I love taking my guests to Sauternes. Imagine: only about 40 km from Bordeaux, and we find ourselves among beautiful vineyards and old châteaux where they make an unusual, refined wine with aromas of honey, candied fruit, dried fruit and beeswax — and which still keeps a remarkable freshness.
As early as the 19th century the Russian aristocracy prized the wines of Sauternes and called them "the nectar of the gods". It remains a wine for the few, and of course not one you drink every day.
Yet once you have tasted it, you never forget it. We will walk through the vineyards and talk about how the morning mists and a unique microclimate give birth to the famous dessert wine in every shade of gold. Such a rare wine is made only here and in one other corner of the world — Tokaj, in Hungary.
Instead of a thousand words — shall we simply go to Sauternes? I will show you a place I love dearly myself.
A typical day
- 10:00 — meeting at your hotel in central Bordeaux and transfer to the Sauternes region
- 11:00–12:30 — a walk through the vineyards and a visit to the first Sauternes château: the history of the region and how its famous dessert wine is made
- 13:30–14:45 — lunch in a cosy restaurant serving French cuisine
- 15:00–16:30 — a visit to a second château and a tasting of Sauternes wines
- 16:30–17:15 — a short walk in one of the beautiful parks of Sauternes and time to enjoy the atmosphere
- 18:00–18:30 — return to central Bordeaux
Timings and the order of visits may vary slightly depending on the châteaux schedules and the season.