The French port city of Bordeaux is known worldwide for its excellent quality of red wines. Thanks to its climate, the grapevines grow so well here that you can find thousands of different wineries, which produce thousands of hectoliters of wine every year. Come and join us for tasting the best of the world’s wines right in the very heart of Bordeaux.

During the year, winemakers welcome visitors from all over the world to get acquainted with the local wine production and end the visit with a tasting experience. In the area around Bordeaux, there are grow these wine varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Every visit to a winery, or as it is called a château, is unique and interesting, so it can sometimes be difficult to choose between them.

We were spared these worries because we chose company Rustic Vines as our guide to the Bordeaux wine region. You don´t have to worry about choosing and arranging a visit to the château. You also get the transport to the place settled, lunch, and an experienced guide with you for the whole time. He takes you not only to the vineyards, but also offers a tour of the charming town of Saint Emilion, which lies right in the heart of the vineyards. It is no wonder, therefore, that Rustic Vines holds the first place as the best-rated tour in Bordeaux on the Tripadvisor. In addition to the excursions in the vineyards, it offers other activities, so everyone will find their cup of tea. We really enjoyed the day with our guide.

Visiting vineyards with wine tasting at the Cadet-Bon Château

Although we have never been passionate wine lovers, the visit to Bordeaux was still a very luxurious experience. Who does not enjoy a visit to the vineyards associated with the tasting of fine wines? You don´t have to be an expert at all to fully enjoy the atmosphere of genuine France.

Our day in Bordeaux started in front of the office of Rustic Vines, where we met other excursionists. Our guide, Thomas, surprised us with his perfect English without a single sign of French accent. Together we got into a big car and set off to visit the Cadet-Bon Château. There we learned all the details that take place in this ingenious and complex winemaking process. At the vineyards, we found out how the grapevine is cultivated and how much the position and composition of the soil affect the overall taste of the wine.

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Vineyard Chateau Cadet-Bon early spring

Inside the château, we learned about the whole process of wine production, its fermentation and ripening in oak barrels. Wine absorbs the best of used wood, such as vanilla, nuts, cloves, smoke and other flavours. The guide also explained how to get quality wine and that it is important to focus on the brand and the vintage. In Bordeaux, quality is first and foremost, so all wineries are limited by the amount of wine they can produce per year.

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Guided tour in cellars château Cadet-Bon

We finally could start the wine tasting itself, after the tour in the château Cadet-Bon. We went to the nearby village of Saint Emilion where the winemakers offer their best wines. For each sample, we received a brief lecture on how the wine should taste and each of us could compare the samples with each other. The wines we tasted most could be bought and taken home with us.

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Wine tasting at the vines of  Cadet-Bon

tom_profilUnfortunately, we were unlucky with the weather because it was cloudy all day long and occasionally there was a bit of rain. But what would you expect in March when spring is just beginning here and nature is slowly awakening to life. A visit to Bordeaux is worth it during any part of the year. Although we didn´t like the weather, we at least avoided a huge number of tourists who come here in the summer months. This way we could enjoy all the attention of the guides almost for ourselves.

A walk through the magical little town of Saint Emilion 

Thomas brought us lunch after the tasting. Everybody had a choice between a salad and a French stuffed baguette, and the food was really delicious. While we were eating, Thomas was telling us about the history of the town of Saint Emilion, dating back to the 2nd century AD. The town, together with the vineyards, was founded by the Romans themselves and, due to its breathtaking monuments and history, Saint Emilion is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After lunch and being a little bit drunk thanks to the wine we went to see the most famous monuments of the town.

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The largest monolithic church in Europe in Saint Emilion

Thomas told us a legend about a monk from Brittany who found refuge here in a hermit carved in the rock. He did some miracles there, so people started to follow him. After his death, the village got his name – Emilion. One of the caves where miracles were done was transformed into a unique monolithic church in his honour. Today, due to its fragility, it is closed to the public, but visitors can visit the site with a local guide.

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View of the town of Saint Emilion

A visit to the fairytale château La Rivière

When we enjoyed a stroll through the town of Saint Emilion, we were going on another trip to Château La Rivière. The arrival to the place itself literally got us stunned. On a small hill, a white manor is standing, and beneath it the landscape of a long line of grapevine. We drove through the entry gate, weaving among the vineyards, and passing the Baroque sculptures before we reached the gate of the château itself. We were expecting to get a lecture on wine growing and production again, but the local guide surprised us. The whole tour took place in local cellars of unprecedented proportions, where we learned about the fascinating history of this place. The cellars were originally a limestone quarry and the castle itself was built only in the 16th century. During this time there were many owners and now own the château family of the Chinese billionaire.

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Beautiful château La Rivière from the 16th century

Just the sightseeing of the cellars was incredibly interesting, we could look at the archive wines and the way they were stored, and as we proceeded to the cellar, the bottles of wine grew bigger. The largest ones could have a volume of 15 litres. Our guide was really funny, and so the interpretation was enriched a few jokes. After the tour, we moved to the mansion where we could taste some local wine. In addition to red wine, the Chateau La Rivière also produces white wine. After the tasting, our trip ended and we returned, in pleasant liveliness, back to the centre of Bordeaux – read our travel guide and find out the best time to go, where to stay or eat and what to do in Bordeaux.

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The large cellars of Château La Rivière were limestone quarries

The whole day was perfectly organized and our Thomas guide was a very pleasant companion. His knowledge of wine was unbelievable and many times we felt we were on a trip with a friend rather than a guide. Wine tasting along with a tour of vineyards, historic towns and beautiful chateaus left us an unforgettable experience. We think it will not take too long and we will soon return to Bordeaux.

Contact

Ph:  +33 (0) 6 89 12 13 35 or +33 (0) 6 42 73 75 33
Web: www.rusticvinestours.com
Email: rusticvinesbx@gmail.com
Address: 26 Rue de la Devise
Tripadvisor

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Thanks to Rustic Vines for their support during our visit in Bordeaux. All our opinions are based on our own experience.

Read next: Ultimate Travel guide for Bordeaux

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Bordeaux Travel Guide Saint Emilion | Wine Tasting Bordeaux | Vineyard visit Saint Emilion | Bordeaux Day Tour Saint Emilion
Two Traveling Texans