While there are thousands of options for wine tours and tastings in Bordeaux, France, Winalist chooses the best wineries and wine tastings available that can provide unparalleled experiences. You can choose a wine tasting experience in Bordeaux based on its price point, suitability for non-French speakers, and its overall experience factor (how much fun they are).
Learn more below about Bordeaux, France wine tours, wine tastings, and more!
About Bordeaux wine tours & wine tasting in France
Bordeaux is a wine region located in Southwestern France and is best known for its production of red wines, though it also produces some white wines. Bordeaux is arguably the most famous and visited wine region of France, containing renaissance-era castles and rolling countrysides sprinkled with lush vineyards.
This region encompasses over 280,000 acres of vineyards dedicated to wine production. With its temperate climate, Bordeaux is a significant contributor to world wine markets; in 2020, Bordeaux produced over 440 million liters of wine, the equivalent of 587 million bottles of wine.
The Bordeaux wine region of France contains various subregions - 38 separate subregions, to be exact, with 57 appellations spread out across each subregion.
Bordeaux Wine Region highlights
- Famous red wine region with a wide variety of wine tasting experiences to choose from.
- Experiences for beginners, experts, and families.
- Sometimes expensive, but quality and experience won’t disappoint.
Bordeaux Wine Tasting Itinerary
The city of Bordeaux is the central capital of the Bordeaux wine region. Therefore, this city is an excellent jumping-off point for exploring various parts of this beautiful region by car, train, or tour. Bordeaux is also a port town, so you can take cruises along the River Garonne with barges that transport you through beautiful landscapes while you sip wine or enjoy lunch at one of many bateaux-mouches (boat-eating) restaurants that line its bank.
There are various particular sub-regions to choose to explore within the Bordeaux region, each with subsequent routes that offer varying experiences.
The Castle route, for example, is a popular route for tourists and weaves through the Medoc subregion of Bordeaux. It includes various medieval and renaissance-era castles, most of which you can explore and experience on your own time or through a scheduled tour.
There are a variety of routes you can take during your time exploring the Bordeaux wine region, most of which are centered around sub-regions of Bordeaux. Some of the most common include:
- Entre-Deux-Mers. This popular subregion is southwest of the city of Bordeaux.
- Cotes de Bourg and Cotes de Blaye. This subregion is located on the right bank of the Bordeaux region and directly northeast of the city of Bordeaux
- Medoc. Medoc is located on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, northwest of the proper city of Bordeaux.
- Pessac-Leognan and Graves. This subregion is located on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, south of Bordeaux city.
- Sauternes and Barsac. This subregion is located on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, southwest of the city of Bordeaux.
- Cotes de Bourg and Cotes de Blaye. This region is located on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, northeast of the city of Bordeaux.
Where to Stay in the Bordeaux, France Wine Region
There are a variety of hotels, hostels, and bed and breakfast options available for someone who would like to stay in the Bordeaux wine region - and everything in between.
First, for those looking for a central location in the Bordeaux region, the city of Bordeaux is an excellent choice because it's the mecca of this region. It has easy, convenient access to everything you'll want to do during your time in this part of France: tasting at some of the world's most prestigious vineyards, enjoying local cuisine and culture, exploring castles and museums—you name it!
If you're looking for a location closer to some great vineyards while staying within a reasonable distance from downtown Bordeaux (or even just slightly outside), you still have plenty of options. Another option would be finding lodging near St Émilion or Pauillac which both have their own charm but also offer quick access into the larger city center.
How to get to Bordeaux, France
You can access Bordeaux, France, in multiple ways.
- By plane: Bordeaux is accessible by plane, with three airports located within an hour of the city. The most convenient option for travelers is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (code: BOD). If you're coming from Paris or other cities in France, this airport often has flights available at a lower cost than others.
- By car: If you rent a car in the nearby cities of Tours or Nantes, you can drive to Bordeaux, though it will take a few hours.
- By train: You may also take the train from Tours or Nantes to Bordeaux station.
History of winemaking in Bordeaux, France
The history of winemaking in Bordeaux, France dates back to the first century AD and Roman times when viticulture was brought over from Spain by the Romans. The Romans brought viticulture into Bordeaux and planted their vines alongside those already planted there by the Gauls, who had been making wines since before they were conquered by Julius Caesar between 50 bce and 58 bce.