There are many motivations to visit the perfect city of Bordeaux – strolls along the winding Garonne river, world famous engineering and a gourmet connoisseur scene where newly shucked shellfish and delicious steaks become the dominant focal point. Yet, one specific fascination will constantly rule this part of the world: wine. The clue is in the name, all things considered if you visit this part of France you really must try out the best Bordeaux wine tours.
Specialists wine connoisseurs or casual wine drinkers all come here looking for the powerful fragrances and complex flavors that can be enjoyed in a glass of Bordeaux: tobacco, blackberries, calfskin, dull cherries, musk, licorice… delicious is the word.
Bordeaux is in many cases held up as the highest quality level of wine-production and you can see why. The Bordelais treat their world standing extremely seriously to be sure, giving chateaux visits, expert tastings, food pairings, vineyard visits and a tremendous gallery devoted completely to wine. As such, guests who show up ready to plunge into the powerful culture of wine-drinking can anticipate a truly wonderful holiday. So here are a couple of ways of getting everything rolling.
Visit La Cité du Vin
There’s no mistaking the topic of this lovely exhibition hall: La Cité du Vin is formed like the whirl of wine in a glass, its brilliant design succeeds in getting the light to fall like daylight on a sauvignon blanc. In the event that that sight alone doesn’t make you parched then the remainder of the experience unquestionably will: various and displays here totally immerse you in all parts of wine culture. There are intelligent screens empowering you to ‘meet’ producers from vineyards all over the planet and recordings of renowned consumers all through the ages taking part in recoreded voiceovers. One of the more tactile shows in the exhibition siphons out the fragrance of raspberries, pencil shavings, cowhide gloves and different smells. For those after a more cerebral lesson, the impact of wine in everything from history, poetry, love and religion is likewise investigated in depth. Obviously, after all that schooling it would be unkind not to offer guests a beverage and fortunately the ticket includes a glass of wine, served in the Belvedere, an eighth floor bar with all encompassing views across the city.
Get to Know the Scene
Individuals frequently discuss the significance of terroir in wine – the dirt, precipitation and daylight (among different variables) that influences the grapes’ development, and the way which the wine will ultimately taste. No place is this more important than in Bordeaux. The district is partitioned by the Gironde waterway which leaves the left bank with gravelly soil, ideal for developing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and the right bank is home to good quality soil that contains limestone, making it an ideal home for Merlot grapevines. Exploring the vineyards and experiencing the Atlantic breezes and the glorious sunshine really helps understand the whole process of creating wine.
Previous winemaker and genuine oenophile Pascale Larroche offers wonderfully pleasant bicycle tours that take you out into Bordeaux’s incredible countryside to cycle past picturesque vineyards, inspect the farms, visit ravishing chateaux and get an on-the-ground knowledge into how wine is created.
Take an Estate Visit
A significant number of Bordeaux’s chateaux are spectacular. Built with ancient limestone, encompassed by flawless grounds and flanked with columns of perfect green plants, visiting these chateaux is an unmissable experience. Many are free or minimally prices for relaxed drop-in visits and tastings, while others offer long, fantastical feasts accompanied by pairings of the host’s best vintages. Frequently there’s the opportunity to meet the actual winemakers as well.
Explore the World’s Wine Capital
Bordeaux has a respected tradition of winemaking with over 6000 great vineyards producing superb wines that are known worldwide. This prime location for growing quality grapes and vegetables can be discovered through Into the Vineyards Custom Wine Tours of Bordeaux, which offers tailored tours of the region. To the left of the Gironde River are great reds with power behind the Cabernet Sauvignons, while to its right are creamy whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
