The Bordeaux Wine Explorer: Private Saint-Emilion to Graves & Sauternes

Meet your English speaking driver/guide who is a local expert on Bordeaux Wines 

In the morning, we will come and pick you up at your Hotel or Accommodation in Saint Emilion. Meet your English speaking driver / guide who is an expert on Bordeaux Wines. Once you have met your guide, he/she will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned vehicle and begin to make your way to the Graves & Sauternes wine producing regions.

Travel in a spacious Premium Vehicle 

Your private Bordeaux Day Trip in the Graves & Sauternes will take place in one of our very spacious Mercedes Minivans. This vehicle can take up to 8 persons. All our vehicles are equipped with an on board P/A system that allows you to hear the commentary of your driver/guide no matter where you are seated. Also, there is free Wi-Fi access in all vehicles. Bottled water is also available in all our vehicles.

Depart from Saint Emilion and reach the Graves wine region

Starting in Saint Emilion, a short drive in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan brings you out of the city to the picturesque countryside plains and rolling hills of the left bank wine producing area. This is the heart of Bordeaux’s famous wine region, where many vineyards carry the Graves and Pessac Léognan AOC designation. Each of these local wineries produce vintages with distinct soil features backed by a long winemaking heritage.

Located South of Bordeaux, this wine region is known to be the original wine producing region of Bordeaux. This is the area where the Romans first planted grapes just about 2,000 years ago. The name of the region originates from the soil that can be found here, deep layers of grave and stonel!

Discover the Pessac Leognan wine producing region of Bordeaux

This quite recent appellation used to be part of the Graves. Due to its recognition of producing high quality red and white wines, the area was rewarded with a communal appellation in 1987. The red wines of Pessac Léognan are based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grape varieties. The white wines produced here are generally made of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes.

The soil is quite similar to the one that can be found in the Graves region which is mainly gravel, stone and sand. One of the most prestigious wineries of the appellation is Chateau Haut-Brion that was granted the 1er Grand Cru Classé level of 1855, sole chateau to be located outside the Medoc & Sauternes wine producing regions.

Upon arrival in the wine region, we stop at a carefully selected winery. Some of our favorites that we highly recommend include Chateau Haut Bailly, Château La Louvière, Chateau Olivier, Chateau Carbonnieux but there are many more. Visit the winery on a private tour with the local tour guide. Then, you will have the opportunity to taste the different wines of the estate including white and red wines.

After lunch, visit the Sauternes wine region of Bordeaux

The Sauternes wine region is famous for the high quality sweet white wines that are produced here. The most famous winery of the region is Chateau d’Yquem that was classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines. Sauternes wines are made in great majority with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes to which are added in much lesser amounts Muscadelle and Sauvignon Gris.

The wines of Sauternes are produced thanks to the action of a fungus, Botrytis Cinerea that causes the grapes to rot. This process is called the noble rot when it comes to take place on healthy grapes and under a favorable climate.

The local climate of Sauternes during the summer time is usually composed of morning mist followed by warm and dry afternoons which has the effect to dry the grapes, reduce the water content and concentrate the sugar. The result is the making of an intensely sweet, gold colored wine with strong aromas of honeysuckle, blossom and stone.

This afternoon, your wine tour will take you to one of the most prestigious wineries of the Sauternes area. Upon arrival, you will visit the installations but the most important will be to understand the wine making process as it differs completely with that of other wines.

Follow the Chateau guide as you are explained the making of Sauternes wines from the vineyard to the bottle. Once the visit is over, it will be time to taste this unique nectar. During a commented wine tasting, you will be explained which food pairs the best with this category of wine. After the visit and tasting, it will be time to head back to Saint Emilion.