Before you go

Getting Around

Bordeaux is a vast wine-producing region, stretching over 200 km from North to South, and 100 km from West to East.  Traveling by car will ensure that you have the flexibility to make the most out of your time here.

Taxis: you will find taxi stands at the airport, the train station and in different locations throughout Bordeaux city. While it may be easy to book a taxi to VINIV, please do remember to book a return journey in advance, as there are very few taxis in the Médoc.

Hire car: all major car hire companies are located at both the airport and the central train station.

Private driver: alternatively, why not relax and let a private chauffeur take the strain? A private driver will be able to guide you through the region, explain local landmarks, and adapt to unexpected hurdles along the way.

For private car hire, we recommend:

Preparing Châteaux Visits

No trip to Bordeaux is complete without a visit to some of the great wine estates. Accessing them, however, is not always easy. Compared to other famous wine regions in the world, wine tourism in Bordeaux remains a nascent industry, and as many estates sell their wines exclusively via local merchants, the cellar door activity is less developed. An increasing number of estates do now open their doors, however, it is essential to book in advance.  

WHEN TO COME?

The peak visiting season runs between May and late-October. The busiest time of year is in early summer (May and June) and during harvest (September and October). Harvest is the most interesting and beautiful time to visit, but some estates are closed during that time as ‘all hands are on deck’.

Many estates do not offer visits from November until March, and many hotels and restaurants in the Médoc are also closed off-season. If you are travelling to Bages for your final blending session, we strongly recommend staying in the centre of Bordeaux.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

Visits to the best properties are by appointment only. In some cases, the lead time for securing a visit can be greater than six months. Most châteaux accept groups up to 10 people. Many properties do not offer private tours but it is always worth asking.

Visits in English are standard and sometimes other languages are possible too. Do not expect to be welcomed by the winemaker or owner, but rather by a highly trained guide. The average length of the visit is one hour, which may include a tour of the vineyards but will always feature a walk through the winery and ageing facilities. The tasting is always at the end and usually consists of two or three wines, the vintages of which are chosen by the château and likely to be recent i.e. less than 10 years old. Some wineries offer the possibility of tasting older vintages – don’t hesitate to enquire at the time of booking. 

HOW TO ORGANISE YOUR DAY OF VISITS?

Given the distances that are involved, it is not practical to visit châteaux on the Left Bank (Médoc) and Right Bank (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion) on the same day. Adding Pessac-Léognan or Sauternes to a one-day visit elsewhere is also not advisable. This is not only due to the distances involved, but also the traffic that builds up on Bordeaux’s ring road which needs to be navigated when travelling from one wine region to the next.

We recommend no more than two visits per day, combined with a leisurely lunch.

Properties are generally intolerant of visitors arriving late and reserve the right to cancel a visit that would begin 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. 

WHAT TO WEAR?

The dress code for visits is ‘smart casual’ and we recommend that you bring a sweater or a scarf, and comfortable shoes, as you will be spending time in cool cellars and wineries. 

Spring and Autumn are beautiful times to visit, and often the mid-day temperatures can rise to nearly 20°, however, temperatures can plummet in the early evening.

IS THERE A COST FOR VISITS?

Many châteaux charge a fee for the visit and tasting which must be settled beforehand, so plan on arriving 10 minutes early. Some properties have small boutiques where you can purchase souvenirs or small quantities of wine afterwards, however, there is no obligation to do so.

Concierge Services

If you are planning on staying for a few days, you may wish to engage the services of a concierge service, in addition to the recommendations proposed by your hotel.

VINIV works in conjunction with concierge partners for its members.

Coming to VINIV

There are two main roads between Bordeaux and Pauillac - the D1 and the D2. While the D1 may be the fastest road, we recommend that you take the more scenic D2, or "Route des Châteaux", but do try to keep your eyes on the road! 

The Route des Châteaux will bring you to the entrance of Pauillac, and you will see the signs to Château Cordeillan-Bages on the left.  Turn left here, and follow the aptly named Rue des Vignerons until you enter the small hamlet of Bages. You can park under the VINIV sign on the left hand side. Your blending session will take place in "Le Cercle Lynch-Bages" on the main square, just opposite Café Lavinal. 

If you happen to miss the turn off to Rue des Vignerons, turn at the next left (at the stone cross) and follow Rue de Bages. You will enter the hamlet from the top of the plan below, going past the main entrance to Château Lynch-Bages. 

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