Day 2: Saint-Emilion

9 AM: Wake Me Up!

We arrive in the early morning, while the village is still wrapped in a sleepy mist — and wow, it’s breathtaking. Saint-Émilion in winter has that extra bit of soul that gets us every time. We stroll through the quiet cobbled lanes as our bubbly guide, Lydie, fills the silence with fun facts and photo tips. Don’t miss the bell tower square, Porte Brunet Street, Rue de la Cadène, or the old timber market square…
Before saying goodbye, Lydie whispers one last golden tip: head over to Nadia’s for a bite of the legendary Saint-Émilion macaron. You bet we didn’t wait to be told twice…

Saint-Emilion tourism Office

1 PM: Good Vibrations

Manon and Joanna head to Le Jardin, the restaurant at Château Petit Faurie de Soutard. Chef Stéphane Casset and his team craft each dish around the morning harvest from their kitchen garden — a celebration of herbs and seasonal veggies. The highlight? Manon nearly ascends to another plane of existence when the cheese trolley rolls in. A delicious dilemma begins.

Meanwhile, the rest of us soak in the vibe at Cloître des Cordeliers. We love filling a picnic basket with local goodies and settling into the garden. Even at year’s end, bubbles from Saint-Émilion call our name. After a tour of the underground cellars, we fall for the 2016 red brut collector — ruby-hued with leathery notes. It’s sure to surprise (and impress) back home.

7 PM: Don’t stop me now

Yes, we know… You’re thinking: how do they keep eating this much in one day? But remember, this weekend is all about indulgence — no holding back. To wrap things up in style, we head to Château Hôtel Grand Barrail, a five-star gem. The Moorish dining room leaves us speechless: ornate moldings, dazzling stained glass, golden accents, and oriental-style frescos worthy of Viollet-le-Duc. Regal doesn’t even begin to cover it.

At the helm in the kitchen, Chef Quentin Merlet pulls out all the stops. The dishes come one after another, each more tempting than the last: on one plate, grilled octopus with sautéed broccoli; on another, local poultry stuffed with spinach and a velvety pea cream. A true festival of flavors and finesse.

And then — dessert. The sweet tooth crew dives into the canelé platter, while the “sensible” ones swoon over the peach and verbena pavlova. Pulpe tip: at lunchtime, this royal experience is just €38.

11 AM: Sugar Sugar 

The little shop bursts with love and craftsmanship. Behind the counter, skilled hands shape each macaron one by one. Everything here is handmade, in-house, and with family. Starting at 5 AM, almonds are peeled, dried, and ground into fine powder. After shaping, the macarons are delicately polished with sugar — the movement is quick, precise, mesmerizing.

And then comes the tasting. Manon goes classic with the 1620 recipe. We can’t resist the chocolate-filled ones.

Macarons de Saint-Émilion – Nadia Fermigier

3 PM: (I’ve had) The time of my life

Here it is — the workshop we’ve been dreaming of forever: crafting our very own wine. At Château Cormeil-Figeac, everyone’s welcome — from the diligent student to the serial daydreamer. So yes, we fit right in.

We start by drawing samples straight from vats and barrels. We taste, compare, and — with varying levels of grace — even learn to spit like pros (elegant spitting, by the way? Surprisingly hard… and weirdly beautiful). Slowly, we begin to experiment, to blend, and — voilà — our wine comes to life: fruity, delicately oaked, and frankly, a masterpiece.

Then comes the cherry on top: bottling it and signing the label with a flourish.
Verdict? We proudly give ourselves a 10 out of 10. TOTALLY earned!

11 PM: A sky full of stars

Time to retreat to our dreamy nest for the night: the treehouse at Relais Franc Mayne. Nestled in the arms of a centuries-old cedar, it offers unbeatable vineyard views stretching to the horizon. At dawn, we wake to silence and starlight fading — a moment suspended in time. We settle onto the terrace, sipping in the view and the quiet, as if the world has slowed down just for us.

The estate offers tours and bike rentals to explore the surrounding area — something to save for next time. For now, it’s all about sharing breakfast together, soaking up the last golden moments of this magical escape.