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Bordeaux
Private Bordeaux Wine Tour to Saint Emilion Half Day Trip
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private tours
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Food & Wine
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04 hours
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Small Groups ( 2~8 )
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Relaxed
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Multi-languages
English Español Français Italiano
- Highlights
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Highlights
- Visit UNESCO village of St Emilion
- Guided walking tour of St Emilion
- Visit a Grand Cru Winery of Saint Emilion
- Bordeaux Wine Tour can be customized
- Local Tour Guide, Expert in Bordeaux Wines
Program & Itinerary
Meet your English speaking local guide, expert in Bordeaux Wines
This morning, we will come and pick you up at your hotel or accommodation in Bordeaux. 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 Premium Minivan
Your private Bordeaux Wine Tour to Saint Emilion will take place in one of our very spacious Mercedes Minivans. This vehicle can take up to 8 persons. 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 as well as bottled water in all our vehicles.
Wine & History Combo on a Saint Emilion Half Day Wine Tour
This private half day small group wine tour packs a lot of delights into a few hours. On this exclusive private tour for 2 to 8 persons maximum of St Emilion organized by Ophorus, you will enjoy tasting delicious classified growth Bordeaux wines. Add to this the rich historical attractions of this UNESCO World Heritage site and you see why the half 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.
Your first major stop on this personalized St Emilion half day trip will be in one of the local estates for a visit and wine tasting at one of the Grands Crus Classés Chateau's. Here, we have scheduled an appointment for you. You will be greeted at the Chateau and will get to discover the vineyards, tour and taste different vintages in this carefully selected domain.
The wines 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. A local guide of the winery will reveal all the steps in the wine production process for you, as well as share some historical details about the estate.
Your Ophorus guide will be with you during the visit so don’t hesitate to ask any questions. All our driver/guides have great knowledge about wines and they will be happy to share any basic or more technical information concerning French or Bordeaux Wines. Whether you have questions about history, technique, flavors, aromas, food & wine pairings don’t hesitate to ask them anything that relates to wine to make this half day a very special one.
Then visit the charming village of St Emilion
Following your wine tasting session, your private half day trip continues with a guided walking tour of the eponymous village. 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.
Important historical sites include the Romanesque cloister and the Monolithic church carved into the limestone cliffs, also known as the underground monuments. Since this is a private tour and our guides have a privileged access to this monument, we can organise a private visit of this attraction on your private tour if you are interested in mixing culture & wine.
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. Why not enter one of the many wine cellars to continue your tasting session? Finally, you will head back to Bordeaux where the wine tour concludes after having learned a lot about this famous wine producing area.
A Famous Monk, a cave and centuries of Wine Making
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Dordogne Valley, the picturesque rooftops and medieval stone buildings of the beautiful village of Saint Emilion are a delight to the eye. A unique microclimate and Saint Emilion’s fertile soil made the area a haven of wine making.
This tradition goes back to the later centuries of the Roman Empire. The first vineyards were planted here in the second century AD. In the fourth century, the Roman poet Ausonius already mentioned the delicious grapes of Saint Emilion.
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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09:00 am
or 02:00 pmDepart from your Accommodation in Bordeaux to Saint Emilion wine region
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10:00 am
or 03:00 pmVisit and wine tasting at a Saint Emilion Grand Cru winery
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11:00 am
or 04:00 pmGuided walk through the village of St Emilion
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01:00 pm
or 06:00 pmDrop off at your accommodation in Bordeaux
Gallery



Know before you book
- Bordeaux Wine Tour available all year round (except Dec. 25th and Jan. 1st)
- 4 hour private Bordeaux wine tour to St-Emilion
- Tasting fees can be included during the booking process
- Tour involves some walking, comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Tour is operated in English, other languages on request
- Prices are per group from 2 to 8 persons - Larger groups please contact us
- Chateaux reservations will be made once the booking is confirmed
- Tour is not wheelchair accessible
Meeting point
Departure
Return
Reviews
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Anton C.
31, Oct 2022
Enjoyable 5 days in Bordeaux with beautiful weather. All went very well with our ½ day Tour to Saint-Emilion – our driver & guide – Rodolphe was very... -
Jessie F.
05, Oct 2022
Just want to let you know that Colas was a fantastic guide. We really made our tour special, thank you for all your help. We’re looking forward to our... -
richardcdr1
05, Oct 2022
Great private tour , Justine was our guide. Can’t say enough good things about her. Started with private tour of chateau balestard la tonnelle. Was probably... -
pvanderhyden
12, Sep 2022
Great Tour! We really enjoyed our tour with Angie of St Emilion and our wine tasting. Angie was an excellent tour guide. We also had Angie as our guide...
Included / excluded
Included
- Pre-booking for 1 or 2 Saint Emilion Chateaux Visits
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Travel in premium, spacious vehicles
- Bottled water in the minivan
- 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
FAQ
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Where is Saint Emilion France?
Saint Emilion is a village located to the East of Bordeaux in the South West region of Nouvelle Aquitaine in France. At approximately 27 miles (44 kilometers) from Bordeaux, our Wine Tours from Bordeaux are the easiest way to reach the village and experience a great Bordeaux wine tour. -
What is Saint Emilion Wine?
Saint Emilion wine is a Bordeaux red wine that is produced in the area of appellation called Saint Emilion; like most Bordeaux wines, Saint Emilion red wines are blended wines which means that to obtain the premium wine, wine makers will mix different grape varieties. Traditionally, the most common grape varieties used for St Emilion wines are Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. -
What to do in Saint Emilion?
The village of Saint Emilion located near Bordeaux in France is a most charming village classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are many things to see & do in Saint Emilion village including:
1. Tasting local Saint Emilion Wines
2. Visit the unique Underground Monolithic Church
3. Taste the local delicacy, the Macarons of Saint Emilion
4. Climb the Bell Tower for an exceptional panoramic view over the St Emilion vineyards
5. Taste the local cuisine in one of the numerous top restaurants located within the village. -
What type of vehicles are used during a Bordeaux 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.
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Who conducts your private wine tours 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, that are experts in Wines. -
Can we choose which wineries we will visit on your Saint Emilion half day trip from Bordeaux?
Yes, we will be happy to make the pre-bookings for your winery tours of Saint Emilion. Please note that most wineries open their doors to visitors but some high end wineries such as Cheval Blanc, Petrus, Ausone 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 tour with Ophorus. -
Are the Winery Tours private in Bordeaux?
Yes, we do our best to privatize the wine tasting sessions during our Private Bordeaux Wine tours such as this one. This means that you will follow a private visit of the winery, followed by a private commented wine tasting session. -
How many / much wines are served in the Wineries?
In Bordeaux, the Wineries will typically serve 1 to 3 wines during the tasting sessions. It is always the wine produced by the chateau that will be tasted. Usually the first and second wine of the estate.
Important note: For all our guests who have experienced wine tours in other countries, please note that the average pour of wine in Bordeaux is less important than in other destinations. Even though we strive to work with Wineries that are more generous, they remain the only ones that can determine the quantity of wine poured in a glass.
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