Bordeaux Prestige Tour, France

May 19-24 , 2008

Maximum of 12 travelers

$5,595.00 / person

Our most exclusive tour for the Bordeaux connoisseur! VIP tastings at the greatest chateaux, including all five First Growths, Chateau d’Yquem in Sauternes, plus the most legendary chateaux of Pomerol and Saint Emilion. Your tastings will also include fabulous “Super Second” growth chateaux, like Comtesse de Lalande and Léoville Las Cases. You’ll meet with cellarmasters and chateau owners, indulge in a gastronomic dinner at the region’s finest 2-star restaurant, and enjoy exclusive luxury accommodations and gala dinners at one of the Médoc’s most famous and beautiful private castles, Second Growth Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron de Pichon.

Your 6 Day, 5 Night Luxury Tour of Bordeaux includes:

• 5 nights at Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron, in 4-star Luxury-level accommodations, double, twin or single occupancy (all rooms are different, and will be assigned in the order of inscription for the tour)

• Buffet breakfast each day

• 5 gastronomic dinners with prestigious premium wines (including many Grand Crus), mineral water and coffee, including one at a Michelin 2-star restaurant

• 3 gourmet lunches with top-quality premium wines, mineral water and coffee

• Air-conditioned, luxury motor coach transportation throughout, including two group transfers

• All VIP chateau tours and tastings

• The services of a wine expert guide (Bordeaux specialist) throughout the tour

• A packet of wine tasting information, an article on the Bordeaux wine region and a tasting notebook created by French Wine Explorers, a small wine accessory gift and other Thank You gifts.

• All taxes, baggage handling and restaurant gratuities

Price per person, double occupancy: US$ 5,595.00

(There is one single room available with no single supplement. Otherwise, singles are accepted sharing a twin room.)

Preliminary Itinerary*

Monday, May 19:  Pauillac

A private group transfer will be available by deluxe motor coach at 2:30pm at Gare St. Jean in Bordeaux and at Bordeaux Merignac airport. Transfer to the Médoc, home to the renowned Classified Growth estates. One of the most famous and beautiful of these estates will be your home for the next six days: “Super 2nd” Growth Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron in the prestigious appellation of Pauillac. After checking into your room, you’ll join the estate cellarmaster for a tour of their innovative and modern winery and a tasting of their great wines. Afterward, take some time to relax or explore the Chateau residence (of which our group will have exclusive use) before a Champagne orientation/aperitif hour. A gastronomic welcome dinner follows in the elegant private dining room. Meet your personal chef for your stay at Pichon, Gaëlle Benoiste-Pilloire, one of the region’s brightest culinary stars.

Tuesday, May 20: Pauillac, Saint Julien

Begin your exploration of the First Growths of the Médoc with Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac. After touring their beautiful facilities and enjoying their fascinating private Museum of Wine in Art, you’ll be joined for an extensive tasting by the Baroness de Rothschild’s personal sommelier. Lunch will be at the elegant Le Saint Julien Restaurant. After lunch, visit another of the “Super Seconds”, the 2nd Growths that are nearly as renowned as the Firsts: Chateau Léoville Las Cases or Chateau Léoville Barton. Afterward, tour the great First Growth Chateau Latour, where you’ll visit their brand-new, ultra modern winery and taste several vintages of the Grand Vin, as well as their 2nd and 3rd wines. Dinner will be at the most highly-rated restaurant of the Bordeaux region, Michelin 2-star Chateau Cordeillan Bages, where you’ll indulge in their innovative “Tasting” menu. During dinner, enjoy a discussion of wine and food pairing with the Chateau’s sommelier.

