A Private Day in Saint-Emilion: Explore Wines & Charm

FAQ

• 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.

• 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 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.

• How many Bordeaux wines will I taste during this Private Saint Emilion Wine 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 private Saint Emilion Wine ?

  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, especially if you wish to have lunch in one of the Châteaus.
  
  It is also possible to ask your guide for suggestions the day of the tour.

• 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.