Wine in Bordeaux: The Médoc & Sauternes

A short break for wine-lovers, staying in the heart of the Médoc and in the majestic city of Bordeaux, with opportunities to taste and learn about some of the world’s finest wines, in expert company.

3 nights | 18th - 21st June

Lecturer | Charles Metcalfe

On the first evening, we will be given an introductory talk on the wine areas of Bordeaux at our recently-opened hotel in Le Plan Médoc. Charles Metcalfe has been described as ‘one of the best-known, most spontaneous and amusing wine critics in Britain’.

On the following morning we have arranged tours and tastings at two of the most prestigious châteaux of the Haut-Médoc. First we visit elegant Château Palmer, with its densely-planted vineyards on the gravel slopes of Margaux and Cantenac, then exclusive Château Margaux, celebrated for its superb wines and splendid neo-classical architecture. After enjoying traditional cuisine du terroir at a local restaurant, we plan to visit the exalted Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, with its private museum of wine-related artefacts. For those who would prefer, arrangements can be made to return to the hotel to relax or enjoy the spa. In the evening we will be guests of the Frey family for dinner at Château La Lagune, the most southerly of the cru classés in the Médoc.

The next day is devoted to the wines of Sauternes. We drive down to Barsac for a tour and tasting at Chateau Climens, Barsac’s equivalent to Yquem. Nearby is the Château de Malle, an elegant late 17th-century pavilion flanked by round towers, overlooking a first-growth Sauternes vineyard. We will be shown around the richly-furnished interior and Italianate terraced gardens. After lunch at a bistrot in Sauternes, we drive on to Bordeaux.

We shall be staying at a luxurious new hotel on the waterfront in Bordeaux, opposite the Grand-Théatre. The splendid quais, where wealthy wine merchants had their mansions and warehouses, have now been beautifully renovated. On the last morning we plan a guided walking tour to include the fine 18th-century Place de la Bourse and visits to the Gothic Cathedral and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.Finally, we will have lunch together at Chez Philippe, a noted fish restaurant in the elegant Place du Parlement.

PRICE  l  £1,690
The cost includes accommodation in a first-class hotel in Le Plan Médoc (2 nights) and a superior hotel in Bordeaux (1 night); economy class air travel London (Gatwick) /  Bordeaux / London (Gatwick) by scheduled services; ground transport by private coach; all meals except one dinner; guides; taxes; entrance fees and  the services of a lecturer and a tour organiser.

Price without flights £1,545  l  Single room supplement £220