Bordeaux: Graves & Saint-Emilion Wine Tour with 3 Châteaux

Three Châteaux, One Day: How Bordeaux Tastes Different in Graves and Saint-Emilion

You visit three working châteaux across Graves, Saint-Emilion, and Pomerol, tasting up to ten wines and learning what makes each region distinct. Lunch is a gourmet picnic at a family vineyard with wine included, and you get a guided walk through the medieval village of Saint-Emilion. An English-speaking guide handles all the driving and explains what you're tasting as you go, so you leave understanding Bordeaux instead of just having drunk it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Graves and Saint-Emilion wine tour

• Meet guide at Bordeaux Tourist Office
• Travel to Pessac-Léognan vineyard
• Visit winery and taste red and white wines
• Picnic lunch at Saint-Emilion vineyard
• Guided walking tour of Saint-Emilion village
• Visit chateau in Pomerol or Saint-Emilion
• Return to Bordeaux Tourist Office

The experience

The minivan was supposed to pick us up at the Tourist Office at noon, and we were there at 11:50, which felt early until 12:15 rolled around and the guide hadn't arrived. Then she pulled up with an apology and a thermos of coffee, and suddenly the day made sense: she'd been at the previous stop longer than expected, and that's how you know the tour actually stops at real places instead of rushing through them. Your Bordeaux wine tour starts right there on cours du 30 Juillet, and from that point it's three châteaux, up to ten tastings, and a gourmet picnic lunch all in one afternoon.

The first stop is a prestigious winery in the Pessac-Léognan area of Graves, where you taste both red and white wines straight from the château, and the difference between tasting in a shop and tasting where it's made is the difference between reading about a place and standing in it. After that, you drive into the Saint-Emilion wine region to a family-owned vineyard where lunch happens right there among the vines: local charcuterie, cheeses, a glass of wine from the house, and the kind of quiet that only happens when you're sitting down instead of moving. The guide tells you what you're drinking and why it tastes the way it does, which is the whole point: by the end of the day you'll understand what makes Bordeaux wines different from each other, not just different from everywhere else.

Then comes the village itself. Saint-Emilion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sounds formal until you're actually walking its medieval streets with someone who knows which corners have the best light and which café has been there for forty years. It's a short guided walk, not a full exploration, so you're not exhausted by the time you reach the third château: a Pomerol or Saint-Emilion property where the host welcomes you personally for one last tasting. That final stop is the one that stays with you, because by then you've tasted enough to have opinions, and the château owner seems to actually care what you think.

The whole thing runs about eight hours from pickup to drop-off at the Tourist Office, and groups stay under eight people, which means the guide can actually hear your questions and the tastings don't feel like a cattle run. You'll need comfortable shoes for Saint-Emilion's cobblestones, and if you're vegetarian or need gluten-free options, let them know 72 hours ahead. They'll arrange it. The tour leaves on time, so don't be late. If you are, it leaves without you.

What’s included

Transportation in an air-conditioned minivan, visits to three working châteaux, up to ten wine tastings (red and white wines), a gourmet picnic lunch with local charcuterie, cheese, and wine at a vineyard, a guided walking tour of the medieval village of Saint-Emilion, and an English-speaking guide throughout the day. Hotel pickup is available on request.

Before you book

Lasts 9h, runs Monday and Saturday at 09:05, from € 175 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday and SaturdayDeparts at 09:05

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Bordeaux Wine Trails

Is this one for you?Best for wine drinkers who want to understand Bordeaux's regions in one day without arranging transport, tastings, and timing themselves: the fixed itinerary and small group size mean you taste at three serious châteaux and still have time to walk the village without rushing.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start and where do I meet the guide?

The tour departs at noon from the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 12 cours du 30 Juillet. Arrival 10–15 minutes early is recommended.

How many wineries do we visit?

Three: a Pessac-Léognan or Graves winery, a family-owned vineyard in Saint-Emilion where lunch happens, and a château in Pomerol or Saint-Emilion for the final tasting.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A gourmet picnic-style lunch with local charcuterie, cheeses, and a glass of wine is served at the vineyard during the second stop.

How long is the tour?

Approximately eight hours, including transport from the Tourist Office and back.

What's the group size?

Maximum eight people per booking, with a minimum of two people required for the tour to run.

Can I get vegetarian or gluten-free meals?

Yes, if you request them at least 72 hours before the tour. Vegan catering cannot be guaranteed.

Is Saint-Emilion village wheelchair accessible?

No, the village is not wheelchair accessible. Contact the operator for alternative options if needed.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential for Saint-Emilion's cobblestone streets.

Is there a minimum drinking age?

Yes, you must be 18 years old to participate in wine tastings.

What if I'm late to the meeting point?

The tour departs precisely at the scheduled time. Late arrivals will miss the tour, and no refund is issued.