Luxury Wine Tour in Southern France: Wine Tasting from Bordeaux to Banyuls

Your coast-to-coast private wine tour in France begins with an arrival transfer from Bordeaux–Mérignac airport or Bordeaux-Saint-Jean train station. Your driver will greet you on arrival, then transfer you to the historic center of Bordeaux for a private 1-hour guided walking tour through Bordeaux’s rich historical and cultural legacy. Some of the landmarks you will visit include the Cathédrale Saint-André, Place de la Bourse, and the Tour Pey-Berland. 

After your introduction to the city, transfer to Bordeaux’s Left Bank and check in to your 5-star hotel in the Médoc. Château Cordeillan-Bages is a 19th-century mansion in Pauillac, known for its luxury accommodations, fine dining, and historic charm. Enjoy some free time to relax and enjoy the property before your gastronomic dinner tonight at Café Lavinal where we have made a dinner reservation on your behalf. 

A gourmet destination for Bordeaux and Médoc wines, Café Lavinal offers seasonal French cuisine and a 1930s-inspired ambiance. Enjoy views of the Bages village square and explore an extensive wine list curated by Head Sommelier Arnaud Le Saux. An ideal way to end your first day of this fabulous adventure through French wine and culinary culture.

After a leisurely breakfast, your driver will collect you from the hotel to start today’s private wine tastings at three Grand Cru Classé vineyards in the Médoc. You will visit three important wine estates today as you travel through scenic vineyards planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Your first stop will be Château Beychevelle for a private tour of the estate’s vineyards, cellars and, according to your preference, the option to taste wine En Primeur – in its unfinished state, still in barrel, in the tradition of Bordeaux’s négociants – plus three other estate wines that have reached bottling. Or the option for a blind tasting of four Château Beychevelle wines. 

Continue your private wine tour in Bordeaux’s Left Bank with a visit to Château Lynch-Bages located on a gravely outcrop just outside the village of Pauillac, an appellation known for high-quality wines with distinctive richness and dense, deep color. Your visit to Château Lynch-Bages will be thematically tailored according to your interest in the art of blending, wine and food pairing, or going deeper into the Médoc’s different appellations. 

After a break for lunch in the village of Saint-Julien, you’ll follow the stunning Route des Châteaux, through lush rolling vineyards lined with some of the most prestigious wine Châteaux in all of France, until you reach Château Giscours, whose vineyards cover 80 hectares in the iconic Margaux appellation. At Château Giscours, discover the vat room, cellars, and taste selected vintages in a very special space. With a better understanding of terroir in the Médoc and some of its best producers, return to Château Cordeillan-Bages to relax until dinner tonight. We will book you a table at a restaurant in nearby Saint-Julien.

Savor your final breakfast in the Médoc before departing with your private driver to Arcachon Bay for a day exploring natural sand dune formations, seafood producers, and eclectic historical architecture. Following your guided visit of Arcachon’s la Ville d’Hiver district, break for lunch at the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s largest sand dune at 107 meters high and nearly 2.7km in length. We will book you a table at an exceptional location offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Arcachon.

After lunch (paid locally to the restaurant), head out onto the water in a private Pinasse, a typical boat in the Bassin d’Arcachon with a minimal draft for navigating the bay’s shallow waters and sandbanks. Visit the birds’ island, the famous cabanes tchanquées (cabins on stilts), and an oyster farm where the owner will show you how oysters are grown in the Arcachon Bay’s shallow waters. You will learn the proper technique for shucking oysters and taste them fresh from the sea, while sipping a local Bordeaux white wine with crisp freshness and acidity that pairs perfectly with fresh seafood. 

Back on shore, your Bordeaux wine and food tour continues on the Left Bank to Graves, in the heart of the vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte where you will settle in to your sumptuous 5-star accommodations at Les Sources de Caudalie. We have booked you a table for dinner tonight at the gourmet restaurant La Grand’Vigne.

