THEMED TOURS© Blaye
THEMED TOURS© Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux© Francoi - CRT NAJPEGOPTIONSBECOME AN EXPERT• Bottled at home at Courvoisierwww.courvoisier.com• Test your knowledge of wine with an escapegame designed by Oenanimwww.oenanim.frGrape harvestCité du vinThe Hennessy docks• Become a winegrower for a day byparticipating in the harvest alongside awinegrower. www.bordeauxwinetrip.frWORLD-FAMOUS VINEYARDS5 DAYSAll around Bordeaux and Cognac, grapevinesstretch as far as the eye can see, changingcolours and smells with the rhythm of theseasons. Visiting the vineyards is like enteringinto the secret of the cellars, and allowsyou to meet passionate winegrowers, tasteexceptional vintages, and enjoy gourmet meals.In short, rediscover your senses!DAY 1Cognac is not just a spiritDiscover the history of the city and the greathouses of Cognac, and end your day on theMartell rooftop to have a drink and admire theold town (see pages 6 and 12 for more details).DAY 2Côtes de Blaye and BourgMorning: walk in the “old village” of Bourg-sur-Gironde with its port, its washhouse, its citadeland its craftsmen. Then head to Blaye byfollowing the “route de la corniche”, discoveringvillages with troglodyte houses and fishermen’shuts and enjoying a magnificent view of thelargest estuary in Europe.Picnic lunch on the edge of the estuary OR atthe Maison des Côtes de Bourg and its winebar.Afternoon: take a guided tour of the Blayecitadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site:Vauban’s masterpiece overlooking the Girondeestuary. OR seek out an introduction to tastingat the Maison du Vin de Blaye Côtes deBordeaux. OR take a cruise on the Garonnewith the companies of Deux Rives or Cœurd’Estuaire.Dinner and overnight: at the 3* hotel-restaurantCitadelle or equivalent.DAY 3The Médoc ChâteauxMorning: go to the Blaye pier for a ferry crossingto reach Lamarque in the Médoc. Then followthe Route des Châteaux du Médoc through themost famous wine villages (Margaux, Pauillac,Saint-Julien, etc.). Visits and tastings at thelarge estates or in more intimate castles.Lunch in the village of Bages.Afternoon: assembly workshop in one of thewine houses or along the Route des Châteaux.OR to La Winery in Arsac for thematic tastingsled by winegrowers. OR discover the secrets ofcooperage from Nadalié, an expert cooper.Dinner and overnight: at the Relais de MargauxHotel and Spa 4* or charming guest room atthe Château de l’Isle.DAY 4 (or more)BordeauxHistoric regional capital and gateway to thevineyards, discovery of the UNESCO city toadmire its historical heritage. Allow 2-3 hoursto visit the Cité du Vin (see page 9 for moredetails).DAY 5Saint-Emilion and its vineyardsMorning: discovery of the medieval city ofSaint-Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Don’t miss: the underground and monolithicchurch, the Tour du Roy, the collegiate churchand its cloister, the washhouses or thecloister of the cordeliers, the Petit train of thewinegrower.Lunch in a wine château with a winegrower.Afternoon: explore the vineyard by electric bike,segway, tuk-tuk, sidecar, or hot-air balloon.OR create your own wine in a winery withB-winemaker. OR take a green tour to Châteaude La Dauphine, an organic vineyard certifiedsince 2015.Dinner and overnight: at the Auberge de laCommanderie OR in another accommodationin the heart of the vineyards.Did you know? The “Best of Wine Tourism”is a prize awarded for remarkablewinegrowing properties, for theirarchitecture, their gardens and their ecoresponsibleapproach, or the originality oftheir visits. Think about including “best of”discovery days in your tours.14 SMART GUIDE ROUTES www.nouvelle-aquitaine-tourisme.com
