From Visit to Tasting
The doors to the chateaux open for you,
the property welcomes you
in its chateau, its vineyard and its cellars
Discovering the Chateau
Every visit of chateaux may be different from one another: visit in the vines, explanation about the vinification, the grape varieties, the particularities of the chateau, visit of the cellars… Depending on the moment of your visit, you will experience different aspects of the season’s work in the vineyard and in the cellars. In all cases, you will be offered a tasting of the chateau’s wine.
From the biggest Grand Cru Classé to the smallest vineyard; with more than 9.000 chateaux around Bordeaux, the choice of places to visit will be done according to your taste and your wishes. Also, it is perfectly possible to create a visit or a wine tour with a particular theme (terroirs, history, architecture, art…)
Discovering the Chateau
Every visit of chateaux may be different from one another: visit in the vines, explanation about the vinification, the grape varieties, the particularities of the chateau, visit of the cellars… Depending on the moment of your visit, you will experience different aspects of the season’s work in the vineyard and in the cellars. In all cases, you will be offered a tasting of the chateau’s wine.
From the biggest Grand Cru Classé to the smallest vineyard; with more than 9.000 chateaux around Bordeaux, the choice of places to visit will be done according to your taste and your wishes. Also, it is perfectly possible to create a visit or a wine tour with a particular theme (terroirs, history, architecture, art…)
Meeting the People
To visit a chateau is also a human experience and the opportunity to meet the professionals behind the wines. On your winetour, you may for example be able to meet the owner, the cellar master or the workers in the vineyard.
As the universe of wine is not only limited to the chateau, you also have the possibility to discover other professions in relation to wine. Since wooden barrels have great influence on the taste and stability of the wine, a visit of a cooperage may bring a new dimension to your wine tour. Likewise it can be interesting to meet a “négociant” (wine merchant) in order to understand the trade and marketing of Bordeaux wines around the world.
Meeting the People
To visit a chateau is also a human experience and the opportunity to meet the professionals behind the wines. On your winetour, you may for example be able to meet the owner, the cellar master or the workers in the vineyard.
As the universe of wine is not only limited to the chateau, you also have the possibility to discover other professions in relation to wine. Since wooden barrels have great influence on the taste and stability of the wine, a visit of a cooperage may bring a new dimension to your wine tour. Likewise it can be interesting to meet a “négociant” (wine merchant) in order to understand the trade and marketing of Bordeaux wines around the world.
Tasting and Workshops
At the end of every chateau visit you will be offered a tasting of their wine.
Moreover, depending on the season, you may be able to taste different stages of the wine production: directly from the tank (as grape juice, during fermentation, or as finished wine), from the barrels or as primeur wine.
To increase your knowledge, you can ask for a wine tasting with a particular theme: the difference between the grape varieties or between terroirs, a vertical tasting (different vintages, same wine) or a horizontal tasting (same vintage, different wines), a tasting of wine coming from different wooden casks…
Furthermore, you have the possibility to create your own cuvee or to do crossed wine tastings such as cheese and wine, chocolate and wine, caviar and wine…)
Tasting and Workshops
At the end of every chateau visit you will be offered a tasting of their wine.
Moreover, depending on the season, you may be able to taste different stages of the wine production: directly from the tank (as grape juice, during fermentation, or as finished wine), from the barrels or as primeur wine.
To increase your knowledge, you can ask for a wine tasting with a particular theme: the difference between the grape varieties or between terroirs, a vertical tasting (different vintages, same wine) or a horizontal tasting (same vintage, different wines), a tasting of wine coming from different wooden casks…
Furthermore, you have the possibility to create your own cuvee or to do crossed wine tastings such as cheese and wine, chocolate and wine, caviar and wine…)
Meal at the Chateau
Enjoy the beautiful surroundings by extending your chateau visit with a private meal at the property.
Let your mood lead your choice. For an open-air lunch, it can be wonderful with a picnic with view on the vines or a beautiful table set in the park of the chateau.
If you prefer to experience life at the chateau, I can organise a meal in one of its reception room or in its private dining room. I will suggest you an unforgettable wine menu.
And for an unusual meal: grilled beef by the fireplace in the kitchen of a medieval fortress with its owners.
Credit © Musée des Arts décoratifs de Bordeaux
Credit © Musée des Arts décoratifs de Bordeaux
Meal at the Chateau
Enjoy the beautiful surroundings by extending your chateau visit with a private meal at the property.
Let your mood lead your choice. For an open-air lunch, it can be wonderful with a picnic with view on the vines or a beautiful table set in the park of the chateau.
If you prefer to experience life at the chateau, I can organise a meal in one of its reception room or in its private dining room. I will suggest you an unforgettable wine menu.
And for an unusual meal: grilled beef by the fireplace in the kitchen of a medieval fortress with its owners.
Your Wine Tour in Bordeaux
Discover beautiful excursions in nearly every geographical direction, less than one hour from Bordeaux.
Mathilde Pfeiffer guides you between vines and chateaux and shares all her knowledge with you during your visits and tastings. In the 65 appellations (wine growing areas) around Bordeaux you will find more than 110 000 hectares vines and about 9 000 chateaux; enough to dive well into the culture, the history and life of the areas visited.
Ideally, is to visit two to three chateaux per day, but this number may be modelled according to your wishes. Mathilde Pfeiffer helps you choose the chateaux interesting to visit thanks to her knowledge of the area.
Your Wine Tour in Bordeaux
Discover beautiful excursions in nearly every geographical direction, less than one hour from Bordeaux.
Mathilde Pfeiffer guides you between vines and chateaux and shares all her knowledge with you during your visits and tastings. In the 65 appellations (wine growing areas) around Bordeaux you will find more than 110 000 hectares vines and about 9 000 chateaux; enough to dive well into the culture, the history and life of the areas visited.
Ideally, is to visit two to three chateaux per day, but this number may be modelled according to your wishes. Mathilde Pfeiffer helps you choose the chateaux interesting to visit thanks to her knowledge of the area.
Example of One Day’s Wine Tour around Bordeaux
9 AM: Reception at the hotel by your guide, Mathilde
10 AM: Visit of the first chateau: (one to two hours).
Explanation about the wine production from vines to bottle as well as a visit of the cellars. Tasting of the chateau wine.
12.30: Lunch in a restaurant on the square of a lovely little village.
2.30 PM: Visit of a second chateau of another appellation (one go two hours).
Tour in the vines in order to understand the particularities of this vineyard compared to others and the different grape varieties of the appellation. Visit of the wine cellars. Tasting in order to explore the aromas of the chosen appellation.
4.30 PM: Visit of a third appellation. (One to two hours)
Tasting in order to have a broarder perspective and understanding of the differences between the great terroirs.
6.30 PM: Back to your hotel.
During your wine tour, we pass by the most important chateaux and places to see in the area.
Depending on the season, you will be able to strengthen your knowledge of the work in the vineyards and the wine cellars, and may even be able to have an idea of the coming vintage.
As a variation in your wine tour, Mathilde Pfeiffer can offer you different leisure activities: sea-side, cultural heritage, sports, relaxation, gastronomy, shopping…
After having lived this fabulous stay in the area, full of culture and new discoveries and wonderful memories of the Bordeaux region, you may say: “Veni Vidi Vinum”, “I came, I saw, (I tasted!) the wine”