Enjoy your locally sourced breakfast before your driver collects you this morning for a day of wine tasting in Saint-Émilion. The hilly landscape of Bordeaux’s Right Bank, with clay-limestone soils, creates ideal conditions for Merlot to thrive, the dominant grape in Bordeaux Right Bank blends. Your first experience on today’s wine tour will be in the Saint-Émilion appellation at Château Soutard. Start your private visit to this historic estate dating to the 16th century with a walk through the vineyards to understand soil terroir and row cultivation, then continue to the cellars to learn the technical processes through which winemakers express nature in the glass. Your visit culminates in a private tasting, according to your preference, of 3 – 5 of the estate’s wines paired with fine French cheeses.

After this morning’s wine experience, break for lunch at the gourmet La Table de Pavie in the heart of Saint-Émilion village.

Ready to continue your in-depth exploration of Bordeaux wines, your afternoon takes you to Pomerol, which many consider the pinnacle of Merlot. In Pomerol, the clay soil of the Right Bank contains more sand and gravel, as well as a higher concentration of iron-rich subsoil known as crasse de fer. Superior soil drainage and its unique minerality enable Pomerol’s winemakers to create rich, highly structured, full reds with silky tannins and incredible aging potential. Savor Pomerol’s expression during a private visit to Château Beauregard, during which you’ll have a vertical tasting of four estate vintages.    

At Les Sources de Caudalie this evening, we have booked you a table for dinner at La Table Du Lavoir, their bistro focused on local, seasonal cuisine.

Your luxury wine tour in Bordeaux continues with an in-depth discovery of grand cru classé vineyards in Graves, which gets its name from the gravely soils mixed with sand, clay, and limestone mixed up by retreating Ice Age glaciers. This geological history gives Graves a diverse blend of terroirs and a corresponding diversity of styles, from full bodied reds to dry whites to sweet Sauternes. Your first wine tasting in Graves will be an exclusive tailor-made experience in the Pessac-Léognan appellation at La Mission Haut Brion, which received Premier Cru designation in 2009. During your private wine tour, learn about conservation viticulture in the estate’s 29 hectares of vineyard planted with red grapes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and white grates Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Following your morning private wine tour and tasting at La Mission Haut Brion, remain in Pessac-Léognan for a gourmet farm-to-table lunch at restaurant Le Manège at nearby Château Léognan or the private table at Château Pape Clément.

After your spectacular lunch in the vineyards, head back to your home base in Graves and discover the organic vineyards and environmentally sustainable cellar management at Château Smith Haut Laffite. Finish your guided tour of this Grand Cru Classé estate with a private cellar tasting of 3 wines, including two Grand Cru Classé cuvées. Or if you prefer to practice your olfactory senses, visit the estate’s own cooperage for a blind tasting of 3 reds, from different soil sections of the estate’s 80 hectares, to appreciate the influence of both terroir and oak on red wine aromas. This sensory workshop will also incorporate chocolate pairings as an added dimension to your wine tasting experience. 

Return to your sumptuous room at Les Sources de Caudalie and relax or rejuvenate in the naturally heated thermal waters of the vino-therapy spa until dinner tonight.

Savor a final morning breakfast at Les Sources de Caudalie before your fabulous French wine and food tour continues east into the spectacular Dordogne Valley. Marvel at the Dordogne’s stunning landscape, picturesque villages, and prehistoric caves while tasting the best of its rich culinary traditions. Your first stop today will be the charming town of Bergerac on the Dordogne River. Enjoy some free time visiting Bergerac and have lunch at one of the town’s many excellent restaurants. 

After your visit to Bergerac, try your luck at truffle hunting on a nearby truffle farm in the Périgord Noir. The area is famous for black truffles. Accompany a local truffle hunter and their trained dog into the Dordogne forests and learn their techniques for finding these prized mushrooms. 

After your truffle experience, your afternoon in the idyllic Dordogne continues until you arrive at Château de la Treyne, your luxurious accommodation on the banks of the Dordogne River. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the estate.

Enjoy your delicious breakfast overlooking the French gardens before travelling back through time to the Stone Age. Today is a journey through history, from the Renaissance to the Middle Ages, and then all the way back to 17,000 BC. Together with your guide, start the day by visiting the medieval city of Sarlat. Your guided walk through Sarlat’s history will include the 16th-century Maison de La Boétie, birthplace of writer Étienne de la Boétie; the Fountain of Sainte-Marie; and the grand 14th-century Gothic-style Hôtel Plamon.

