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Bordeaux to St. Emilion: Private Wine Tour for 2 persons
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private tours
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Honeymoon
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08 hours
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1~2
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Relaxed
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Multi-languages
Español Italiano
- Highlights
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- Know before
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- Reviews
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Highlights
- Local Tour Guide, Expert in Bordeaux Wines
- Tour can be customized to suit your interests
- Optional private guided tour of the underground monuments
- Follow a guided walking tour of the village
- Visit one or several Grand Cru Wineries of Saint Emilion
Program & Itinerary
Pick up in Bordeaux
This morning, we will come and pick you up at your hotel or accommodation in Bordeaux.
Meet your English speaking driver/guide, who is a local expert on Bordeaux Wines
In the morning, we will come and pick you up at your hotel of accommodation. Meet your English speaking guide who is an expert on Bordeaux Wines. Your driver / guide is also a certified guide which means that he or she is licensed to conduct tours in historical villages such as Saint Emilion and has access to monuments and museums that are not accessible to those that do not possess this licence. Once you have met your guide, he/she will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned Mercedes minivan and begin to make your way to the Saint Emilion wine producing region.
Travel in a spacious Mercedes Minivan
Your private Bordeaux Wine Tour in the medoc will take place in one of our very spacious Mercedes Minivans. This vehicle can take up to 8 persons normally but on this occasion, the vehicle will only be for you. This allows you to choose the seat that you think best in terms of social distancing while still enjoying the information passed on by your guide.
All our vehicles are equipped with an on board P/A system that allows you to hear the commentary of your driver/guide no matter where you are seated. Also, there is free Wi-Fi access on all tour vehicles. Bottled water is also available in all our vehicles.
Wine & History combo on a Saint Emilion private full day tour
This private full day small group wine tour packs a lot of delights. On this exclusive private tour just for 2 persons of St Emilion organized by Ophorus, you will have several options such as tasting delicious Bordeaux wines and visiting the most important landmarks. Add to this the rich historical attractions of this UNESCO World Heritage site and you see why this full day option makes for such a great tour.
Depart from Bordeaux and reach the Right Bank wine region
Starting in the city of Bordeaux, a short drive in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan brings you out of the city to the picturesque countryside plains and rolling hills of the right bank wine producing area. This is the heart of Bordeaux’s famous wine region, where many vineyards carry the Saint Emilion AOC designation. Each of these local wineries produce vintages with distinct soil features backed by a long winemaking heritage. The wines produced here are a blend of Merlot grapes with deep, bold flavors, along with other local grape varieties, especially Cabernet Franc and, to a lesser degree, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Choose one of the following options, best adapted to your wishes
To make this exclusive Saint Emilion wine tour full day trip from Bordeaux unique, we have made it possible for you to choose from a selection of options so that the tour is adapted to your priorities. During the booking process, you will be prompted to choose one of the options below. Just select the one that you prefer and the tour will be automatically adapted to your preferences.
- OPTION 1 - Visit and Wine tasting in a Grand Cru Chateau combined with a private visit of the underground monuments of Saint Emilion
Private visit of the Underground Monuments: Probably the highlight of Saint Emilion village, is the underground Monolithic Church. The foundation of the church is built directly into the limestone of the rocky site, a rare construction feat. From the history of the founding monk of the village, to the digging of the surprising monolithic church, the visit will enable you to discover 4 monuments : the hermitage of Émilion, the Trinity Chapel and its medieval paintings, the catacombs as well as the underground church. Our certified licensed guides have the authorisation to conduct private tours in this monument so just follow your guide and learn about the history and heritage of Saint Emilion.
- OPTION 2 - Visit and Wine tasting in 2 Grand Cru Chateau's of Saint Emilion
Walking tour in the village: This option also includes a walking tour with your guide in the village of Saint Emilion. Discover the most significant landmarks of the village and retrace the history of a famous Monk. Stroll through the quaint, cobbled streets of this medieval town, while your tour guide recounts local history, from the days of the 8th century hermit Emilion, to the 19th century mining galleries, which still lie beneath the village. It is no coincidence that Saint Emilion has been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999. After the walk, enjoy some free time to explore on your own in the village.
- OPTION 3 - Combine Saint Emilion with Pomerol and Visit 3 Wineries
This option is a perfect choice for both novice and wine connoisseurs alike who want to experience 2 very different appellations of the right bank. By choosing this option, you will experience 2 visits and wine tastings in the Saint Emilion appellation (as in option 2) to which we will add 1 visit and wine tasting in the Pomerol appellation.
