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Bordeaux
Wine Tour
Tour Dates 2008
May 20-24 - SOLD OUT
July 1-5
September 16-20
September 22-26 - SOLD OUT
$4499
per person land only
"Everything
came together to compliment a wonderful experience. Good friendship,
a wonderful host, to arrive as strangers and leave as friends!
Thanks to Antoine, Claire and family for making it a trip
to remember. A special thanks to Christy, our guide, for a
wonderful trip and marvelous friendship." William (Bill)
Jones, Johannesbourg, South Africa Exclusive
Wine Vacations Client
"Awesome
experience! Worth waiting 50 years for (celebrated her 50th
birthday on this trip). Thank you Antoine, Claire and family
for making us feel so welcome. Thank you Christy for a wonderful
trip, hopefully the start of many more trips here and in South
Africa." Joanne Jones, Johannesbourg, South Africa Exclusive
Wine Vacations Client
Bordeaux Wine Tour Itinerary, Price & Dates
5 days/4 nights
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1
Trip begins today, Group pick-up at Bordeaux Saint Jean Rail
Station, Winery Tour and Wine Tasting in Pessac at Chateau
Haut Brion, Leisure time in the afternoon to settle into hotel,
enjoy a spa treatment or just relax, Wine Pairings Dinner
with "Grand Cru" Wines from the Medoc - D
Arrival in BORDEAUX. Meet and greet by your tour guide at
the scheduled group pick-up time at 2:30 PM at Bordeaux Saint
Jean Rail Station from where you will transfer to your historical,
4-star luxury hotel and spa accommodations in the heart of
the Bordelais vineyards (4-star is the highest star rating
for a hotel in France). Prior to check-in, enjoy your first
taste and introduction to the 1st growth producers of Bordeaux
with a wine tour and wine tasting in Pessac with our friends
at the famous Chateau Haut Brion. You will receive an introduction
to both the history of Bordeaux wine production in general
and of wine production and the evolution of Haut Brion across
the centuries followed by a comprehensive tour of Haut Brion,
the "chais"(cellars) and cooperage (cooper smith).
Following the tour, you're invited into the chais to wine
taste amidst the barrels. Afterwards, continue on to your
historical accommodations with check-in and time available
to get settled into your room, explore the surrounding area,
enjoy a spa treatment or a bike ride or a drink and a swim
at the pool.
Dinner: A gourmet dinner with wine pairings of Grand Cru
wines from the Medoc.
Day 2
Walk #1: "Saint Emilion" Jurisdiction Vineyard Walk,
Wine Tasting Workshop, Wine Cellar Tours & Wine Tasting,
Michelin Star Dinner Extravaganza - B, D
Breakfast. Morning: Wine tasting workshop in Saint Emilion
this morning. Following your workshop: Walk #1: Saint Emilion
Jurisdiction: You embark on a professionally guided walk through
the 1st (first) growth vineyards of the Saint Emilion Jurisdiction,
the most renowned "Merlot" producing region of Bordeaux.
This spectacular walk takes you through the golden, historic
village of Saint Emilion and the village's historical and
most prestigious vineyards including Chateau Ausone, Chateau
Angelus, Beausejour Becot, Bel Air and Chateau Pavie(considered
the Le Lafite Rothschild of Saint-Emilion by Robert Parker).
[Rated: Moderate, flat/light hilly terrain, 8 km/2 hrs.].
There will be comprehensive commentated wine tours of the
first growth producers we cross during our walk. Each wine
tour is comprised of a detailed history of the producer, its
harvest procedures and unique vinification, barreling and
bottling practices and a behind the scenes visit of the producer's
facility and chais (cellars). Lunch is independently at one
of the many local cafes or restaurants in Saint Emilion village.
There will be time to explore and discover Saint Emilion's
history as well as visit local artisan and wine boutiques
for more wine tasting of vintages you may wish to ship home.
Dinner: Gourmet extravaganza at our favorite Michelin Star
restaurant accompanied by Grand Cru wines.