Sarlat is a market town and the gourmet capital of Périgord Noir, famous for black truffles, foie gras, goose, and duck dishes like confit de canard. Local Bergerac reds, full-bodied Cabernets and Merlots are the perfect foil to Périgord’s rich gastronomy. Or like a Sauterne, the sweetness of the botrytized white wines from nearby Monbazillac makes an indulgent pairing for local foie gras, or wild mushrooms.  Work up an appetite as you stroll through Sarlat’s gourmet markets and learn about the local culinary specialties in Dordogne.

After your walking tour and lunch in Sarlat, continue to Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, “Capital of Prehistory,” and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Font-de-Gaume cave, the only cave in France with polychromatic Stone Age paintings that is still open to the public. Daily admission is strictly limited.

Return to Château de la Treyne and spend the rest of the day relaxing in the comfort of the hotel.

Take in the peaceful views of the Dordogne River one final morning before your wine tour in southern France continues into Occitanie towards the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. Along the way, stop near Cahors along a bed in the Lot River at the Malbec vineyards of Château de Mercuès. Situated between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, rainfall, humidity, and the gravel soils and sloped banks along the River Lot create perfect conditions for the Malbec grape. 

Cahors AOC regulations require Malbec to make up 70% of blends in the appellation. Château de Mercuès cultivates Malbec with a higher density of vines per hectare than is typical in Cahors. This technique, taken from the Médoc, produces a lower yield of grapes relative to vines, and results in higher quality wines with better aging potential. Uncover more of the Chateau’s savoir faire during your guided visit, from the vineyards to the cellars, followed by a wine tasting of 6 vintages. Your experience at Château de Mercuès culminates in a Michelin-starred lunch combining typical flavors of the Quercy region such as black truffle, saffron, and lamb with Cahors Malbec. 

Arrive after lunch at the medieval walled citadel of Carcassonne. Check in to your accommodations at Hôtel du Roi & Spa or a similar hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to begin exploring this UNESCO World Heritage treasure on your own.

Today, your wine tour in the south of France explores the very small (just 500 hectares) and quirky AOC Cabardès, a relatively young AOC, where winemakers are required to grow 50% Atlantic grapes like Cabernet and Merlot and 50% Mediterranean grapes like Syrah and Grenache to produce red and rosé blends. Depart Carcassonne after breakfast with your driver-guide and travel the short distance to the 17th century “mini-Versailles” palace Château de Pennautier. Visit the Château and its works of art, vineyards, cellars, and enjoy a tasting of AOC Cabardès organic wines with the estate’s sommelier. After your visit, relax for lunch at La Table du Château on the outdoor terrace. 

Spend your afternoon diving deeper into southern French history with a guided visit to nearby Lastours and the four hilltop fortresses that were once the stronghold of the Cathars – a fascinating and tragic chapter in French and European history. 

Return to Carcasonne after your visit to Lastours and enjoy some free time for shopping.

Take a short, guided visit of the medieval citadel, the Cité de Carcassonne, during your last morning in Carcassonne before departing with your private driver-guide to the Mediterranean Coast.

Along the way, your journey through southern French wine and cuisine takes you through Corbières, the largest AOC in Languedoc-Roussillon. At about 13,500 hectares, Corbières includes diverse terroirs cultivating quite a large variety of grapes, mostly Carignan, Grenache, Lledoner Pelut, Mourvèdre and Syrah but numerous other red varietals as well. In the middle of the first foothills of the Corbières in Fontfroide, discover a treasure from the Middle Age in the inspiring atmosphere of Fontfroide Abbey and the serenity of its gardens. 

Have a guided visit of this exceptional cultural site where modern art meets the Middle Ages; savor the gastronomy, wine, and architecture of the Abbey of Fontfroide with a tasting of 3 wines in the Abbey’s 19th century cellar, followed by lunch of traditional local recipes in their popular restaurant.