Pomerol is located right next to the Saint Emilion appellation. The south and west part of the appellation have sandier soils compared to the slightly heavier soils in the east, which include a certain proportion of clay. It is in this eastern section, on the marginally higher land where Pomerol meets Saint-Émilion, that the best wines are produced. Three of the most highly regarded Pomerol producers – Pétrus, Lafleur and Le Pin – are located here. Merlo is the dominant grape in Pomerol and plays a large part in making the wines rich, smooth and approachable at an early age, while also being capable of extended aging. Cabernet Franc is also often present, adding structure and an element of savory spice. These characteristics mean Pomerol wines are much sought after on the international market.
If you decided to choose this option, then your tour will be mainly focused on wine. You will only have a short time for lunch (at own expense) in the village of Saint Emilion. We will include the Visits of 3 wineries during the day with 2 wineries in Saint Emilion wine producing area and 1 visit in the Pomerol appellation. The combination of two different appellations will allow you to dig deeper into the notion of 'terroir' which is the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate. This is where the expertise of our guides will show all its importance as you benefit from their knowledge to better comprehend this essential french notion when it comes to wines.
The Legend of Emilian
The first indications of human settlements in the area date back to the Roman Empire, but the story of Saint Emilion starts in the eighth century AD. At that time, a monk from Brittany, fleeing persecution in his hometown of Vannes sought refuge in one of the natural caves near the settlement of Ascum Bas.Although he lived the simple and secluded life of a hermit, Saint Emilion allegedly performed several miracles from his Aquitaine hideaway. Soon, his renown spread far beyond the town and region, bringing pilgrims and disciples from far afield to visit him. The small settlement grew fast as it became a religious center.
After Saint Emilion died, his followers made sure he would be remembered by giving the town of Ascum Bas the new name Saint Emilion.Much later, monks developed more intensive and widespread vineyards. This is when the reputation for Saint Emilion wines started building towards what it is today. The rich Merlot-based blends of these fertile plains have given local wines a great appeal, and several wines produced in chateaux near Saint Emilion have been given the highest possible awards under the French appellation wine rating system.
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Meet your guide at your hotel, accommodation or dedicated meeting point in Bordeaux
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Guided walking tour of the village
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Free time for personal discovery and lunch (not included) in Saint Emilion
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Optional private visit of the underground monuments
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Visit and wine tasting in Saint Emilion or Pomerol appellation
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Drop off at your accommodation in Bordeaux
Gallery
Know before you book
- Tour available all year round (except May 1st, Dec 25th and Jan 1st)
- 8 hour private wine tour from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion
- Tasting fees can be included during the booking process
- Chateaux reservations will be made once the booking is confirmed
- Tour is operated in English, other languages on request
- Tour is not wheelchair accessible
- Price is per person. Tour is limited to 2 persons
Meeting point
Departure
Return
Reviews
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Craig Espeseth
26, Sep 2023
Great visit to the St Émilion wine country. Knowledgeable guide provided a good overview of the Bordeaux wine regions and led the group through a tasting... -
Foggate
31, Jul 2023
Superb! Couldn't fault them. Went on both trips. Different guides and two fabulous days!
Thank you. Highly recommend! -
Raul Saenz
23, Jun 2023
Me gustó conocer algo de la región de vinos de Burdeos. Aprendí bastante de como leer las etiquetas de los vinos. Probamos 5 vinos tintos diferentes que... -
Hillary Pitt
12, Jun 2023
Our tour guide really went above and beyond to ensure we had an amazing experience. We highly recommend!
Included / excluded
Included
- Reservation for 1 or 2 Chateau Visits
- Optional private visit of Underground monuments
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Travel in premium, spacious vehicles
- Free WiFi access on board
Excluded
- Wine tasting fees
- Entrance fees to monuments or attractions
- Personal insurance & expenses
- Meals & drinks
- Gratuities for the driver/guide
- In regards to the protection of the environment, we will no longer provide plastic bottles of water during our tours. You are kindly advised to bring your own. Water and refills are available at the wineries, museums and attractions visited
FAQ
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Do you organize pick up and return at accommodation for Bordeaux private tours?
Yes, absolutely. We will come and pick you up at your Hotel, accommodation or AirB&B in Bordeaux. We can also come and pick you up if your accommodation is located within a 30 kms (20 miles) radius around Bordeaux, at no extra cost. -
What type of vehicles are used during a Small Group private wine tour?
