- Wine Tour Destinations
| Region: | Multi Region |
|---|---|
| Type of Tour: | Multi Region |
| Duration: | 5 Days |
| Guide Price: | From £1082 to £1166 per person |
| Number of Meals: | 4 breakfasts + 1 lunch + 1 dinner |
| Number of Winery Visits: | 5 wineries |
| Number of Wines Tasted: | Approximately 16 |
| Tour Transport: | 1 full day guided and transported tour + visits in Cognac, tasting session and dinner on foot |
| Dates / Availability: | Available mid-week and weekends from March to the end of November. |
This break has been designed to give guests a great introduction to the iconic wines of Bordeaux and to the fascinating Cognac-making process.
Bordeaux is a vibrant UNESCO-listed city and Cognac is a charming town located on the river Charente. Both places have a rich and captivating history.
Your trip will start with a tutored tasting session of five French red wines (including three Bordeaux wines), in a quaint wine bar, located within walking distance of your hotel. The tasting will be accompanied by a platter or cheeses and meats.
On day two, you will meet your guide at a central departure point, where you will begin your full day journey of discovery in either the internationally famed left-bank Médoc or the UNESCO classified appellation of Saint-Emilion and its satellite appellation, Pomerol. If you choose to visit the Médoc, you will visit three Châteaux, learning particularly about the Cabernet Sauvignon grape and gaining an insight into what makes those big, bold reds so renowned. If you choose to visit Saint-Emilion, you will discover the singularities of the softer wines, predominantly made from the Merlot grape. On this tour you will also visit three Châteaux. During the day, you will learn all about the fascinating wine-making process from press to bottle, and each tour will conclude with a tasting of the Château’s wine. There will be a maximum of sixteen guests on the tour and each Château that you visit will be a Cru Classified estate. You will have free time for lunch on the tour, and your guide will be more than happy to make recommendations depending on how hungry you are feeling on the day. In the evening a three course gourmet dinner will be served in a premium city centre restaurant. Your dinner will be accompanied by a ½ bottle of wine, water and tea or coffee.
On day three, after a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel. Board the 15.08 train to Cognac, arriving at 17.10. The train goes via Angoulême and the journey time is approximately 2 hours.
Upon arrival in Cognac, check into your preferred room grade at the 4* Hotel François Premier. The remainder of the day will be free for you to relax at your hotel or explore your lovely surroundings independently.
On the morning of day four, walk five minutes to the prestigious Maison Meukow. Here, you will enjoy a full tour of the Maison, learning all about the Cognac-making process and the history of the estate. Following your tour, a three course lunch will be served at the Maison. Michel Coste and the architect Pascale de Redon completely refurbished the estate three years ago and in this impressive setting, lunch will be served alongside a selection of Meukow Cognacs. You will then walk ten minutes to the riverside, where you will be welcomed as the VIP guests of Cognac Hennessy.
You will be taken across the river by boat and en route, your guide will introduce you to Hennessy’s history, savoir-faire and international standing. In the traditional ageing cellars, you will learn about the Cognac-making process from vine to bottle by way of an immersive 360o experience, which will conclude with a visit to the legendary Paradis cellar. After taking the boat back across the river, a technical tasting session of Hennessy X.O and Paradis will take place in a special room, laid out in a lecture theatre style with individual professional tasting tables.
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Final Day
(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.
| Hotel Name | Room Grade | Star Rating | Duration | Price Per Person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux and Cognac Hotels | Elegant | 4* | 5 Days | £1166 | Book Now |
If you would like to make your Grape Escapes holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of the country! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.
Given the wide range of travel options to Bordeaux and Cognac, the package price does not include travel. Please see our Bordeaux travel page for detailed information about how best to travel to the region.
For more information on our essential tours please see our Essential tours page.
To secure your booking, a deposit of £100 per person is required (or 20% if the price of your trip exceeds £500 per person). Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before you travel. Please call us on +44(0) 1920 46 86 66 or e-mail info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.
It was one of our very best trips and I know for sure that it would not have come about if you hadn't taken all that time through countless e-mails to help me figure out the where and when. So, thank you, thank you Jenna and your compatriots.
Pat- Miami, USA
Around half of our trips are completely bespoke. Our expert team would be delighted to discuss your requirements and create your perfect trip.
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