Embark on a vibrant Shore Excursion from Bordeaux City or Bassens Port of Call to the Saint Emilion wine producing region!
Meet your English speaking guide who is an expert on Bordeaux Wines. Your driver / guide is also a certified guide which means that he or she is licensed to conduct tours in historical villages such as Saint Emilion and has access to monuments and museums that are not accessible to those that do not possess this licence.
Once you have met your guide, he/she will go over the program and itinerary of your private wine tour with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned Mercedes minivan and begin to make your way to discover the vineyards of the Saint Emilion wine producing region.
Pick up in Bordeaux
This morning, we will come and pick you up at your Cruise Ship in Bordeaux city or Bassens Cruise Port. Please make sure your Cruise ship is not docking in Le Verdon or La Rochelle, sometimes referred to as Bordeaux by some cruise ship companies. These two port of calls are located more than 2 hours away from the city of Bordeaux.
Travel in a spacious Minivan
Your private Bordeaux half day Wine Tour to Saint Emilion will take place in one of our very spacious Mercedes Minivans. This vehicle can take up to 8 persons. All our vehicles are equipped with an on board P/A system that allows you to hear the commentary of your driver/guide no matter where you are seated.
This private half day small group wine tour packs a lot of delights into a few hours and is certainly one of the most popular for all wine lovers. On this exclusive private tour for 2 to 8 persons maximum of St Emilion organized by Ophorus, you will enjoy tasting delicious classified growth Bordeaux red wines blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Add to this the rich historical attractions of this UNESCO World Heritage site and you see why the half day option makes for such a great tour.
Depart from Bordeaux and reach the right bank wine region
Starting in the city of Bordeaux, a short drive in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan will have you cross the Garonne River and bring you out of the city to the picturesque countryside plains and rolling hills of the right bank wine producing area. This is the heart of Bordeaux's famous wine region, where many vineyards carry the Saint Emilion AOC designation.
Each of these local wineries produce vintages with distinct soil features backed by a long winemaking heritage. On the way, your guide will certainly begin to introduce you to the Saint Emilion classification system that was put in place in the 1950's.
Your first major stop on this personalized Saint émilion half day trip will be in one of the local wine estates for a visit and wine tasting at one of the Grands Crus Classés Chateau's. Here, we have scheduled an appointment for you. You will be greeted at the Chateau and will get to discover the vineyards, tour and taste different wine styles & vintages in this carefully selected domain.
The wines are a blend of Merlot grapes with deep, bold flavors, along with other local grape varieties, especially Cabernet Franc and, to a lesser degree, Cabernet Sauvignon. A local guide of the winery will reveal all the steps in the wine production process for your small group tour, as well as share some historical details about the estate. Visit the vinification cellar where wooden vats, stainless steel or concrete vats are used to transform the grape juice into wine.
Your Ophorus guide will be with you during the visit so don’t hesitate to ask any questions. All our driver/guides have great knowledge about wines and they will be happy to share any basic or more technical information concerning French or Bordeaux Wines. Whether you have questions about history, technique, flavors, aromas, food & wine pairings don’t hesitate to ask them anything that relates to wine to make this half day a very special one.
Then visit a most charming medieval village
Following your wine tasting session, your private half day trip in this Bordeaux wine region continues with a guided walking tour of the eponymous village. Travel in the countryside and along the Dordogne River. Reach Saint-Émilion, stroll through the quaint, cobbled streets of this medieval town, while your tour guide recounts local history, from the days of the 8th century hermit Emilion, to the 19th century mining galleries, which still lie beneath the village.
Important historical sites include the Romanesque cloister and the Monolithic church carved into the limestone cliffs, also known as the underground monuments. Since this is a private tour and our guides have a privileged access to this monument, we can organise a private visit of this attraction on your private tour if you are interested in mixing culture & wine.
It is no coincidence that Saint Emilion has been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999. After the walk, enjoy some free time to explore on your own in the village. Why not enter one of the many wine cellars to continue your tasting session? Here, you might even have the opportunity to taste a Premier Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion wine.
Finally, you will head back to Bordeaux where the wine tour concludes after having learned a lot about this famous wine producing area.
