Grab this insider knowledge to plan your next rip to Bordeaux. I've worked with Wendy for many years now and her knowledge of the Bordeaux scene is impeccable. Happy planning!
More and more Bordeaux properties are opening their doors to guests, for
tastings and visits of course but also for food. Choose from relaxed tapas style
lunches, Michelin star dinning or picnics under the trees. There is also chateau
accommodation so you can wake up in the vines. Here are a few of my
favourite suggestions to wine, dine and then sleep it off.
To the South of the city in the Graves appellation, the beautiful 5* Palace
Sources de Caudalie   is in the vines of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Martillac.
It was one of the first properties in Bordeaux to embrace wine tourism when
the Cathiards bought the chateau back in 1990.
Their daughter and son in law, Alice and Bertrand Tourbier, now run the hotel
(as well as the new one they have just opened in the Loire – also highly
recommended) .
Château Smith Haut Lafitte offers a full range of visits and tastings including art tours to
discover Florence Cathiard’s eclectic collection. The Source de Caudalie hotel has three restaurants; Rouge for Tapas, La Table du Lavoir Brasserie and the Michelin star La Grande Vigne. As well as the hotel they also own Château Le Thil, a lodge style chateau two
minutes away where you can privatise all 11 rooms if you want a complete
chateau experience.
Right next door, Château Le Pape is a boutique Chateau with five beautiful
 guest rooms that belongs to neighbouring Château Haut Bailly. It is a B&B so
more relaxed and intimate than a hotel and with a private pool on the deck
overlooking the vines.
Further south in Sauternes, Château Lafaurie Peyraguey is now home to the stunning Lalique Hôtel and two star Restaurant. Make sure you visit the
boutique to see the eye popping array of Lalique crystal as well as the wines.
Right next door Château Sigalas Rabaud has charming and elegant guest rooms offered as a B & B with all the charm of a family chateau and the perfect
terrace for a morning coffee or a relaxed lunch – they have their own Sauternes coffee blend – not to be missed.
Nearby Château de Cérons organises lovely picnics in the park in front of the
spectacular chateau and they’ve just installed loungers made from old wooden
vats so you can enjoy a siesta afterwards - with a glass of wine!
Medieval Saint Emilion is always a lovely place to stay and lots of wineries have
embraced wine tourism. Hotel de Pavie, (previously the Hostellerie de
Plaisance), owned by Château Pavie is a glamourous hotel in the heart of the
old town, with a Michelin star restaurant. They also own the Envers du décor
bistro across the road serving more traditional regional food.
Le Logis de la Cadene owned by Château Angelus has charming rooms above
their Michelin star restaurant in the town contact@logisdelacadene.fr as well
as rooms in a small private house a few street away.
At Les Cordelliers in Saint Emilion, you can ‘picnic’ in the grounds of the old
cloisters in Saint Emilion with a glass of Crémant de Bordeaux above the very
cellars where it is aged.
Out of town Chateau Troplong Mondot has some lovely B & B rooms and a
very cute little two bedroomed cottage in the vines. They have just reopened
their Michelin starred restaurant which is stunning.
The Terrasse Rouge restaurant on top of the cellars at Château La Dominique
has commanding views across the appellation and Pomerol and the next door
neighbour Château Cheval Blanc.
There are a few elegant private guest rooms in Château Soutard and in their
neighbouring la Faurie La rose. They have recently opened Le Jardin restaurant
in their Chateau le Petit Faurie and can organize picnic hampers to enjoy in the
grounds.
Down the road in Pomerol Château Beauregard has beautiful guest rooms and
organises private lunches in their dining room for small groups upon
reservation Contact Roxanne visite@chateau-beauregard.com
Take the time to visit nearby Fronsac for the glorious views over the Dordogne
river but specially to visit British wine maker Sally Evans at her boutique winery
Chateau George 7, she has a fun wine bar and tasting room offering tasty tapas
style food and glorious sundowner selections as you watch the sunset over the
vines. Booking advised.
To the North of Bordeaux in the Medoc stop in Margaux at Château Marquis
d’Alesme where they have a delightful, relaxed restaurant serving tapas style
food, or just drop in for a cup of coffee or glass of wine on the terrace. Chateau
Marquis de Terme nearby has recently opened a restaurant as well as more
informal dining and tasting in their ‘guingette’.
Château du Tertre in Margaux has lovely guest rooms as does Chateau
If you fancy an exotic treat, Chateau Lagrange in Saint Julien offers a private
dining experience with their Japanese chef who will create a meal in front of
you to match the wines of the property or even teach you how to make some
Japanese specialities yourself.
The Relais & Château Cordeillan Bages in Pauillac owned by Château Lynch
Bages is a great place to stay and the nearby Café la Vinal in the village of Bages
is where you will surely bump into local wine makers.
La Maison d’Estournel hotel on the edge of Saint Estephe was recently
renovated by Château Cos d’Estournel, the rooms, the restaurant and terrace
all overlook the vines towards the estuary.
I’ve only scratched the surface of the hospitality the Bordeaux vineyards have
to offer, but that should give you some inspiration for your next Bordeaux trip.
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