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Wendy Narby - Where to eat, sleep and drink in the Bordeaux vineyards, not necessary in that order

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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