Harvest season is in full swing in Bordeaux. During this time, glass-half-full people boast that Bordeaux is abuzz with anticipation as vendanguers (grape pickers) hurriedly harvest this vintage’s crop across every vineyard. Glass-half-empty people, on the other hand, worry about the wineries limiting their visits in pursuit of producing the perfect blend during this pivotal part of the winemaking process.
Then, there are those who like the glass to be 75–90ml full (the standard wine tasting size) all year round. These are the people who just want to escape to a château (or five) seeking the savoir-faire on Bordeaux’s best wine tasting tours – just like the ones in this list. Santé.
Château Pape Clément, Pessac
The château… has not – despite what its turrets and castellations might have you believe – jumped straight out the pages of a classic fairytale. Instead, it’s the very real, très belle Château Pape Clément. But don’t be fooled by its pristine appearance, the first grape harvest took place here in 1252, so the estate and grounds are steeped in centuries of history – like, its period of papal ownership from which it takes its namesake.
Château Pape Clément, Pessac
The tours… are meticulous – and come by the many. On the classic tour and tasting, you’ll stroll around the perfectly kept grounds, discover how the French oak ageing barrels get their signature red stripe, and taste wines from one of the oldest Grand Cru Classés in Bordeaux. But the château also offers more enthusiastic oenophiles the option to learn the technical skills and terminology to become a pro wine taster and even create their own wine.
Château du Taillan, Le Taillan-Médoc
The château… is run by five sisters from the same family that has owned it since 1896. Despite its stately setting, there’s a refreshing unpretentiousness in the air here that says “we’re all about the wine” – a feeling that’s validated when walking past walls that have been blackened by centuries of oxidation during the winemaking process. In fact, its vaulted cellars are the oldest in the Médoc region and are listed as a historic monument.
Château du Taillan, Le Taillan-Médoc
The tours… have a personal, familial touch. Expect to be introduced to the estate’s wine through the tale of its family – from accessing the owner’s private cellar (and finding the vintage from your birth year) to exploring the private rooms in which the five sisters spent their childhood. In summer, extend your visit with a picnic in the enchanting grounds.
Château les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
The château… hides behind a thick coat of vines crawling over its façade, like veins pumping life into it – a view that’s reflected in the Peugue river that flows through the grounds. Marooned in the water is a mirrored metal structure in the shape of a ship’s bow – the estate’s unexpectedly futuristic cellar, designed by Philippe Starck. You’ll find all this within Bordeaux’s city limits (the only château with this claim), so there’s no excuse not to visit.
Château les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
The tours… are peaceful and private. Here, guests are treated with the same level of dedication and care as the estate itself – from learning about the history and heritage of the château and its surrounding vineyards to witnessing the winemaking practices in the modern winery. Simply select the number of vintages you want to taste, et voilà.
Château Villemaurine, Saint-Émilion
The château… has a secret – an underground labyrinth of cellar chambers so deep and dark you need a truly trustworthy torch to explore them. Above ground, what it might lack in grandeur in comparison to some of its compatriots, it makes up for in charm. Sat on the outskirts of the effortlessly sweet Saint-Émilion, it blends seamlessly into the sea of other medieval buildings all huddled together high on a hill on Bordeaux’s right banks.
Château Villemaurine, Saint-Émilion
The tours… are dark – and deep(ly fascinating). You’ll follow in the footsteps of the quarrymen who once navigated this secret subway of chambers, stopping in the monolithic cellar filled with oak barrel after oak barrel containing Villemaurine’s latest vintage. After reemerging into the light, you’ll – of course – be rewarded with a sip of some Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé.
Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan
The château… is fit for royalty. Celebrated for its sustainable approach to winemaking, this was the château of choice for King Charles III on his environmental escapade to Bordeaux last year. And if, like the monarch, you’re mesmerised by the owners’ dedication to preserving the terroir here, why not spend the night at the five-star Les Sources de Caudalie hotel? Surrounded by the very vines that dictate each vintage’s characteristics, sleeping here will give you a taste for far more than just flavour.
Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan
The tours… are uniquely engaging. Whether you want to explore the vines through an artist’s eye, step into the winegrower’s shoes, or learn how to professionally pair land (wine) with sea (caviar), Château Smith Haut Lafitte’s variety of wine tours help you explore its estate in a way that aligns with your interests (beyond wine, of course).
