Smith-Haut-Lafitte

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Smith-Haut-Lafitte

Bordeaux Wine & City

Bordeaux Wine & City

Tasting in the Medoc

St Emilion

Bordeaux Wine & City

23 - 26 October 2008, 20 - 23 November 2008, 23 - 26 April 2009, 28 - 31 May 2009, 26 - 29 October 2009, 19 - 22 November 2009

Our innovative programme of Wine & City breaks is aimed at the more independent traveller who would also like to spend a couple of days in a party being taken to wine visits in the company of a wine expert with the added advantage that someone else does the driving! (invaluable of course on a wine tour). Arranging proper visits to Bordeaux chateaux where you get to taste more than the most recent vintage is also notoriously difficult, and arranging a meal at a Bordeaux wine château as an independent traveller is impossible. The advantage of having a coach for a couple of days also saves on the inevitable argument about whose turn it is to drive!

The Chateaux visits on the trip will be in the Medoc and the Right bank and are chosen by us for the high quality of the wines, as well as the possibility to buy direct. Because of the negociant system, it is often not possible to buy direct at Bordeaux châteaux. The guide will help you to get the best out of the wine visits and if you wish assist you in buying a good selection of wines at good prices direct from the wineries and from local wine shops. You book your own travel arrangements and meet up at the hotel on the first evening. This gives you the freedom to decide how you wish to travel and the length of your trip.

The excellent value of these breaks means that combined with taking advantage of any special travel deals you might find - you still have the peace of mind that the actual tour part is put together by a fully bonded, professional tour operator. If you book hotel elements etc yourself direct via the web you generally have no financial or legal comeback.

Our base for the weekend is the majestic city of Bordeaux, in a central 2* hotel (which we have chosen as we prefer it to all the 3*s, it is also being fully renovated over the winter of 08/09) within walking distance of the shops and the Marche des Grands Hommes.

There is a wealth of wine shops nearby and many good restaurants to choose from and we will give you a list of our tried and tested suggestions based on 19 years of trips to this great city. There is also some free time in the pretty town of St Emilion - famous for its chocolate macaroons as well as its wine!