Saint-Émilion Wine Tour Bordeaux: Châteaux, Tastings

Two châteaux and a UNESCO village in one unhurried afternoon

A seven-hour guided wine tour from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion combines visits to two Grand Cru estates with tastings, a French picnic lunch at a château, and a walking tour of the medieval village, led by a local English-speaking guide in a small group. Not recommended for pregnant travelers. Minimum age 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saint-Émilion wine and village tour

• Meet guide at Rustic Vines agency
• Drive to Saint-Émilion wine region
• Visit Grand Cru wine estate and taste wines
• Enjoy picnic lunch with wine at château
• Visit second winery and taste wines
• Stroll UNESCO-listed medieval village
• Final comparative wine tasting in town
• Drive back to Bordeaux and conclude tour

The experience

The day starts in central Bordeaux, where you meet your guide at the Rustic Vines agency before driving into the Saint-Émilion wine region. The pace is deliberate: no rushing between stops, no crowds of thirty people moving as one unit. You'll visit a Grand Cru estate first, walk the property with your guide, and taste their wines in the tasting room. Then comes lunch: a French picnic spread of bread, cheeses, cold cuts and vegetables, paired with a glass of wine, eaten at the château surrounded by vineyards. It's the kind of detail that separates a wine tour from a wine education.

The second estate shows you a different expression of Saint-Émilion: a different soil, a different winemaking philosophy, another tasting to compare. After that, you walk into the medieval village itself, the one on UNESCO's list. Your guide points out the history layered into the stone, the hidden corners tourists miss, the way the village sits inside the landscape. A final tasting session happens here, in the heart of Saint-Émilion, before the drive back to Bordeaux.

The guide speaks English and knows the region as someone who lives in it, not as someone who memorized a script. The group stays small, which is what makes the pace feel relaxed instead of regimented. You get bottled water throughout the day, air-conditioned transport, and entry to both estates. The only thing you arrange yourself is what you want to do after you get back.

What’s included

• All visits and tastings at both châteaux.
• a French picnic lunch with wine pairing at the first estate.
• a guided walking tour through the medieval village with a final comparative tasting.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle and driver.
• English-speaking local guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · 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 nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Rustic Vines

Is this one for you?The day unfolds over seven hours with a relaxed pace and small-group size, which means you're tasting wine and learning about it without the fatigue of a packed itinerary or the anonymity of a large tour. If you want depth over speed (time to absorb what you're tasting and to talk with your guide), this structure delivers it.

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Top questions

What's included in the wine tastings on this Saint-Émilion tour?

The tour includes tastings at both Grand Cru estates you visit, plus a comparative tasting session in the medieval village at the end of the day. The guide walks you through each wine, explaining what you're tasting and why it tastes that way. Bottled water is provided throughout.

Is the French picnic lunch a full meal, or just a snack?

The picnic is a proper lunch (bread, cheeses, cold cuts, and vegetables) paired with a glass of wine and eaten at the first château. It's designed to be filling, not a light bite between tastings.

How much walking is involved in the medieval village part?

You'll stroll through the UNESCO-listed village with your guide, uncovering landmarks and hidden corners, but the tour is described as a relaxed pace suitable for all fitness levels. The walking is part of the experience, not a hiking component.

Does the tour include transportation from my hotel in Bordeaux?

You meet the guide at the Rustic Vines agency in central Bordeaux. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to get there, and the tour includes all transport to and from Saint-Émilion in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What's the difference between the two estates you visit?

The first is a Grand Cru estate where you tour the property and taste their wines. The second winery shows a different style of Saint-Émilion wine, giving you a sense of the diversity across the region's producers. Your guide explains what makes each one distinct.

Can I buy wine to take home after the tastings?

The tour includes tastings at both estates and in the village, but purchasing wine is your choice and not part of the tour cost. Many visitors do buy bottles they've tasted, especially at the estates themselves.