Earlier this month, I joined a small group of travel industry professionals on an educational visit hosted by the Bordeaux Tourism Board. Over four days we explored the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan, Médoc and Saint-Émilion, alongside the history, gastronomy and hospitality that make Bordeaux one of France's most celebrated regions.
Over four days we explored renowned wine estates, historic villages, luxury hotels, river landscapes, contemporary art and some of the finest gastronomy in southwest France.
the Pessac-Léognan Wine Region & Château Léognan
After arriving in Bordeaux, I transferred directly to Château Léognan, where we spent our first evening. The estate spans seventy hectares of vineyards and parkland and includes a lake, a small number of treehouses and the nineteenth-century Saint-Mathieu Chapel.
During a guided tour of the property, we learned that the chapel was built by Emma Seurin in memory of her husband, shipowner Mathieu Seurin, who had commissioned the château itself. Emma's likeness remains carved into the stonework today. Dinner was served outdoors, with duck featuring on the menu, before we continued north into the Médoc the following morning.
Exploring the Médoc: Château Marquis d'Alesme and Margaux Wines
Stretching between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde Estuary, the Médoc is home to many of Bordeaux's most prestigious wine estates. Our first visit was Château Marquis d'Alesme in Margaux. Classified as a Third Growth in the 1855 Classification commissioned for Napoleon III's Exposition Universelle, the estate dates back to the sixteenth century.
Today it is owned by Nathalie Perrodo, who has overseen significant investment in both the winery and visitor facilities. Her French and Chinese heritage is reflected throughout the property, where Chinese architectural influences sit alongside traditional Bordeaux design.
The estate embraces the concept of a "folie" – a place dedicated to beauty, creativity and pleasure. Contemporary artworks and carefully curated spaces distinguish it from many neighbouring châteaux, while family-friendly activities, including treasure hunts, broaden its appeal beyond wine enthusiasts.
Gironde Estuary Cruise: Patiras Island and Château Loudenne
The itinerary then shifted from vineyards to waterways. We boarded a private boat at Fort Médoc and headed onto the Gironde Estuary, the largest estuary in Western Europe. For centuries these waters formed the commercial lifeline of Bordeaux, carrying wine and other goods to Britain and beyond.
Our destination was Patiras Island, home to a nineteenth-century lighthouse that guided vessels through the estuary for generations. Climbing its 138 steps rewarded us with panoramic views across surrounding vineyards and the river, looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Lunch was served at Le Refuge de Patiras, located in the former lighthouse keeper's house and focused on regional produce and local wines. Life on the island comes with practical challenges; we learned that the head chef holds a captain's license so she can transport staff and supplies across the estuary. Running a restaurant in the middle of the estuary clearly requires more than culinary skills!
The cruise continued to Château Loudenne, known as the Pink Château. Established in 1670, the estate occupies a prominent position on the estuary.
When British wine merchants Alfred and Walter Gilbey acquired the property in 1875, they used its private port to export wine directly to Britain. Today Château Loudenne is the only wine estate in the Médoc with its own private dock.
Back on land, we visited Château Lamothe-Bergeron, a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur estate whose history stretches back to the Middle Ages. Sampling grapes directly from the vines before tasting the finished wines provided an insight into how terroir, ripeness and winemaking decisions shape the final flavor – each wine was paired with a savory or sweet locally made maccarron.
Saint-Émilion: Historic Vineyards, Château Fage and Grand Barrail
The following day began at Château Fage, one of my favorite discoveries of the trip. Located between Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, the property combines stylish accommodation with a strong focus on gastronomy. Alongside its restaurant, Château Fage hosts private cooking classes where guests can learn traditional recipes and techniques from south-west France.
From there we continued to Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around the hermitage of the monk Émilion during the eighth century. The town's limestone buildings and narrow streets have changed remarkably little over the centuries. Its most remarkable monument is the monolithic church, carved directly into the limestone beneath the town during the twelfth century and still one of the largest underground churches in Europe. Our visit also included the Cordeliers Cloister, a fourteenth-century monastery whose underground galleries are now used for sparkling wine production.
Lunch was served at Château Grand Barrail, a property that made an immediate impression. Built in the late nineteenth century in neo-Renaissance style, the château stands amongst the vineyards on the outskirts of Saint-Émilion and remains one of the region's most recognisable hotels, distinguished by its towers, formal gardens and elegant interiors. Lunch demonstrated why the region enjoys such a strong gastronomic reputation, with seasonal local ingredients paired with wines from surrounding vineyards.
The afternoon concluded at Château Fleur de Boüard in Lalande-de-Pomerol. Founded by Hubert de Boüard, co-owner of Château Angélus, the estate combines established winemaking traditions with a gravity-fed winery and a contemporary approach to wine tourism. We were taken to the barrel-filled cellar where a video showing the history of wine was shown on the walls.
Bassins des Lumières and Bordeaux's Historical Restaurant
We then traveled the short distance to Bordeaux city. Our first stop was Bassins des Lumières, housed within a former German submarine base constructed during the Second World War. During our visit, works by Henri Matisse and Frida Kahlo were projected across walls, ceilings and water-filled basins, accompanied by music throughout the vast space.
That evening we dined at Le Chapon Fin, a Bordeaux institution dating back to 1825. The restaurant's extraordinary rococo interior has welcomed artists, politicians and writers for generations, including Toulouse-Lautrec and François Mauriac. The owner joined us for dinner and shared her memories and stories of the restaurant's history.
La Cité du Vin, Maison Pariès and Bordeaux City Sights
The final day began with visits to Hôtel de Sèze and Villas Foch, two very different luxury properties in the city centre. Hôtel de Sèze draws inspiration from Bordeaux's eighteenth-century heritage, while Villas Foch occupies a beautifully restored nineteenth-century building with just twenty rooms and suites.
A private guided tour followed, bringing Bordeaux's history to life. Much of the city owes its appearance to the eighteenth century, when maritime trade generated enormous wealth. Grand squares, elegant façades and broad avenues still reflect that period of prosperity.
Our walk also included a visit to Maison Pariès on Rue de la Porte Dijeaux. Founded in the Basque Country in 1895 and still family-owned more than 120 years later, the company is renowned for its chocolates and Kanougas, a caramel confection first created by the family in the early twentieth century.
Lunch at Le 7, the panoramic restaurant within La Cité du Vin, preceded a visit to one of Bordeaux's most recognizable modern landmarks. Opened in 2016, the striking building was designed to evoke the movement of wine swirling in a glass. The permanent exhibition explores the relationship between wine, culture and civilization across five continents and thousands of years of history.
The afternoon continued with a tasting at Caviar de Neuvic, a producer based in neighboring Dordogne. Founded in 2011, the company oversees every stage of production, from hatching to tasting, and has become one of France's leading caviar producers.
Our final stop was ComplanTerra, a wine merchant and tasting venue specialising in organic, biodynamic and natural wines. A tasting in the vaulted cellar highlighted another facet of Bordeaux's contemporary wine scene.
Why Visit Bordeaux? Final Thoughts
Over four days we explored vineyard estates, medieval streets, historic châteaux, contemporary art installations, family-owned businesses and some exceptional hospitality.
The trip reinforced Bordeaux's reputation as one of the world's great wine regions, while also highlighting the history, gastronomy and culture that sit alongside the vineyards.
My thanks go to Catherine and the Bordeaux Tourism Board for the invitation and for sharing such a varied introduction to this remarkable region.
For more information about our curated itineraries through Bordeaux and France, contact us now.