THEMED TOURSA tasting in the trees at Château Rayne Vigneau© D Guillemain - CRT LimousinMonbazillac castle© B Dupuy - CRT NAOPTIONSBECOME AN EXPERT• Assembly workshop at the Domaine duBout du Monde in the Bergerac vineyardswww.domaineduboutdumonde.comJurançon vineyards© Pau Pyrenees Tourisme - D Guilhamasse - CRT NA• Become the Sherlock Holmesof the Jurançon vineyardwww.coeurdebearn.com• A tasting in the treesat Château Rayne Vigneauwww.raynevigneau.frTHE SECRET VINEYARDS6 DAYSWines in Nouvelle-Aquitaine are not justrestricted to the well-known areas of Bordeauxand Cognac. Go off the beaten track to unlockthe secrets of passionate winegrowers.DAY 1Bordeaux, regional capital and gateway tothe vineyards (see page 9).The world capital of wine, with its UNESCOlistedcity centre. Dive into the world of wineat the Cité du Vin before going on excursionsto the vineyards or on cruises.DAY 2Bergerac and its surroundingsMorning: visit Bergerac, city of art and historywith a maze of alleys, pretty squares and17th-Century facades. Stop at the Maisondes Vins et du tourisme, located in theCloître des Récollets (guided tour and tastingsession).Lunch at the Maison des Vins et du tourisme.Afternoon: explore the vineyard, visit aproperty (900 winegrowers), OR visit thecastle of Monbazillac, built in 1550 in theheart of the famous vineyard. OR discoverthe vineyard of Duras and visit its impressivecastle OR taste the caviar of Neuvic.Dinner and overnight: at the 4* Château desVigiers, golf and country club, a château B&B,or a luxury hotel.DAY 3Buzet vineyardsThe valleys of the Lot and Garonne boast 2000ha of vineyards on the banks of the Baïse,producing wines with a Gascon character.Morning: Buzet winegrowers’ cooperativein Buzet-sur-Baïse with wine tasting.Lunch in Nérac, the home of Jeanne d’Albret,mother of Henri IV.Afternoon: Visit the old town of Néracon the Baïse: Sully’s house, the Garennegardens, Henri IV castle, the Pont Vieux.Rent a boat or cruise from Buzet or Nérac.Dinner: at Albret Golf Club, then overnight inone of the hotels in Nérac or Agen OR rent aboat to sleep in Buzet-sur-Baïse.DAY 4Jurançon vineyardsThe Jurançon wine route offers a beautifuljourney along the sunny slopes of the Béarn.Visit and tasting at the Maison des vins desvignerons du Jurançon in Lacommande.Continue with a visit to Pau (see page 7).DAY 5Irouléguy vineyardsOne of the smallest vineyards in Europe,cultivated on steep slopes of up to 80%grade, on terraces and trellises. A trueBasque product, powerful and generous, tobe enjoyed with Ossau-Iraty cheese.Morning: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, one ofthe most beautiful villages in France, atthe crossroads of the Way of Saint Jamesroutes (see page 18).Lunch at a restaurant or inn in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.Afternoon: tour the five senses in an Irouléguycellar. From the village of Irouléguy, possibilityof hiking with donkeys in the surroundingmountains.DAY 6Sauternes and Entre-Deux-Mers vineyardsMorning: the Bordeaux wine route in Gravesand Sauternes. It is here that the firstBordeaux vines were planted, more than2,000 years ago. The unmissable ChâteauSmith Haut Lafitte, Château de la Brède(birthplace of Montesquieu), Château deMongenan.Lunch at the Sources de Caudalie or at theChapelle de Guiraud.Afternoon: the Entre-deux-Mers wine route,the Tuscany of Bordeaux. Visit and tastingat a château (Château Malromé, whereToulouse-Lautrec lived; Camarsac, in amedieval fortress...), then heritage discovery(Abbey Sainte-Majeure, a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site; Cadillac castle, classifiedas a historical monument) OR tasting andactivities at Planète Bordeaux.www.nouvelle-aquitaine-tourisme.comSMART GUIDE ROUTES 15
