I thought that I had booked a small group tour and tasting here only to find midway through we were…read morejoined by a large bus tour group. This totally changed the feel of the tour as the large group socialized, took campy photos, and made the tasting experience crowded and chaotic. Our charming guide, Rodrigo, did his best to manage the large group, which we appreciate. The tasting was just okay, no chance to explain much about the wine, no water or small snacks to cleanse the palate and no offers to taste anything special or extra. My husband and I have been on wine tours all around the world and have never experienced anything like this. Typically I do book independent tours or private guides, but we only had one day in Bordeaux and thought this might give us a flavor of the region in a shorter time frame. I recommend that the management provide large groups their own guide and space so as not to impact the experience of other guests. If you are looking for a more personal experience this may not be worth your time.

Came here today for a wine tour and tasting. The tour was was wonderful. It was interesting and…read morethe grounds were beautiful. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and kept things moving. My biggest disappointment was the wine tasting. We tasted 3 wines. A white Bordeaux and 2 reds. I didn't care for any of them. I really wanted to like this and ship a case home but since the 3 I tasted we're not what I like, I left empty handed.

The last winery on our Bordeaux excursion! We got there a little past 3 in the afternoon, and from…read morethe looks of it, the winery staff was busy preparing for an event. Let me guess, the Vin Expo? Indeed it was according to our winery tour guide that afternoon. Both wineries we've visited earlier that day were also preparing for the Vin Expo like mad. Everyone in our group loved our guide. She was so bubbly and super nice. She had spent some time in Sonoma to earn a certificate for her wine studies, so she spoke English very well. We settled on doing a half-hour tour and tasting for 7€ with her. She took us outside and proceeded to describe the history of the vineyards, the Chateau and their current owner, who is incidentally an American banker. She showed us the vineyards, the chais and other parts of the winery. We ended the tour at the boutique where we tasted a couple of wines. The winery produces Grand Cru Classé wines and we were able to taste a 2007 vintage and one of their second wines. Both were excellent. The Grand Cru wine we tasted was going for 65€ and may be aged another 10 years according to our guide. After the tasting, we browsed in the botique and decided on buying a half case of their Rosé. Our group of 10 has been going through wine like crazy and the Rosé was 6 bottles for 50€. A great deal! We had no problem consuming all that in a couple of days along with the other wines we bought from the other places. When in France, drink lots of wine!

They were so nice to welcome us for lunch even if we were on a tight schedule. It is a gorgeous…read moreplace. The private table is very exclusive in fact. There's just two different dining room, a small one and a bigger one for small groups. The resident chef has built the menu to pair with the wines but in an unusual and daring way. The decadent reds were paired with decadent fishes dishes and very delicate courses. Even the dessert has the same shape as a sculture just outside the Castle. It was a memorable moment.

Our day of wine tasting in Bordeaux started at Chateau La Louvière! We arrived a little past 10 in…read morethe morning, so we were a few minutes late, but luckily they were very accommodating. We started the tour at the tasting room where our tour guide showed us the other châteaux owned by the same owner of Château La Louvière, André Lurton. He then led us outside to the back of the château where he explained its history. The oldest vines in the property date back to the 14th century, and the château was built in the 18th century and recently restored by the current owner in the 1950s. Our friendly guide was very thorough. He explained the whole process of making wine--from hand-picking and sorting the grapes, pressing, fermenting and storing. He showed us the different rooms where all these things happen, particularly the room where all the stainless steel vats are and the cellars where barrels of red and white wines are stored. The winery was busy preparing for the Vin Expo, so there was a lot of activity in one of the barrel rooms. We had two toddlers and 10 adults in our group, and though the toddlers were running around the place, not once did he express any displeasure at them. He was so nice! I think it helps that he's in his early 20s. He also seemed to appreciate all the questions people had. After the tour of the winery, he led us back to the tasting room, and proceeded to pour us wines. We thought we were only going to taste one red and one white, but he actually let us taste 5 different kinds of wine--2 whites (blends of mostly Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon), two reds (blends of 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 percent Merlot), and a sweet wine (a Sauterne). They were all good, but the château's grand vins (or first wine) were standouts. For 8€ per person, the tasting fee was a great value, and the wines themselves were very reasonable. Some of us bought wines to drink back at the château and some to take back to the States. I would definitely recommend this winery if you're in Bordeaux. The Pessac Léognan appellation is the oldest in the Bordeaux region, so they've been producing wines for a very long time! Make sure you book ahead of time via e-mail, which is what my sister did for our group of 12. Salut!

Sauternes is a region celebrated for making sweet white wines, which can range from dulcet nirvana…read moreto downright cloying. Although I previously knew that I enjoyed the wine type, I didn't understand the full complexity involved in the production of this liquid gold. A visit to Château Rieussec provided me with a thorough explanation and a knowledge of what it takes to produce such a magnificent bottle of wine. Having made reservations in advance for an English speaking tour, we were warmly greeted in the reception area and then we were directed to the tasting room to wait for our host. Considering they don't charge for the visit (which seems uncommon in the area), it is a sensational value. Unlike the tours I'm used to in the United States, there were no throngs of bachelorette parties, nor was there an easy to amble up to bar for tasting large pours of many different varietals. Instead we were treated to a private experience, given a complete look at the history of the winery, the terroir, and the process used. Since Rieussec's vineyards border the highly lauded Château d`Yquem (who does not accept visitors unless you are in the industry), they are perfectly positioned to produce the top notch wine that has earned them the title of 1er Cru Classé. For wine lovers, it is like visiting a sacred temple, and being allowed to observe some of their rituals. I never realized how important the climate was to the wine itself, the local fog creating the perfect conditions to yield the candied grapes. There is a delicate balance to the plots selected for the grapes themselves, of which the primary grape grown is Sémillon, with a smaller percentage of Sauvignon Blanc as well. The picking process requires an eagle eye and multiple pickings to ensure the right balance and the highest quality in the wine. Then there are many other details that I would never have considered, all of which are necessary to create a bottle that meets their stringent guidelines. Truly we felt honored to be able to receive such an in depth look at region, and steps required to create a bottle of Château Rieussec's wine. Our host was gracious to and full of interesting information. At the end of our tour we were given some of the wine to sample, enjoying the smooth complexity as notes of honeysuckle, peach, and lychee made their way through. I only wish we had a block of blue cheese with us at the time to pair it with! I cannot recommend a visit enthusiastically enough, it is without doubt, a must for any wine lover.

From the same producers of Chateau Lafite Rosthschild, one of the most famous Bordeaux wines of all…read moretime. They make a pretty fantastic Sauternes to boot. Made of 90 - 95% Sémillon , Muscadelle and 5-10% Sauvignon, this late harvest wine is amongst some of the best Sauternes out there, batting in the same league as Yquem but much more affordable

Positives: Very good wine and a beautiful place…read more Negatives: expensive tasting relative to surrounding wineries. Staff also was not helpful.

I was first offered their Ch. Galiuchey 2006 over dinner with a relative of the producers and found…read moreit to be incredible. Blackcurrants and other berries came to mind but its smooth and velvety 'texture' was its most impressive quality. Soon after I set out to see the producer and bought a case of 2012 which I took back to England. After allowing to settle I have offered this to friends on several occasions and everyone gave it 'un très bon note'. I have just return from France after buying a further 4 cases, almost the last of the 2012. Highly recommended.