After breakfast on the quayside market in Bordeaux (fancy oysters and a glass of white wine?) head off to the vineyards for a visit and tasting and some of Bordeaux’s most famous châteaux that are open all hours (but make sure to pre-book!). Take your choice between St Emilion, Medoc, Graves and Sauternes!
St Emilion with its pretty cobbled Streets is always a great destination.
ST EMILION OPEN AT WEEKENDS AND SUNDAYS
Fonplegade – very complete tasting including a Pomerol and tour
Guadet – taken underground the Streets of the medieval village by the owners themselves
de Ferrande – high up overlookign the Dordogne Valley with range of old vintages (at excellent prices) visit the gallery of square limestone caves behind the Church too
de Pressac – beautiful views over the valley on St Emilion’s eastern border overlooking Castillon
St Emilion Tourist Information
The Medoc too has some first rate châteaux that are ‘open all hours’
MEDOC OPEN AT WEEKENDS AND SUNDAYS
Pontet Canet – Grand Cru Classé Pauillac biodynamic and superb (take a golf buggy around the unusual looking vineyards)
Lynch Bages – see how they used to do it in the 1800s and eat next door at the Café Lavinal
Lanessan – great example of a wonderful Haut Médoc, great value, old vintages and a mecca if you are into horses!
SAUTERNES OPEN AT WEEKENDS AND SUNDAYS
This region has probably the widest choice of châteaux to visit at the weekend. Check out Tourist Info site
Guiraud
Rayne Vignaud
Haut Peyraguey
de Myrat
GRAVES OPEN AT WEEKENDS AND SUNDAYS
Smith Haut Lafitte
l’Arrivet Haut Brion
Haut Lagrange
Pape Clement
d’Eyran
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