If you know the name Bordeaux it is probably from a wine bottle. The region is synonymous with quality wine and has over eight thousand vineyards. Most are open to visitors and provide excellent tours and tasting sessions. Viticulture is the life blood of the area and so it makes a great trip for the novice and keen enthusiast. Finding the best Bordeaux wine tours depends on your knowledge and love of wine.
The vast majority of wine produced in the area is red. Only about ten percent is white or rose. This is partly due to the soil and climate. The south west of France is a limestone region with well drained gravel soils. There are three major rivers which irrigate the land and replenish nutrients.
Even in this one area there are different types and qualities of wines to taste. The river area is home to the vintage and top quality wines are their soils are richest. Then there are the left and right banks. For the novice it is probably best to choose a tour which incorporates a little of everything.
A great way to get introduced to these aspects of wine culture is to go to wine school. They host classes to introduce visitors to the principles of tasting and also describe the region. There are also classes which explain the more technical side of wine making and some even teach blending. Courses last from a few hours to a few days.
Winery tours usually take a couple of hours. There are many vineyards both large and small. The character of a visit to each is quite different. In a smaller one the owner will often give the tour and host the tasting. This can be extremely interesting as they are usually passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about their product. It is a privilege to taste something made by the producer and share their pride.
There are a few times of year when it is best to avoid a trip to taste wines in Bordeaux. The winter months, December and January are cold and most wineries are busy with blending. In April the professionals are in town and are classifying the wines so vineyards are busy with them and do not usually take appointments. Most are also closed on weekends so plan a midweek trip if tasting is your priority.
The city of Bordeaux is ancient and interesting. The architecture is stunning, in fact it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visitors can spend days exploring the city so it is always an option to tag this onto a wine tour. Why not enjoy the local gastronomy and some more booze while soaking up the culture?
A typical wine tour package will include visits to a variety of wine producers, a guide, transport and driver, lunches, accommodation and often a class at wine school. Most operators also offer bespoke tours. This means for people who have an interest in a particular wine or type of grape they can choose which vineyards to visit. Travel agents can also arrange stay in local villages, spa trips, history tours and more.
The vast majority of wine produced in the area is red. Only about ten percent is white or rose. This is partly due to the soil and climate. The south west of France is a limestone region with well drained gravel soils. There are three major rivers which irrigate the land and replenish nutrients.
Even in this one area there are different types and qualities of wines to taste. The river area is home to the vintage and top quality wines are their soils are richest. Then there are the left and right banks. For the novice it is probably best to choose a tour which incorporates a little of everything.
A great way to get introduced to these aspects of wine culture is to go to wine school. They host classes to introduce visitors to the principles of tasting and also describe the region. There are also classes which explain the more technical side of wine making and some even teach blending. Courses last from a few hours to a few days.
Winery tours usually take a couple of hours. There are many vineyards both large and small. The character of a visit to each is quite different. In a smaller one the owner will often give the tour and host the tasting. This can be extremely interesting as they are usually passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about their product. It is a privilege to taste something made by the producer and share their pride.
There are a few times of year when it is best to avoid a trip to taste wines in Bordeaux. The winter months, December and January are cold and most wineries are busy with blending. In April the professionals are in town and are classifying the wines so vineyards are busy with them and do not usually take appointments. Most are also closed on weekends so plan a midweek trip if tasting is your priority.
The city of Bordeaux is ancient and interesting. The architecture is stunning, in fact it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visitors can spend days exploring the city so it is always an option to tag this onto a wine tour. Why not enjoy the local gastronomy and some more booze while soaking up the culture?
A typical wine tour package will include visits to a variety of wine producers, a guide, transport and driver, lunches, accommodation and often a class at wine school. Most operators also offer bespoke tours. This means for people who have an interest in a particular wine or type of grape they can choose which vineyards to visit. Travel agents can also arrange stay in local villages, spa trips, history tours and more.
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