Wednesday, May 21: Pessac-Léognan, Sauternes

Head south to Péssac Léognan this morning, where you’ll be welcomed at First Growth Chateau Haut Brion, the oldest of the First Growths. Continuing south to Sauternes, the world’s most famous dessert wine appellation. Dine among the First Growth vineyards at Le Saprien restaurant. This afternoon, the King of Sauternes is our destination, as we meet with the winemaker to tour and taste at Chateau d’Yquem. Here you’ll learn how the Noble Rot turns the best Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes into liquid gold in this exceptional terroir. At the end of the afternoon, visit the city of Bordeaux, where you’ll have some time to walk through the beautiful historic district, indulge in some shopping in the city’s many chic boutiques, or check out one of the city’s amazing wine shops like l’Intendant with its extensive selection of older vintages. Return to the Médoc for a dîner de vigneron at the Lion d’Or, a favorite of local winemakers (each winemaker even has a special cubbyhole where he can keep bottles of his own wine for entertaining his clients). Return to your hotel by 11pm.

Thursday, May 22: Margaux, Pauillac, Saint Estephe

This morning you’ll be welcomed for a tour and tasting at one of the Médoc’s most renowned chateaux, First Growth Chateau Margaux. Visit their cellars, among the most impressive in the region, and their private wine library, which holds bottles of the estate’s wines dating back to the mid-19th century. Lunch will be at the Pavillon de Margaux, overlooking the vineyards. Your next tasting is with the Baron’s sommelier at First Growth Chateau Lafite Rothschild, ranked number one among the Médoc chateaux in the 1855 classification. There is something particularly special about this Chateau, which seems to retain all the mystery of its centuries of existence, while also housing a circular wine cellar that is one of the most innovative and beautiful in the Médoc. Return to the Chateau late afternoon for some free time on your own to explore the grounds, walk through the vineyards, or just relax in one of the lovely salons of the Chateau. Your dinner will once again be at Chateau Pichon Longueville, with library wines from their estates. A special guest will join you for dinner tonight: Dewey Markham, Jr., author of the definitive book on the famous Bordeaux Classification, “1855”. Dewey, an American who has lived for years in Bordeaux, will answer your questions about the Classification and the Bordeaux wine region, and give you his personal insider’s view of the Bordeaux wine scene.

Friday, May 23: Saint Emilion, Pomerol

Head east, across the Dordogne River, to the Right Bank this morning where you’ll visit the lovely medieval village of Saint Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have time to explore the village’s historic monuments, boutiques and wine shops, and have lunch on your own. The afternoon holds tastings at two legendary vineyards.

The first is in appellation Saint Emilion, one of Bordeaux’s oldest vineyards, producing well-structured wines with great character that comes from a judicious blending of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. One of the great First Growths will open its doors to you for a tour and tasting, like Clos Fourtet, Canon, Pavie, or Angelus Then discover the other prestigious appellation of this area, Pomerol. This tiny appellation is considered the world’s preeminent terroir for Merlot, producing wines of great character and complexity. You’ll visit one of the finest estates here like Lafleur, l’Elgise Clinet or Vieux Chateau Certan. Return to Pauillac in the early evening for a gala farewell dinner at Chateau Pichon Longueville with some very special vintage wines.

Saturday, May 24: Pauillac

To cap off this extraordinary sojourn in Bordeaux, you’ll visit another “Super 2nd” located just on the other side of the road from your lodgings: Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. In addition to visiting their impressive winery and lovely cellars, you’ll also see the owner’s extensive personal collection of priceless glass works. Your tasting will take place on the private garden patio behind the estate, with views over their vineyards and those of Chateau Latour, with the wide Gironde River in the background. A spectacular and memorable setting for some last photos accompanied by some of the region’s finest wines. In the late morning after this final tasting, we’ll provide a private group transfer to Bordeaux Merignac airport and Bordeaux Saint Jean train station, arriving at approximately 12:30-1:00pm.

* Itinerary subject to change: every effort will be made to keep the itinerary as close as possible to what appears here; however, the final itinerary may vary due to wine producer schedules, availability and factors beyond our control.

For reservations or more information (Detailed Brochure / Terms and Conditions) :

Contact us at vacations@giramondowine.com This tour is operated by a partner of GiraMondo Wine adventures, specializing in wine vacations all around the world. This company accepts VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover cards or checks / money orders denominated in US dollars.

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