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Saint-Émilion: Châteaux Wine Tastings & Lunch from Bordeaux

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/18

Duration7h

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Saint-Émilion wine estates tastings village strolls picnic lunch

You’ll wander Saint-Émilion’s medieval streets with a local guide, taste eight Bordeaux wines across three châteaux, and share a relaxed picnic lunch among the vines. Expect laughter over cheese platters, stories from winemakers, and moments of quiet beauty in ancient cellars—a day that lingers long after you’re back in Bordeaux.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saint-Émilion village and wine tastings

Meet guide at OLALA Bordeaux
Van ride to Saint-Émilion village
Guided walking tour of Saint-Émilion
Visit first Château and taste 3 wines
Picnic lunch with wine at Château
Visit second Château and taste 3 wines
Visit third Château and taste 3 wines
Return to OLALA Bordeaux

The Experience

“You’ll never pronounce ‘Saint-Émilion’ like a local,” our guide grinned as we piled into the van in Bordeaux. I tried anyway, got it wrong (again), and everyone laughed. The drive out was quieter than I expected—just rows of vines flickering past and that early sun peeking through. Our guide, Camille, pointed out how the land shifts, limestone to clay, and suddenly I cared about soil in a way I didn’t before. She had this way of making the details stick without sounding like a textbook.

The village itself felt like someone pressed pause on time—cobblestones underfoot, shutters painted that faded blue you see in old postcards. There was this bakery smell drifting down one alley; I almost lost the group just following my nose. Camille told us stories about monks hiding wine barrels during wars (I’m still not sure if she was joking). We ducked into a cool stone church, and for a second it was just quiet—no traffic, no phone buzzing, just that echoey hush.

I didn’t expect to eat lunch at an actual château with vines right outside the window. The picnic wasn’t fussy—cheese from the Basque country (the hard kind that squeaks between your teeth), slices of ham, fresh bread that left flour on my fingers. We clinked glasses with wine made right there; it tasted different after seeing where it came from. One of the winemakers tried to explain “terroir” but honestly, tasting did more than words ever could. The air smelled like grass and something sweet I couldn’t name.

We visited two more châteaux after lunch—each one with its own quirks and stories. At one place, the owner’s dog followed us around during the tasting (he seemed to prefer rosé). By then my notes were messy but I remember learning why Merlot rules here—and how every family seems to argue about barrel choices over dinner. The day ended back in Bordeaux with red-stained lips and a new appreciation for how much work goes into every bottle. I still think about that view over the vines when things get noisy at home.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transportation from central Bordeaux, guided walking tour of UNESCO-listed Saint-Émilion village, visits to three different châteaux with eight wine tastings total, an artisanal picnic lunch featuring Basque cheese and charcuterie paired with local wine—all led by an English-speaking guide before returning to Bordeaux in comfort.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Olala Bordeaux