Our company uses only premium cars & minivans that are recent, comfortable and fully equipped including individual A/C, shaded windows and large leg space. -
Who conducts your private wine tours to Saint Emilion from Bordeaux?
We only employ accredited and licensed tour guides that are also the drivers for all tours that need visits to be conducted by certified guides. Good examples are: the visit of museums, guided walking tours in cities, visit of historical monuments and so on.
In some regions, where wine tours prevail (Bordeaux, Alsace) the tours are conducted by professional local guides or sommeliers that are experts in Wines. -
Can we choose which wineries we will visit during your Bordeaux private wine tours?
Yes, we will be happy to organize and pre-book your winery tours of Saint Emilion. Please note that most wineries open their doors to visitors but some high end wineries such as Chateau Cheval Blanc, Petrus and a few others do not welcome any visitors. Also, it is important to mention that we only make the required Chateau reservations once you have booked your private wine tour with Ophorus. -
Are the Winery Tours private in Bordeaux?
Yes, we pre-book winery visits and tasting session just for you and your party. This means that you will enjoy a private visit of the installations followed by a private commented wine tasting session. -
How many Bordeaux wines will I taste during this tour?
Unlike other wine tasting sessions that you might have followed around the world, the tastings in Bordeaux are not as generous in terms of pours . The amount of wine tasted is not what many would expect but here it is all about elegance, fruit, quality, aromas and flavors rather than quantity.
Each Chateau will have you taste their premium wine and what we call the 'second' wine of the estate. Sometimes, Chateau owners also add a tasting of some other wine if they happen to be the owners of another Chateau in Bordeaux. So basically, at each winery visited it will be 2 to maximum 4 wines tasted.
In the village, there is a possibility to taste wines from all the Bordeaux wine regions. Usually, the number of wines tasted there are between 4 to 8 depending on which bottles have been opened. It will also be possible for you to purchase some wine there and shipping is possible to the United States and all over the world.
If you wish to taste more wine, lunch in Saint Emilion village is a perfect location to sample other appellations - it is easy to order wines by the glass. To further enhance your wine experience, it is always possible to buy some bottles at the wineries visited. -
Is lunch included on this St Emilion private wine tour for 2?
No, we never include lunch on our private tours. However, if you would like to include lunch don't hesitate to reach out and we will be happy to make the necessary arrangements for you. It is also possible to ask your guide for suggestions. On this full day tour, free time for lunch will be given in Saint Emilion village where there are numerous possible options. -
Where is Saint Emilion in France?
Saint Emilion is a village of France located in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, Gironde department, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) east of the city of Bordeaux. The medieval villages is perched on a limestone plateau, above the vineyards that are world renowned for producing a full bodied red wine of which Merlot is the dominant grape variety. Saint Emilion village and wine region is our most popular wine tour destination for a day trip from Bordeaux. -
What type of Wine is Saint Emilion?
Located on the right bank of the river Garonne the appellation specialises in red wines from the grape varieties Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wines of St-Émilion are generally delightfully complex and elegant. Common fruit flavours include plums, strawberries, cherries which can become more dried and stewed with age. Oak ageing is very common, providing balanced flavours of vanilla, toast and nutmeg. -
Can one visit Petrus?
NO, unfortunately it is not possible to visit Petrus. Only wine merchants or persons of the wine trade can, one day hope to visit the premises. Petrus is the lead winery located in the appellation of Pomerol. This is certainly one of the most frequent questions that we have.
We do, however, offer tours in the Pomerol Appellation. If you are a Pomerol wine lover, don't hesitat to contact us and we will design a specific Private Bordeaux Wine Tour that will include winery visits in the Pomerol appellation. -
What is there to see & do in Saint Emilion?
History is alive and well, and very visible on any visit to Saint Emilion today. First, don’t miss the impressive Romanesque church, in the heart of the old town. The streets and buildings constituting Saint Emilion medieval village are some of the few surviving examples of a traditional hilltop village near Bordeaux. Largely intact despite the passing centuries, walking through the village literally feels like going back in time.
Walking up the narrow winding streets, you will come to several superb vantage points, which offer sweeping views over the Dordogne Valley. But the village of St Emilion’s main historical attraction is underground. Beneath the village, lies a network of tunnels covering more than 120 miles. These tunnels are left over from the many quarries that were exploited until the 19th century to supply stone that was used to build villages, towns and cities such as Bordeaux.
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