Day 3
French Bread Making Workshop, Walk #2: Sauternes Vineyard
Walk "The Golden Hills", Wine Cellar Tours &
Wine Tasting - B, L
Breakfast. Morning: Our boulanger (bread maker) opens his
home to you, and fires up his 19th century wood-fired bread
oven to welcome you for a private, interactive lesson in traditional
French bread making. You will mix, mold and bake choice breads
along with some traditional fougasse. Once baked, the bread
is removed from the oven, we prepare the lunch table together
in the bakery and partake in a cocktail and "casse-croute"
(informal gourmet lunch) of regional products, wine and a
home made apple tarte with the baker, his wife, assistant
and our Chef Antoine and his wife. Afternoon: Walk #2: Sauternes
Vineyard Walk: "The Golden Hills and the Ciron Valley"
[Rated: EASY, light/hilly terrain, 6 km/1.5 hrs.] This is
a splendid walk above the Ciron River Valley, home to the
most prominent Sauternes producers of La Tour Blanche, school
of oneology, and the famous Chateau d'Yquem. As with each
walk of our Bordeaux Harvest Tour, you enjoy comprehensive
commentated wine tours of the first growth producers. Each
wine tour during our Sauternes walk is comprised of a detailed
history of the producer, its harvest procedures and unique
vinification, barreling and bottling stages and a behind the
scenes visit of the producer's facility and chais (cellars).
Dinner: Independently this evening at one of the hotel restaurants,
both of which offer gourmet fare, classified wines and a Michelin
star Chef.
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Day 4
Walk #3: Graves Vineyard Walk "Gods of the Vineyards",
Wine Cellar Tours & Wine Tasting, Recreational Culinary
Class - B, L, D
Breakfast. Morning: WALK #3: "Graves: Pessac-Leognan:
Gods of the Vineyard". The third walk of our Bordeaux
Harvest takes you through not only the most prestigious of
the Graves vineyards, but also exposes you to some of the
largest estates of the Graves appellation (and Bordeaux in
general), and a chance to witness extremely different harvesting
practices and vinification processes from what you have seen
at Haut Brion, in Sauternes and in Saint Emilion. [Rated:
EASY, primarily flat terrain, 10 km/2.5 hrs.] Guests enjoy
comprehensive commentated wine tours of the first growth producers
of the Graves appellation. Each wine tour during our Graves
walk is comprised of a detailed history of the producer, its
harvest procedures and unique vinification, barreling and
bottling stages and a behind the scenes visit of the producer's
facility and chais (cellars). Today's visits exemplify the
degree to which these first growth producers have mastered
near perfect wines by employing vinification practices that
completely contradict one another. Lunch will be a gourmet
treat, as we host a private luncheon for you at La Grande
Vigne at Chateau Smith Haut LaFitte. Afternoon: Leisure and
relaxation time, or a swim prior to cooking class.
Evening & DINNER: A recreational, hands-on culinary class
preparing traditional Bordelaise specialities with our private
renowned chef, Antoine. You are welcomed to Antoine's home
to prepare a traditional gourmet three course Bordelais dinner.
Learn some of his professional secrets to use in your kitchen
on your return home. After cooking class, we will have pre-dinner
cocktails of "bourru", a traditional Bordeaux cocktail
served only during the harvest period, it's what the Bordelais
call "the new wine", grape juice from the vat just
days into the alcoholic fermentation process. Bourru is served
accompanied by freshly roasted chestnuts. DINNER: enjoy a
gourmet dinner of the recipes prepared together with Antoine,
accompanied with professionally paired Grand Cru Bordeaux
wines.
Day 5
Tour Conclusion - B
Breakfast. Trip concludes. Group drop-off at 9 AM at Bordeaux
Saint Jean Rail Station.
Call Exclusive
Wine Vacations for more information
845-485-7221
877-485-7221
travel@exclusivewinevacations.com
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