The blue Mediterranean awaits your arrival this afternoon to the exceptional Château de l’Hospitalet. Check in to your luxury accommodations at this remarkable wine resort in the heart of the vineyards in La Clape, one of the newest AOCs in France.

Wake up in the tranquility of Château de l’Hospitalet and enjoy local products of the land for breakfast before departing the estate with your private driver guide for a picture postcard day exploring Pézenas and the natural paradise of the Étang de Thau saltwater lagoon. 

Your first stop on today’s exploration of culture and gastronomy in the south of France will be Pézenas, the adopted city of French playwright Molière and home of singer Boby Lapointe. Pézenas preserves the legacy of its flourishing historical and cultural past. During your private guided tour in Pézenas, wander through the superb, cobbled streets to discover its sumptuous private mansions, its museums, or visit the many artists’ and craftsmen’s boutiques that are the pride of the town.

After your morning’s cultural explorations, discover a wilder side of southern France in the authentic, unspoiled, natural atmosphere of les Étang de Thau, a collection of saltwater lagoons home to hundreds of species of birds (including Flamingos), fish and shellfish. The colorful fishing ports of Bouzigues, Mèze and Marseillan invite you to slow down and observe.

The Étang de Thau is also the Mediterranean capital of oyster farming. This afternoon, board an oyster boat and set out into the lagoon to see the innovative, eco-friendly solar farming technique used by La Maison Tarbouriech to produce some of the highest quality oysters in the world. And of course, you will taste the famous Tarbouriech special oysters fresh from the sea, as well as the family’s secret recipe for their version of the local specialty, Mussels Brasucade. You’ll also get to  try, Tielle, a tomato and octopus pie from the nearby village of Sète; lagoon shrimp, and many other local specialties. The local fish and shellfish pair perfectly with the minerality of the white wines from La Clape. 

Return after this memorable day to Château de l’Hospitalet where you can refresh in the spa or swimming pool and dine in one of the resort’s farm-to-table restaurants.

Today shows you another side of French culture and history – Catalan France. With your private driver guide, head south towards the Spanish border and spend a morning tasting wines from the rugged coastal terroir in Banyuls and Collioure. Soak in views of the blue Mediterranean from terraced vineyards on the slopes of the Catalan Pyrenees. Banyuls presents something quite different from the wines you have tasted so far during your wine tour in France. Produced in a process called mutage – similar to Port – alcohol is added to the must to stop fermentation and preserve the grapes’ natural sweetness. The aging process in Banyuls is also quite different as well. It is common to see oak barrels in Banyuls maturing outdoors, or in glass jugs, exposed to the sun. The heat and oxidization produce dark wine, comparable to sherry.

The boundaries of Collioure AOC are identical to Banyuls, but Collioure wines are not fortified. After visiting the vineyards and cellars in a winery producing both Banyuls (red and white) and Collioure (red, white, rosé), taste the full range of both styles. Today’s experience is a chance to appreciate how different winemaking techniques can produce totally different wines from the same grapes, grown in the same terroir. 

After your wine tasting, take free time to visit the colorful fishing port of Collioure, where Collioure AOC gets its name. Collioure has a strong Catalan culture, which you will see reflected in the local medieval architecture and the colorfully painted barques catalanes moored in the picturesque harbor. Collioure was a magnet for early 20th century modern artists. André Derain, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and many others spent time here, and the famous light in Collioure still draws artists today. Spend the rest of your morning wandering the colorful streets and many art galleries, then take a rest for lunch in one of the town’s several excellent restaurants. Collioure is famous for its anchovies so be sure to try some during your visit. The local rosé pairs beautifully with Mediterranean seafood. 

Return to Château de l’Hospitalet after lunch and enjoy the rest of your afternoon relaxing in the La Clape vineyards or on the hotel’s private beach. To end your spectacular French wine and food journey, we have booked you a table at L’Art de Vivre, the resort’s Michelin Green Star restaurant.

Your fabulous journey through the wines and culinary traditions of southern France began on the Atlantic Ocean and ends today on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Savor your final breakfast at Château de l’Hospitalet in the La Clape vineyards before departing by private transfer to Toulouse or Montpellier airport.

Merci and bon voyage!