, the Château de Cadillac, or a meal in Bouliac. The Abbaye de la Sauve is steeped in history. The wines are everywhere, as are the possibilities to visit the châteaux. History buffs will enjoy visting the Bastide de Monségur or de Sauveterre de Guyenne where they will find a medieval atmosphere in the middle of the vines.
South of Bordeaux, the vines are sometimes hidden in the pine forest. In less than an hour from Bordeaux, you can enjoy spa and vinotherapy at Martillac, visit the Château de Labrède or the nature reserve at Saucats, or sample wine at several châteaux. Fans of sweet wine can also stroll amongst the vines in Sauterne and enjoy tasting their favourite wines.
The largest wine-growing region in Bordeaux, the Entre-deux-Mers owes its name, literally “between two seas”, to the two rivers surrounding it, the Dordogne and the Garonne. A host of wines is produced here: fruity, lively reds; clarets and rosés; a wide variety of whites to be enjoyed while young and crisp; plus, a range of semi-sweet and sweet whites. This region invites visitors to travel through history by discovering fortified towns such as Créon and Sauveterre de Guyenne; abbeys such as La Sauve Majeure; and inspired places where geniuses such as Mauriac (Château de Malagar) and Toulouse Lautrec (Château de Malromé) lived.
