Bordeaux wine tours - Visiting the Saint Emilion region

Bordeaux wine tours - Chateau de Lussac in Saint Emilion region

BORDEAUX WINE TOURS - SAINT EMILION

SAINT EMILION HALF DAY VISIT
SAINT EMILIION FULL DAY WINE TOUR

The Bordeaux vineyard is divided into 8 different wine regions amongst which is the famous Saint Emilion region, located on the right bank of the River Garonne. The Bordeaux Saint Emilion wine region is principally consisted of these appellations: Saint Emilion, Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion, and Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion all of which are known as satellite appellations.

Occupying about 5,400 hectares (13,000 acres) which is 6% of the total Bordeaux vineyard, the Saint Emilion estates average size is of 7 hectares (15 acres), quite small compared to the large estates found in the Medoc for example. As such, many wineries are still family owned and have kept much of their traditional aspect and can be easily visited. The wines of Saint-Émilion, essentially reds, are typically blended from different grape varieties, the three main ones being Merlot (60% of the blend), Cabernet Franc (nearly 30%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (around 10%).

Since 1955, there has been a classification of Saint-Émilion wines. The classification is updated every 10 years and consists of the following levels: Premier grand cru classé A, Premier grand cru classé B, Grand cru classé, Grand Cru and Saint Emilion. All these classifications can be found on the label of the bottles.

List of the 15 Grand Cru Classés of Saint Emilion:

Premiers Grands Crus Classés - A
Chateau Ausone
Chateau Cheval-Blanc

Premiers Grands Crus Classés - B

Chateau Angélus
Chateau Beau-Séjour Bécot
Chateau Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)

Chateau Bélair-Monange
Chateau Canon
Chateau Figeac
Clos Fourtet
Chateau La Gaffelière
Chateau Magdelaine
Chateau Pavie
Chateau Pavie-Macquin
Chateau Troplong-Mondot
Chateau Trottevieille

Saint Emilion Merlot dominated wines are often less austere than their cousins of the Medoc. The Saint Emilion wines are fully rich, velvety, fruity, elegant and powerful. After 10 to 15 years of aging, the wines tend to gain complexity from their initial aromas by intergrating rich leather, earthy and spicy flavors.

OPHORUS BORDEAUX WINE TOURS IN SAINT EMILION

At Ophorus we have decided to bring you the best of Saint Emilion through our small group Bordeaux wine tours. Departing from Bordeaux we have several Bordeaux wine day trips that will take you to the Saint Emilion wine producing region. All our Bordeaux wine tours in Saint Emilion include wine tastings in some of the most prestigious Chateaus that have been classified in 1955. Because of this, you will be able to experience what makes a Bordeaux winery tour such a special treat for both amateurs and wine lovers alike.

Typically, one of our Bordeaux wine tours towards Saint Emilion will allow you to discover different appellations of the region. Our tours head towards Saint Emilion, Pomerol and the satellite appellations  where most of the very prestigious Chateaus are located.We take care of all the reservations to the wineries and all tasting fees are included during our scheduled tours.

We organize twotours that head towards the Medoc. If you follow the links you will discover all relevant information concerning these tours:

• SAINT EMILION HALF DAY VISIT
• SAINT EMILION WINE TOUR FULL DAY 

All tours are handled by experienced licensed wine guides that will give you all necessary information concerning the wine making process, the Bordeaux vineyard and even tips for wine pairing... All tours take place on board recent and fully equipped minivans that insure comfort and security for all. For more information on the Bordeaux vineyard and Bordeaux wine tours please refer to links that I have placed in my preferred links table.

