Unlike some French wine regions, Bordeaux’s chateaux are generally not open without a reservation. Organised tours will obviously organise access and logistics.
You can visit independently – some cellars charge for tours and tastings, others are free – and of course there are lots of wine tour operators to choose between.
The Bordeaux tourist office has a designated department to help independent travellers book chateau visits and transport for a small fee (email viti.vini@bordeaux-tourisme.com) with tastings paid for onsite. Taste all you like – you don’t have to worry about driving home.
Bordeaux’s world-famous Grands Crus are expensive, so you want to be sure you’re buying a wine you really like. Before you go to the wine region, visit the high-tech Max Bordeaux wine gallery, where you can sample a sip from 48 of the finest bottles – each of which has been allowed to breathe to perfection.
Also, download the free ‘Smart Bordeaux’ iPhone app providing detailed information on every Bordeaux label and grower. You can scan bottles in shops for instant info.
If you want to stay in the region, try the sublime Le Relais de Franc Mayne, an intimate boutique hotel on a famous Saint-Emilion wine estate, 40 minutes from Bordeaux. Stays include free wine tastings and tours of the chateau’s ancient quarry cellars.