How to organize your stay in Bordeaux?
21 March 2023
Medoc or Saint-Emilion: Which Wine Tour to Choose in the Bordeaux Region If You Only Have One Day?
The ideal answer: “Both!” If you are a seasoned traveler and a wine lover, don’t even think about spending only one day in this beautiful region. You should plan at least 5 days: one in Medoc, one in Bordeaux, one in Saint-Émilion, one in Pessac/Léognan and Sauternes, and the last one, to end your tour on a beautiful note, at the Bay of Arcachon.
But seriously, if you only have one day to spend outside of Bordeaux, it will all depend on your wine knowledge and what you expect from your wine tour.
If your main goal is to visit wine chateaux and taste famous Bordeaux wines, Medoc or Saint-Emilion wine tour will definitely live up to your expectations. These two regions produce the best wines in Bordeaux, and even in the world! In other words, you can’t go wrong by choosing one of these destinations.
Tour to Bordeaux Vineyards
If your main goals are to discover local wines and learn more about local grape varieties, first find out which region’s wines you like the most. Maybe you like the wine from a particular chateau, or a particular style of blending the three main red grape varieties, which varies depending on the region: for example, the dense, structured Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends in Medoc, where historically they have always produced very full-bodied red wines with bright tannins, low acidity and medium to high alcohol levels: in other words, the classic Bordeaux wine blend. Or Saint-Émilion, where softness and a slight sweetness prevail: its constituents – Cabernet Franc and especially Merlot – carry a special magic! Over the years, the best wines acquire a silky structure without losing their complexity.
The type of landscape and scenery also varies from one region to another. In Medoc, you will be amazed by the magnificent chateaux, truly majestic and impressive castles, large and outstanding wine producers, such as Margaux, Lafite and Mouton Rothschild, Cos d’Estournel,… The villages here are small and rather simple. In Saint-Émilion, the wineries are smaller and less impressive, but very elegant. And the villages here are much more colorful.
Medoc for the wine chateaux, Saint-Émilion for its picturesque village.
Wine tour to Saint-Emilion. History and wine.
This is why, if wine is not the main focus of your tour in the Bordeaux region, and you don’t plan to spend the day among the vineyards, you can go to Saint-Émilion. The wines here are superb, just like in Pauillac, but what sets this region apart is the beauty of the scenery and the village of Saint-Émilion itself, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and is partly carved into the rock on which it stands.
You can spend the whole day simply strolling through the medieval streets and enjoying the village of Saint-Émilion without visiting a single wine chateau. Although it would be a pity to miss out on such a pleasure and opportunity! And you should definitely have lunch in one of the restaurants in a unique setting with a magnificent view of their vineyards, where they serve delicious gastronomic dishes. You should also take a guided tour of the village, especially of the underground monuments (the Monolithic Church and the Hermitage of Saint Emilion), which you can only visit with a guide.
There are nearly 800 chateaux in Saint-Émilion and its surroundings. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choice! Again, if wine is not your priority, rely on your instinct and, above all, on us – your guides!
More details about a Saint-Emilion wine tour here.
Wine tour to Medoc. The Road of Great Wines.
The chateaux of Medoc are known for never being keen on welcoming visitors and offering tastings to the general public. Historically, their tasting rooms were open to serious buyers or specialized groups. And some of them still stick to this policy. But this has changed somewhat in recent years, and now private guides can usually help you if you contact them in advance!
You will drive along the “Route des Grands Chateaux”, see many famous Grands Crus Classés, such as Mouton Rothschild, Latour, Palmer or Pichon-Longueville. You will make a few stops at places worthy of a photo shoot. If you are in a small group, it is even possible to organize a lunch in one of them. Ask your guide to organize it for you.
Would you like to go on a wine tour in the Medoc? More detailes about our Medoc tour here.
Whichever you choose, we advise you to take a professional guide-driver, and even a photographer if possible, so that you can fully enjoy the wine tasting and appreciate every minute of your wine tour. If you are not a wine enthusiast, it is best to take no more than two or three quality tastings per day. Trust your guide, he will select for you completely different visits and tastings at the chateaux, with different philosophies and different blends, so that you can get to know the winemaking process and the styles of the local wines as best as possible.
So, which wine tour should you choose: Medoc or Saint-Emilion?
In any case, we are sure that you will definitely come back here again to visit what you missed!
Here are some additional tips for choosing a wine tour in Bordeaux:
- Consider your budget. Wine tours can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
- Think about your interests. Do you want to focus on tasting wines, learning about the winemaking process, or visiting historical sites?
- Choose a tour company that is reputable and has a good safety record.
- Book your tour in advance, especially if you are traveling during peak season.