Half Day Saint Emilion Wine Tour from Bordeaux (Shared)

Summary Description

Take a budget-friendly half-day tour to experience the best of Bordeaux’s wine region. Learn about the history and culture of Saint Emilion, indulge in local specialties, and enjoy professional yet relaxed wine tastings of celebrated Grand Crus with our local wine experts.

Highlights
  • Visit prestigious Grand Cru Chateau
  • Indulge in local specialties and professional wine tastings
  • Guided walking tour of the medieval village of Saint Emilion
  • Personalized wine tasting experience with local wine experts
  • Budgetfriendly small group tour of maximum 8 persons
Description

Embark on an extraordinary adventure through the beautiful vineyards of Saint-Emilion with our Half-Day Saint Emilion Wine Tour from Bordeaux. This budget-friendly small group tour caters to travelers who want to savor the delights of a Saint Emilion wine tour without breaking the bank. With a maximum of 8 persons, our tour ensures personalized experiences.

Our English-speaking driver guide and local wine expert will take you on a comfortable drive to the UNESCO-listed medieval village of Saint Emilion. You will learn about the area's wonderful history, appreciate the village's thousand-year-old architecture, and enjoy guided walking tours of the ancient streets and shops.

The tour also includes a visit to a prestigious Grand Cru Chateau of Saint-Emilion, where you will learn about and experience the wine-making process with a winery tour and private tasting. Indulge in local specialties while matching them with the elegant and world-renowned wines of Saint Emilion.

This professional yet relaxed commented wine tasting with our local wine experts will provide in-depth knowledge about the grape varieties, wine-making methods, and history of this famous wine region. You will experience the distinct taste of extraordinary wines, including a chocolate pairing, matched with local delicacies.

This Saint-Emilion wine tasting tour is the perfect introduction to the world of wine, regional appellations such as Pomerol, Fronsac and Lussac, and discovering the age-old history and architecture of the charming medieval village of Saint Emilion.

Experience the Magic of One of Our Favorite Villages and Favorite Wines on this half day wine tour.

PICK UP AT CENTRALLY LOCATED MEETING POINT IN BORDEAUX
This morning, we will come and pick you up at in front of the Bordeaux Tourism Office. The Bordeaux tourist office is located at 12 cours du 30 Juillet, 33000 BORDEAUX, in the heart of the city, facing the CIVB Bordeaux wine syndicat building. The tourism office is located close to all the hotels located in the city center, usually a maximum 10 minutes walking distance.

PLEASE BE ON TIME AS WINERY VISITS HAVE BEEN PRE-BOOKED JUST FOR US!
For all our shared day trips from Bordeaux, we ask our clients to be present 10 minutes before departure time. It is important to be on time as Bordeaux wine tours imply strict timing as all the wineries visited have been pre-booked especially for our clients. Due to this, all our tours must leave on time to meet this schedule. In Bordeaux, unlike many other wine destinations, it is not possible to just show up at a winery for a tour, especially for the wineries that are highly demanded.

If you think that you might be late, please contact us rapidly by sms, phone or email so that we can advise the driver/guide to wait. However, waiting time is limited to 10 minutes maximum. If you are not present at the time of departure, your reservation will be considered as a no show and will not be refunded!

MEET YOUR ENGLISH SPEAKING DRIVER/GUIDE WHO IS A LOCAL EXPERT ON BORDEAUX WINES
Upon arrival at the meeting point, you will be welcomed by your English speaking guide who will be waiting with a sign bearing the name of the tour and with the Ophorus logo on it. Also, all our guides have a nominative badge so that it will be easy for you to recognize them.

Once you have met your guide, he/she will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned Mercedes minivan and begin to make your way to the Saint Emilion wine producing region.

All our vehicles are equipped with an on board P/A system which means that everyone will hear the guide's commentary during driving time, even if you are seated in the back of the van! Also, we have bottled water at your disposal and you can use our free wifi as you travel from one destination to another.

WINE & HISTORY COMBO ON A SAINT EMILION HALF DAY TOUR
This half day small group wine tour packs a lot of delights into a few hours. On this tour of St Emilion organized by Ophorus, you will enjoy tasting delicious Bordeaux wines. 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 brings 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.

Your first major stop on the St Emilion half day trip will be in one of the local estates for a visit and wine tasting at a Grand Cru Chateau. Here, you will get to tour and taste different vintages in a 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 you, as well as share some historical details about the estate. 

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 day a very special one.

THEN VISIT A MOST CHARMING VILLAGE
Following your wine tasting session, your half day tour continues with a guided walking tour of the eponymous village. 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 – not included on this tour. This can be booked on our private full day Saint Emilion tour) 

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? Finally, you will head back to Bordeaux where the wine tour concludes after having learned a lot about this famous wine producing area.

A FAMOUS MONK, A CAVE AND CENTURIES OF WINE MAKING
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Dordogne Valley, the picturesque rooftops and medieval stone buildings of the beautiful village of Saint Emilion are a delight to the eye. A unique microclimate and Saint Emilion's fertile soil made the area a haven of wine making. 

This tradition goes back to the later centuries of the Roman Empire. The first vineyards were planted here in the second century AD. In the fourth century, the Roman poet Ausonius already mentioned the delicious grapes of Saint Emilion.