 

Albi declared as UNESCO heritage site

Albi UNESCO visit

ALBI -  NEWLY DECLARED UNESCO W.H.S
Historical Albi

Albi visit / Cordes sur Ciel village / Gaillac wine tasting

Albi is remarkable due to the presence of the fortified cathedral of Saint Cecilia and the matching Berbie Palace which was the ancient Archbishop's palace and that towers over the well preserved historic city center. Birthplace to famous post-impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the town houses a museum in which one can discover the most important collection of paintings, etchings, engravings and posters done by the artist. Finally, Albi is above all a historical city as its name was given to those who had adopted catharism, the Albigensian, and that suffered a brutal and violent repression in the XIII th century being considered as heretics.

OPHORUS ALBI DAY TRIP EXCURSION

Departing from Toulouse, we organize two different day trips that include Albi:

Historical Albi
Albi visit / Cordes sur Ciel village / Gaillac wine tasting

Pick up will be at your centrally located hotel in Toulouse and your English speaking driver guide will make you discover all the incredible history and monuments this newly declared UNESCO Heritage site has to offer. All our Albi excursions and tours have been designed so that you may have some time to discover the Toulouse-Lautrec museum. All tours take place on board recent and comfortable minivans and are handled by professional and accredited guides.

Bordeaux wine tours - Visiting the Medoc region

Bordeaux wine tours - Chateau Gruaud Larose

BORDEAUX WINE TOURS - THE MEDOC

Medoc 1855 Classification tour
Medoc full day wine tour
Medoc half day wine tour

The Bordeaux vineyard is divided into 8 different wine regions amongst which is the famous Medoc region, located on the left bank of the River. The Bordeaux Medoc wine region is principally consisted of these appellations: Medoc, Haut Medoc, Saint Estephe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Listrac Medoc, Moulis and Margaux.

This Bordeaux wine region produces red wines and the main grape varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, cot, petit verdot and carmenere. Two classifications other than the AOC existe for the wines of the Medoc: The famous 1855 classification that is composed of the red wines as well as the Sauternes and Barsac sweet white wines on one hand, and the more recent 1932 classification, punctually revised, that concerns the Crus Bourgeois of the Medoc and that is composed of only the red wines.

The wines of the Medoc are red wines that can be laid down over a medium or long period. To reach their full potential, they require from 2 to more than 10 years of storage. They then keep this potential over several years. Of a dark red rubis robe, close to black at a young age, they become of a typical "Bordeaux" color as they age. The most significant aromas that can be found in a Medoc wine goes from red berries to black berries not forgetting spicy aromas such as pepper, licorice, eucalyptus or mint. Other aromas include coffee, cocoa, chocolate or tobacco or even oak, toasted bread, burn and this is mainly due to aging in oak barrel. Medoc wines are also known to be very structured and full bodied wines. Their young tannins might be aggressive but with the appropriate time of storage, their roundness and length in mouth are truly remarkable.

OPHORUS BORDEAUX WINE TOURS IN THE MEDOC

At Ophorus we have decided to bring you the best of the Medoc through our small group Bordeaux wine tours. Departing from Bordeaux we have several Bordeaux wine day trips that will take you to the Medoc wine producing region. All our Bordeaux wine tours in the Medoc include wine tastings in some of the most prestigious Chateaus that have been classified in 1855. Because of this, you will be able to experience what makes a Bordeaux winery tour such a special treat for both amateurs and wine lovers alike.

Typically, one of our Bordeaux wine tours towards the Medoc will allow you to discover different appellations of the region. Our tours head towards Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estephe where most of the very prestigious Chateaus are located.We take care of all the reservations to the wineries and all tasting fees are included .

We organise three tours that head towards the Medoc. If you follow the links you will discover all relevant information concerning these tours:

• Medoc 1855 Classification tour
• Medoc full day wine tour
• Medoc half day wine tour

All tours are handled by experienced licensed wine guides that will give you all necessary information concerning the wine making process, the Bordeaux vineyard and even tips for wine pairing... All tours take place on board recent and fully equipped minivans that insure comfort and security for all. For more information on the Bordeaux vineyard and Bordeaux wine tours please refer to links that I have placed in my preferred links table.