The 11 best vineyards to visit around Bordeaux

Are you exploring the Gironde and its treasures? Between Médoc, Graves, Sauternais, Libournais and Bourgeais, a visit to the vineyards in Bordeaux is essential.

Bordeaux is a splendid city known to house the Gothic cathedral of Saint-André, the castles of the XVIIIe or the incredible fountain of the Three Graces. Bordeaux is also a world renowned terroir for the quality of its wine terroir and its wine production. To shine in society, know that the first term is relative to the cultivation of the vine while the second one concerns the production of the wine. Nuance!

Some bottles of "burgundy" are among the most tasteful and expensive in the world. To familiarize yourself with this fascinating universe, Wanderlix offers a selection of the best vineyards in Bordeaux. You can explore them and know everything about the mysteries surrounding this prestigious drink. Red, white, rosé, foamy, dry or liquorous: you will only have the embarrassment of choice. Cheers!

1. The Château Pontet-Canet

Entamons our ranking of the best vineyards to visit around Bordeaux by the prestigious castle Pontet-Canet . It was in the 13th century that this jewel of the Bordeaux heritage was born under the leadership of the Governor of the Médoc. He decided to gather several plots of land around the Canet site in Pauillac. The Grand Cru Classé title was awarded to him in 1855.

Today, its 81 hectares of vineyards make it one of the largest vineyards of the Médoc. Partisan of organic and biodynamic viticulture, the vines are cultivated without chemical weed, ploughed with horses and harvested by hand in accordance with tradition. The bottles produced enchant the amateurs: to be part of it, simply go to the spot to taste it!

2. The Château Cheval Blanc

Saint-Émilion No more. The commune has given its name to a renowned name all over the world. The estate of Cheval Blanc is the origin of a first wine named Château Cheval Blanc and a second wine, called Petit Cheval.

The wine from the 37 hectares of vines is a First Grand Cru Classified A. The encépagement consists of 60% of Cabernet-Franc black and Merlot black at 40%. We owe the quality of the grape to the composition of the soil combining clay, sand and quaternary alluvions.

Definitely focused on a sustainable and reasoned viticulture, this vineyard around Bordeaux brings to the work of traditional vinification methods applied to modern equipment. The result? Wines among the best in the world. Make an appointment for a visit to this vineyard around Bordeaux, which is clearly worth the detour.

3. Jaugueyron closed

It is in Arsac that the Jaugueyron’s enclosure sublimates on nearly seven hectares an exceptional terroir in the heart of Médoc. Under the houlette of Michel Théron and Stéphanie Destruhaut, his fifteen parcels produced less than 2,000 bottles a year.

Exclusive, secular know-how, respect for the standards of biodynamic agriculture, this area to visit around Bordeaux is one of the most popular in the region. Efforts will be appreciated to preserve the quality of the fruit and minimize chemical inputs in the soil. Adding sulphites is at the lowest, ensuring exceptional quality to cuvées.

The vintages come from various grape varieties: cabernet-sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and small verdot are put to the spotlight. Managers are enthusiastic enthusiasts who are happy to share their approach with visitors. So, what do you expect to visit this vineyard around Bordeaux?

4. The domain of Saint-Amand

Domaine de Saint Amand is surely THE vineyard to visit around Bordeaux. It stands out by its vines entirely cultivated in hillsides. The property is under the responsibility of Sarah Simon, who takes care of the 3 hectares of the vineyard. It is one of the smallest in the region, which explains the care given to the production of these high quality wines. An argilo-calcareous soil allows the grapes to express all their flavours.

This family-run company offers numerous festive events and tastings throughout the year. From red, rosé, white: to taste these exceptional beverages, you will also have the opportunity to stay in the very heart of the estate. A cottage with a capacity of four people (with swimming pool!) is built on site and accessible by reservation. What are you waiting to enjoy?

5. The Clarisse Castle

What a lovely name! The Clarisse Castle is a vineyard to visit around Bordeaux that is one of the best. Managed since 2010 by a couple of enthusiasts on the side of Puisseguin, he enjoys the eponymous name.

If their vineyards are 30 years old on average, some of them were planted 70 years ago. They extend over nearly 21 hectares, are certified Bio Ecocert and cultivated in biodynamic on argilo-calcareous and sandy soils.

The encépagement consists of merlot (70%), cabernet franc (27%) and carmere, small verdot and malbec (3%). The Clarisse Castle is renowned for its exceptional vintage " Vieilles Vignes" which makes the happiness of amateurs.

