Bordeaux Wine and Cheese Tasting: Chartrons Walking Tour

Four wines, one cheese course, and the 300-year-old streets where Bordeaux built its name

A two-hour walking tour of Chartrons, Bordeaux's historic wine merchant district, led by an in-house sommelier who teaches you the grape varieties, regions and 1855 classification system before a blind tasting of four Bordeaux wines paired with assorted cheese and baguette. The tour covers almost an hour on foot through UNESCO heritage streets, past riverside landmarks and 19th-century architecture, then moves to a local wine bar for the tasting portion. Children from age one are welcome. The route is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bordeaux walking tour and tasting

• Start tour in Chartrons neighborhood
• Enjoy view of river Garonne and learn port history
• See Pont de Pierre bridge from distance
• Spot northern Bordeaux bridge and learn wine tech
• Visit iconic Bordeaux church and learn history
• View world wine exposition museum from afar
• See Maisons Jumelles twin house and learn trade
• Participate in blind wine and cheese tasting

The experience

What makes a Bordeaux wine different from any other, and how do you actually pick one without guessing? The sommelier starts by walking you through the Chartrons neighbourhood: the old wine merchant streets that date back 300 years and now sit on the UNESCO heritage list. You'll pass the twin houses where foreign traders once lived, see the riverside where the wine trade built its fortune, and spot landmarks like the Pont de Pierre, built for Napoleon in the early 1800s. The guide explains the grape varieties that go into Bordeaux wines, the five major regions, and what the 1855 classification actually means when you're standing in front of a bottle.

The walking portion takes almost an hour and covers the Chartrons district and the riverside of Bordeaux. Along the way you'll learn to read a wine label the way professionals do: what to look for, what it tells you, and how to make a choice whether you're in a supermarket or a restaurant. The guide also points out the architectural and historical details of the neighbourhood: the church, the bridges and their engineering, and the wine museum visible across the river. Travel time is built into the two-hour duration, so there's no separate waiting or transit to account for.

The tasting happens in a local wine bar and is where the theory becomes practice. You'll do a blind tasting of four Bordeaux wines, each paired with a different cheese from an assorted platter and fresh baguette. The sommelier guides you through what to smell and taste, and you get to apply everything you learned on the walk: the regions, the grape varieties, the way a label signals what's inside. It's the kind of tasting where you're actually learning to taste, not just drinking.

What’s included

• Walking tour through the Chartrons neighbourhood and riverside of Bordeaux.
• instruction from an in-house sommelier on grape varieties, wine regions, the 1855 classification and how to read a label.
• blind tasting of four Bordeaux wines.
• assorted cheese platter and baguette paired with the wines.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SaturdayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Free Walking Tours Bordeaux

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a sommelier-led walk through Chartrons starting from public transport: the meeting point sits on UNESCO streets where you can arrive by metro or bus and begin immediately.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I taste during the wine and cheese tasting?

Four Bordeaux wines paired with an assorted cheese platter and baguette. The sommelier leads you through a blind tasting, so you're learning to identify the wines by what you smell and taste rather than by reading the label.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

Almost an hour of walking through the Chartrons neighbourhood and along the riverside of Bordeaux. The route covers UNESCO heritage streets and passes landmarks like the Pont de Pierre and a historic church, but you're stopping frequently to learn about the sights and the wine trade history.

Will I learn how to actually pick a wine at the store?

Yes. The sommelier teaches you how to read a wine label like a professional, what the 1855 classification means, and how to make a choice in a supermarket or restaurant based on what you're looking for.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the route are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is designed to be suitable for all physical fitness levels. Travel time is included in the two-hour duration.

Where does the tour start and how do I get there?

The tour begins in the heart of Chartrons, the old wine merchant district on the Port de la Lune. Public transportation options are available nearby, and the meeting point is in the UNESCO heritage streets of the neighbourhood.