Bordeaux – Wine Capital of the World

A FOUR NIGHT HOLIDAY | 27 OCTOBER 2023

At the confluence of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, the elegant city of Bordeaux is not only one of France’s most charming, but has become a byword for fine wines over the course of many centuries. Since the Kingdom of Aquitaine, the English have enjoyed the wines of Medoc, Margaux, Graves, Sauternes and St Emilion, and coined the word ‘claret’ to refer to the ruby wines from the region so beloved of English drinkers from King John to the present day. The fame of Bordeaux wines has spread worldwide, but many of the estates here are still small producers, often in the hands of ancient families, whose grand chateaux stand over the vineyards. In the company of wine writer Jonathan Ray, we will visit a range of wineries in the Bordeaux area, meeting experienced winemakers in person, and going behind-the-scenes to sample exceptional wines and enjoy truly memorable dining experiences

the itinerary

Travelling to Bordeaux today we will be whisked to our hotel for the duration of the holiday, the 4* Hotel De Seze in the heart of the elegant centre. Jonathan Ray will host an introductory wine-tasting this evening before dinner in a local restaurant.

This morning we visit the celebrated Château PichonLongueville Baron, an elegant 19th century chateau with a 73-hectare vineyard adjacent to that of Château Latour. We will meet Christian Seely, who has run the estate for the last 20 years, and sample some of their excellent, powerful, Cabernet-dominated wines which have a fabulous reputation. After lunch at the Chateau, we head to Bordeaux’s spectacular new museum devoted to the trade which has made it a world-renowned city – the Cité du Vin. Through a series of well-designed interactive exhibits, the museum introduces the history of viticulture on the banks of the Garonne, and the evolution of Bordeaux into the wine capital of the world. We will conclude the visit with a tasting of a variety of wines from the area, before returning to the hotel.

Today we will travel to the ancient city of St Emilion, just a short drive from Bordeaux, and the home of some of the most prestigious wine estates in the world thanks to its complex geology and microclimate. The family De Scheppers are third generation winemakers who first came to Bordeaux in 1938 and winemaker JeanMichel Garcion, has been with them for over twenty years. They run three estates in the region, Château Haut Breton Larigaudière in the world-famous Margaux AOC, Château Tayet, and Tour Baladoz on the eastern edge of St Emilion, which will shall visit this morning. At their La Croizille tasting room, which is suspended over the vines, we will sample all three wines followed by a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we will wander the atmospheric centre of Saint-Emillion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with more than 2,000 years of history.

TOUR LEADER

JONATHAN RAY

Jonathan Ray is the Drinks Editor for The Spectator, drinks columnist of The Field and Spear’s Magazine, and author of several books on wine and spirits including All About Wine, Bloodlines & Grapevines, Drink More Fizz! and That’s the Spirit!. Jonathan has also written on food, travel and many other subjects for the Guardian, the New Statesman, the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and the Financial Times.

4

Following the course of the Garonne and its tributary the Ciron, we reach the Sauternes region, 25 miles southeast of Bordeaux. The unique microclimate here creates autumn mists which linger overnight on the vineyards, providing perfect conditions for the Botrytis cinerea fungus. At the elegant Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, we will learn how this ‘noble rot’ creates wines of intense sweetness. We shall sample their 1855 Premier Grand Cru Classé, produced using traditional organic methods from 18.5 hectares of gravel terraces. After sampling the wines we will enjoy an exquisite lunch in the Michelinstarred restaurant at the Château, before returning to Bordeaux in the afternoon.

DAY

We will depart after breakfast and return to London.

DAY 5

TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP 27 October £2,298 £398

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

FLIGHT DETAILS

Flights with Easyjet: Depart London Gatwick 13.25, arrive Bordeaux 16.05 Depart Bordeaux 07.25, arrive London Gatwick 08.10 Flight times subject to change – regional departures or travel by rail available on request.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Return flights • Four nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Three lunches • One dinner • Wine tastings as described • All sightseeing, entrances fees and gratuities • The services of a Kirker Tour Lecturer