THE LEGEND OF EMILIAN
The first indications of human settlements in the area date back to the Roman Empire, but the story of Saint Emilion starts in the eighth century AD. At that time, a monk from Brittany, fleeing persecution in his hometown of Vannes sought refuge in one of the natural caves near the settlement of Ascum Bas. 

Although he lived the simple and secluded life of a hermit, Saint Emilion allegedly performed several miracles from his Aquitaine hideaway. Soon, his renown spread far beyond the town and region, bringing pilgrims and disciples from far afield to visit him. The small settlement grew fast as it became a religious center. After Saint Emilion died, his followers made sure he would be remembered by giving the town of Ascum Bas the new name Saint Emilion.

Much later, monks developed more intensive and widespread vineyards. This is when the reputation for Saint Emilion wines started building towards what it is today. The rich Merlot-based blends of these fertile plains have given local wines a great appeal, and several wines produced in chateaux near Saint Emilion have been given the highest possible awards under the French appellation wine rating system.

WHAT IS THERE TO SEE OR DO IN SAINT EMILION?
History is alive and well, and very visible on any visit to Saint Emilion today. First, don’t miss the impressive Romanesque church, in the heart of the old town. The streets and buildings constituting Saint Emilion medieval village are some of the few surviving examples of a traditional hilltop village near Bordeaux. Largely intact despite the passing centuries, walking through the village literally feels like going back in time.

Walking up the narrow winding streets, you will come to several superb vantage points, which offer sweeping views over the Dordogne Valley. But the village of St Emilion’s main historical attraction is underground. Beneath the village, lies a network of tunnels covering more than 120 miles. These tunnels are left over from the many quarries that were exploited until the 19th century to supply stone that was used to build villages, towns and cities such as Bordeaux. 

A further highlight of Saint Emilion, is the underground Monolithic Church. The foundation of the church is built directly into the limestone of the rocky site, a rare construction feat. By lack of time it will not be possible to visit the monolithic church on this half day tour but if you have more time, this option is possible on a full day private tour and we highly recommend this tour.

Included / Excluded
  • Pickup and dropoff at centrally located meeting point in Bordeaux
  • Guided walking tour of the medieval village of Saint Emilion
  • Personalized wine tasting experience with local wine experts
  • Visit and wine tasting at a prestigious Grand Cru Chateau of Saint Emilion
  • All wine tasting fees
  • Entrance fees to monuments, museums, attractions
  • Personal insurance and expenses
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities for the driver guide.
  • Experience Saint Emilion, Bordeaux wine region, and Grand Crus like never before. Join us on this popular half-day tour, and don't miss out on the limited slots available. Book now and fall in love with Saint Emilion’s vineyards.
Commentary

Guide : English

Important Information
Know Before You Book
  • Instant booking confirmation
  • Adult-only tour, no children allowed under 18 years
  • Prices are per person
  • Currency is in Euros
Know Before You Go
  • Tour requires minimum 2 passengers (adults) to operate
  • Tour is operated in English
  • Tour is not wheelchair accessible
  • Tour involves some walking, comfortable walking shoes are recommended
Cancellation

Cancellation Cutoff: 24 hours

Cancellation Notes: Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Options and Pricing
per person pricing RETAIL PRICE
No pricing available for this option
Terms and Conditions

Please contact us for all our terms & conditions

Additional Information

In case minimum numbers are not reached we will offer to reschedule or refund your tour.

FAQ

How many wines will I taste during this tour?

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Unlike other wine tasting sessions that you might have followed around the world, the tastings in Bordeaux are not as generous in terms of pours . The amount of wine tasted is not what many would expect but here it is all about elegance, fruit, quality, aromas and flavors rather than quantity. Each Chateau will have you taste their premium wine and what we call the 'second' wine of the estate. Sometimes, Chateau owners also add a tasting of some other wine if they happen to be the owners of another property in Bordeaux. So basically, at each winery visited it will be 2 to maximum 4 wines tasted. To further enhance your wine experience, it is always possible to buy some bottles at the wineries visited.

Where is Saint Emilion France?

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Saint Emilion is a village of France located in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, Gironde department, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) east of the city of Bordeaux. The medieval villages is perched on a limestone plateau, above the vineyards that are world renowned for producing a full bodied red wine of which Merlot is the dominant grape variety. Saint Emilion village and wine region is our most popular wine tour destination for a day trip from Bordeaux.

About operator:

Ophorus Tours is both a licensed Tour Operator, member of Atout France and ETOA, and a Transportation company with headquarters in Bordeaux. We operate since 2005 and conduct Walking Tours, Day Trips, Private Tours, Shore Excursions and multi-regional Tours throughout France. 

Our multilingual office staff is made up of France Travel Experts that design unique itineraries for both individuals and groups. Their perfect knowledge of the destination allows them to suggest carefully crafted programs to professionals of the Travel Trade all over the world. 

Our in house team of licensed, multilingual Tour Guides are local Experts that can conduct any type of tours including (but not limited to) Cultural & Historical, Food & Wine, Luxury, Battlefields, Active, Family friendly, Faith-based etc...

Basic Information
  • Duration: 4 hours
  • Trip difficulty: Easy
  • Max Group Size: 8
  • Category: Day Trips & Excursions
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