6. Castle Haut-Bailly

Welcome to Léognan, a common girondine on which the vine has been cultivated for more than 600 years already. Château Haut-Bailly is a vineyard to visit around Bordeaux enjoying 30 hectares of vineyards. It is characterized by the impressive richness of its inclined gravel soil that ensures favorable drainage.

Cabernet-sauvignon (60%), merlot (34%), cabernet franc (3%) and small verdot (3%) are shocked by a team led by Gabriel Vialard. The harvest is carried out manually and the vinification is ensured in about 50 concrete tanks. A special extraction method preserves the taste of the fruit while allowing the expression of its tannins.

As for the visit, Château Haut-Bailly offers frequent animations and tastings, sometimes complemented by a gourmet parenthesis in the heart of its superb reception rooms. They offer a splendid view of the vineyards, especially when the sun goes down. Enjoy!

7. Castle Ausone

The estate of Ausone Castle is one of the most prestigious vineyards to visit around Bordeaux. It produces red wines succulent in appellation AOC Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.

Over nearly 7 hectares, the encépagement consists of half of the black merlot, the other being devoted to the cultivation of cabernet-franc. In addition to biodynamic based viticulture techniques, purists appreciate traditional winemaking in stainless steel tanks or thermoregulated wood.

Here, malolactic fermentation allows the softening of the wines produced: they are among the best in the region. The Ausone Castle cultivates its part of mystery, which it will rise by appointment for the greatest pleasure of amateurs. The adjoining shop will be an opportunity to please you... in moderation, whether for your health or your budget!

8. Castle Mouton Rothschild

It was in the middle of the 19th century that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired a vineyard of the Médoc, Brane-Mouton Castle. The Rothschild family greatly improved the process of ancestral production. For the anecdote, it will be the first property in the Bordeaux region to realize the bottled wine within the domain itself.

The place is renowned for its "Grand Chai" a hundred meters long and a century old. It took no less to exploit the 91 hectares of vines, proudly planted on a marno-calcaire soil ideally exposed.

First Grand Cru Classed since 1973, its bottles rise on the most beautiful tables on the planet. They are decorated with an elegant label made especially for each vintage by an artist. The wines of Mouton Rothschild Castle are certainly among the best in the region. Meeting from Monday to Friday to taste them!

9. Castle Margaux

This name certainly tells you something. Château Margaux is in wine what Rolls-Royce is in the car: what is best and more expensive. And it is not new since this vineyard to visit around Bordeaux is part of the five “First Grand Crus” of the classification of Bordeaux wines from 1855.

Red wines are perfectly structured, offering an elegant bouquet with an incomparable freshness. The tasting is reserved for professionals but the chais unveiling on an appointment. You will have access to the estate freely on weekends, holidays as well as in August and during the harvests.

The visit of the place is worth a look: built in the 1810s, this neo-classical castle is in the heart of a vast estate of which 85 hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of the vineyard. Particularly refined, we will appreciate the respect of the "19th century" style, simply and carefully restored.

10. The Château Haut-Brion

The Château Haut-Brion was built in 1525 by Jean de Pontac in the middle of the terroir of the Graves. This vineyard to visit around Bordeaux is the first of the Bordeaux Grands Crus. He has always been part of the purest wine tradition while opening himself to the latest technologies. For example, it was the first field to use the inox for its fermentation tanks.

Today, it occupies 54 hectares of vines on an exceptionally rich land of minerals, worked with care. The grapes constituting the red wines (black, cabernets, small verdot) and white (sugar, smiling) have been improved over the decades by a careful selection made of master's hand.

The Château Haut-Brion is visited by appointment all year round. Our advice? Take advantage of the harvests, in September, to know everything about the harvest process: it’s absolutely exciting!

11. Castle Marjosse

The Marjosse estate prides itself on the village of Grézillac and the Lurton family who is responsible for it. This family-run company covers nearly 70 hectares: 54 for red wines, 16 for white wines.

The vines, aged 40 years on average, benefit from a soil with a complex structure combining sand, clay and limestone. On site, the team is working on state-of-the-art techniques and a state-of-the-art tank. Nothing is left to chance: mechanized harvests, controlled temperature vinification, French oak barrel farming...

It is from the 2008 vintage that the Marjosse Castle won its nobility letters and the interest of the bridges of oenology thanks to an exceptional cuvée. We will appreciate the excellent value of the bottles: during your visit, do not hesitate to buy a carton. These are your loved ones who will be happy!