Bordeaux Super Saver: Small-Group Wine Tasting and Lunch plus St-Emilion Wine Tour

Spend the first part of your day experiencing all types of French wine in the heart of Bordeaux, followed by a trip to nearby St-Emilion for wine tours and tastings at two beautiful château wine estates. -------------------- ITINERARY -------------------- Bordeaux Wine Tasting and WorkshopStart your day with a 2-hour, small-group wine-tasting session in Bordeaux’s city center. During this informative workshop, taste four different wines as an expert wine educator gives you an overview of French wine. You'll discover the unique characteristics of France’s main wine regions including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Côtes du Rhône and the Loire Valley. Gain insight into the terms ‘terroir’ and ‘appellation’ and learn how to read a French wine label. Taste two more wines as you enjoy a typical French appetizer platter of cheese, saucisson (sausage) and fresh bread. You’ll then practice blending wines using two leading varieties of Bordeaux, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Discover how to analyze various aspects of wine including its color, smell and taste, and mix different varieties to create your own blend according to your personal tastes. Follow your wine session with lunch at a traditional apartment in the city center. St-Emilion Tour and Wine TastingsAfter lunch, leave the city of Bordeaux behind and drive to the vineyards of St-Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval village, home to 800 châteaux and renowned for its spectacular wines. Your guide will teach you about the Bordeaux and St-Emilion wine regions along the way. Visit the traditional vat room and cellar of an authentic, private château. Wander through the vineyards while your guide explains the main varieties of wine in the region. After your tour of the family-run estate, enjoy another wine-tasting session to learn more about French wine, discover proper wine-tasting techniques, and practice your skills while sampling some of the château’s wines. In the late afternoon, you’ll head to a classified-growth château overlooking the St-Emilion vineyards. Enjoy a welcome glass of wine accompanied by a platter of local bread, cheese and saucisson (dried sausage), and learn about the winemaking process from the vine to the bottle. The specific châteaux you visit vary, but may include Soutard, Ferrand or Pressac. You’ll then take an evening tour of the village of St-Emilion, a typical charming French village dating back to medieval times and surrounded by the vineyards that took its name. Afterward, it’s back to Bordeaux to conclude your full-day tour.