Saint-Emilion Wine Tasting from Bordeaux: Grand Cru tastings

What makes a Grand Cru tasting different from the rest of the region?

You get picked up from central Bordeaux, driven to Saint-Emilion, and guided through tastings at two Grand Cru châteaux before walking the medieval village's cobbled streets with someone who knows the place. Transport, both winery visits, and a local English-speaking guide are included. The small group size and morning timing mean you avoid the afternoon crowds and still make it back to the city by lunchtime.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saint Emilion village and wine tasting

• Guided stroll on cobbled streets
• Tour Grand Cru winery
• Enjoy wine tasting

The experience

You're standing in front of a château gate at 9am, and the guide is already pouring. Not the wine yet. Just the backstory, the soil composition, the reason this particular slope matters. It's the kind of detail that either bores you or hooks you, and by the time you're tasting the first glass, you realize you've stopped thinking about whether you like wine and started thinking about why you like this one. The Grand Cru tasting happens first, before the village crowds arrive, which means you're not elbowing through tour groups to understand what you're drinking.

Then you walk. Saint-Emilion's cobblestone streets are narrow enough that you notice the light changes as you move between buildings, and the guide (local, English-speaking, not rushing) stops to point out the stone work, the age of things, the way the village sits on top of centuries of limestone caves. You're not just looking at a UNESCO World Heritage site. You're walking through it with someone who knows which doorway leads where and why the church tower leans the way it does. The second winery visit happens after, when your palate has warmed up and you're asking better questions.

The whole thing runs about four hours from central Bordeaux pickup to drop-off, which means you're back by early afternoon. Small groups, maximum eight people, keep it from feeling like a bus tour, and the air-conditioned minivan handles the drive between the city and the vineyard without fuss. Kids from 12 can come if they're comfortable sitting through tastings. The minimum drinking age is 18, so plan accordingly.

What’s included

• Central Bordeaux hotel or central location pickup and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned minivan, a local English-speaking guide for the full duration, and tastings at two Grand Cru or Grand Cru Classé wineries. The guided walk through Saint-Emilion's medieval streets is included.
• lunch and additional beverages are not.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 2027

Book up to1h 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 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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Bordeaux Wine Trails

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste wine at two serious châteaux and see the UNESCO village without arranging transport, timing two separate winery visits, or navigating the cobblestones alone: the guide and the fixed schedule handle all three, and the small group size keeps it intimate enough to ask real questions.

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Top questions

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's the difference between the two wineries you visit?

One is a Grand Cru or Grand Cru Classé château. The other is also a classified winery. Both offer tastings, but the guide will explain the distinctions as you go.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour includes tastings at two wineries but not a meal. You can eat in Saint-Emilion before or after the tour.

How long is the tour?

Roughly four hours from pickup in central Bordeaux to drop-off, including both winery visits and the village walk.

Can I bring children?

Children from 12 years old can join. The minimum drinking age is 18, so younger kids would be present during tastings but not participating.

What if I don't drink alcohol?

The tour centers on wine tastings at two châteaux, so it's designed primarily for wine drinkers. Check with the operator about non-alcoholic alternatives.

How many people are usually on the tour?

Maximum 8 people per tour. The minimum is 2. If fewer than 2 people book, the tour may be cancelled with a full refund.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is from central Bordeaux. Public transportation options are available nearby if your hotel is not in the central pickup zone.

What language is the guide?

The guide speaks English and is local to the region.