BIENVENUE EN BORDEAUX

Welcome to Bordeaux! Arrivals – either by TGV from Paris or by air into Bordeaux–Mérignac International Airport (BOD).

Check into the Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes, and settle into our five-star home in the historic Chartrons district, once the epicenter of the city’s wine trade. This striking Philippe Starck–designed property transforms a 19th-century wine warehouse into a sanctuary of visionary design, exceptional dining, and holistic wellness.

Welcome drink and Orientation Tasting

After sipping on bubbles and introducing ourselves, we’ll sit down for an in-depth Bordeaux Masterclass led by our expert host, Loïc Lamy — an illuminating introduction to the region’s history, classifications, and signature styles.

Dinner – a traditional Bordelais feast

A leisurely walk through the neighborhood brings us to a beloved local restaurant known for impeccable ingredients from the surrounding countryside. Savor regional specialties such as fresh oysters, entrecôte, and crisp golden frites, accompanied by outstanding local wines.

MÉDOC MARVELS – A DAY OF FIRST GROWTHS

Private visit and tasting at first growth Château Margaux

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head out for a visit and tasting at Château Margaux (Premier Grand Cru Classé de Margaux), one of the world’s most revered estates.

Lunch at Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker

Enjoy a refined farm-to-table lunch at this elegant property, followed by a private viewing of its remarkable Asian art collection.

Visit and tasting with first growth Château Lafite Rothschild

Continue to Pauillac for an exceptionally rare tasting at Château Lafite Rothschild (Premier Grand Cru Classé). Access to estates of this stature is typically limited to industry professionals, making this experience truly extraordinary.

Rest and relaxation or optional guided tour of Bordeaux

Return to the hotel for a refreshing rest or a stroll around town with an expert local guide.

Dinner at the Michelin-starred Ressources

Tonight’s dinner will be very special, at this Michelin-starred restaurant where inventive, ingredient-driven cuisine is paired with a thoughtfully curated wine program. It’s a refined yet deeply expressive dining experience that celebrates both place and season.

GRAVES GEMS

Private tour and tasting at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

After breakfast, we’ll start our Graves day off with a visit and private tasting at Château Smith Haut Lafitte (Grand Cru Classé of Graves) in Pessac-Léognan, where both the estate’s acclaimed red and white wines showcase the elegance, depth, and precision that define this historic Graves property.

Lunch at Le Manège Château Léognan

We’ll sit down to a refined, wine-focused lunch at this elegant local restaurant known for its seasonal cuisine and deep cellar, served in an elegant setting on the grounds of Château Léognan – a relaxed yet polished interlude amid the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan.

Visit to a local barrel cooperage

Visit a traditional cooperage in the Bordeaux countryside for a behind-the-scenes look at the centuries-old craft of barrel making, where master coopers transform French oak into the vessels that shape the character, structure, and aging potential of the world’s greatest wines.

Private tour and tasting at a next-generation Bordeaux winery
Our second tasting will give us a taste of the new wave: a rising-star Bordeaux talent with bold wines that will surprise and delight you.

Rest and relaxation or optional guided tour of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux

Relax with a good book in the hotel or go with our guide to visit this lovely nearby museum.

Casual dinner at the hotel restaurant

Tonight’s meal is relaxed, but promises to be delicious as it is created by celebrated Japanese Master Chef Masaharu Morimoto. This is his first European restaurant, blending Asian culinary artistry with Western flavors to deliver a vibrant selection of dishes.

SAUTERNES SOJOURN

Check out and drive to Sauternes

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and take the one-hour drive to Sauternes, land of the famous sweet wine.

Private tour and tasting at the spectacular Château d’Yquem

A visit to this iconic chateau is on every wine lover’s bucket list, and justifiably so – the grounds are stunning, and the wines no less so. They are renowned for producing the world’s most prestigious and long-lived sweet wine, and we will have the pleasure of tasting some of the older vintages from their library.

Lunch at Maison Claude Darroze

This local gem will offer us a menu prepared specially for us, paired not only with Sauternes but also with the region’s under-appreciated dry whites and robust reds.

Transfer to the village of Saint-Émilion

After lunch, we’ll take the pleasant drive to the UNESCO world heritage village of Saint-Émilion. There we’ll check into our new accommodation, the 5-star Hôtel de Pavie, and take some time to rest and relax before dinner.

Dinner at a local favorite with a special winemaker guest

Dine at one of the village’s most charming restaurants alongside a distinguished local winemaker, who will share both their wines and personal insights into the terroir, traditions, and culture that define this legendary region.

SAINT-ÉMILION SPECIALTIES

Guided walking tour of Saint-Émilion

After breakfast, we’ll explore the medieval village on foot, from its winding cobbled streets to its remarkable monolithic underground church carved entirely from limestone — a powerful testament to the town’s spiritual and geological history.

Private tour and tasting at first growth Château Cheval Blanc

We’ll start off today with a bang, with a visit and tasting at the legendary Château Cheval Blanc (Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”). Private access is exceptionally rare, making this visit a true highlight.

Lunch at convivial wine bar L’Envers du Décor

Enjoy lunch at L’Envers du Décor in the heart of Saint‑Émilion, a beloved wine bar where refined regional cuisine and an exceptional Bordeaux-focused wine list come together in a relaxed setting just steps from the village’s medieval streets.

Optional tasting at Château Pavie

For those who can’t get enough rare Bordeaux tasting, join us this afternoon at Château Pavie (Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”) to privately taste some new and old wines from one of Saint-Émilion’s most prestigious estates. Their powerful, age-worthy wines and sweeping vineyard views offer a compelling expression of Bordeaux’s Right Bank at its most refined.

Rest and relaxation

Relax at the hotel or wander through the surrounding vineyards.

Farewell dinner at the two-Michelin-starred La Table de Pavie

Celebrate your final evening with Chef Yannick Alléno’s refined, terroir-driven cuisine paired with exceptional Bordeaux wines, served in an elegant setting overlooking the rooftops of Saint-Émilion — a fitting finale to an extraordinary journey.

ADIEU

Departures, or continue on for further exploration

**Vines itineraries are highly unique and customized, and the overall schedule, events and timing are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.