Wine tours of the Medoc offer the possibly to taste some of the most renowned wines, not just in France, but in the world. In fact, the Medoc appellation is home to no less than four of the most prestigious wine-making villages in the world: Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Saint-Estèphe. Whilst many wine regions around the world offer incredible wine tasting experiences, the Medoc is perhaps the most prestigious that you can visit. So, how do you do that?
A la Francaise offers guided wine tours of the Medoc wine region departing from the city centre of Bordeaux. We have a broad range of wine tours that take you to visit some of the best chateaux of the left bank. You can choose from half or full day wine tours, small group guided wine tours or private wine tours with your own driver guide. Whichever tour you choose, you can sit back and relax in the comfort of our air-conditioned 8-seater luxury minivans as you are driven by your expert, and very knowledgeable A la Francaise Medoc tour guide.
For those wishing to explore the Medoc in a slightly different way, we also offer guided wine tours by e-bike and by the classic Citroen 2CV cars!
We believe that the best way to gain a full appreciation of the Medoc region is to combine visits to both 1855 Great Classified Growth Chateau with visits to smaller family run estates. We carefully select the chateaux we include on our tours and can assure each visit will start with a warm welcome and offer an authentic, and fascinating experience.
Our wine tours to the Medoc usually start with collection from the centre of Bordeaux (or at your hotel if taking a private tour) for a drive along the famous Châteaux Route which passes through many of the world’s most famous wine appellations. Depending on the length of your tour you will usually visit two chateaux of varying characteristics and enjoy a walk through the vineyards, a tour of the vat room and the chateau cellar. Our wine tours offer a fascinating introduction to the wine making process, all the way from the vine to the bottle and end, as expected, with a guided wine tasting of the estate’s wines.
If you are short on time in Bordeaux and would like to include other must-see sites on a tour of the Medoc we also offer guided wine tours that include visits to St.Emilion, Arcachon Bay and the highest sand dune in Europe, or a gourmet guided walking tour of Bordeaux city centre.
A la Francaise is an authentically local company. We offer guided tours across France’s top wine regions, but Bordeaux is where it all started. We are proud of the experiences we offer in Medoc and we guarantee expert local guides, an authentic experience in each châteaux that you visit. And most of all; a memorable day filled with great wine!
Book your Medoc wine tour with A la Francaise!
Taking a wine tour in the Médoc offers a multitude of compelling reasons. Firstly, you can explore the picturesque vineyards and charming châteaux that define the region's landscape. Secondly, you'll have the opportunity to taste and learn about world-renowned wines produced in this prestigious area. Additionally, a wine tour allows you to immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage and history of winemaking in Médoc. Overall, it's an enriching and enjoyable experience for wine enthusiasts and those seeking to discover the beauty and flavours of this renowned wine-growing region.
We believe the best wine tours show you the different sides of Bordeaux. Whilst the glamour and fame of the Classified Growth’s is a definite attraction, we know that experiencing a tour of a smaller family run château, often meeting the family who own it and make the wine brings you a truly authentic understanding of winemaking in the region.
You will have an opportunity to taste powerful red wines that the Medoc left bank terroir is famous for. The most common grape used for Bordeaux wine from the Medoc is Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere.
If you are taking a private wine tour and have any specific châteaux you wish to visit, A la Francaise will be happy to include them in the itinerary if they are available.
Examples of chateaux we work with on our guided group and private Medoc tours are: Château Lafon-Rochet, Château Montrose, Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Lynch-Bages, Château Lagrange, Château Gruaud-Larose, Château Giscours, Château Lascombes, Château Dauzac, Château Marquis de Terme, Château Cantenac-Brown, Château La Tour Carnet, Château Camensac and Château du Tertre.
In 1855 Napolen III requested a list of the best wines from the Gironde region for the 1855 Exposition. The resulting list showcased the finest wines of Bordeaux, ranked into five levels based on market prices alone. The list included 58 properties, primarily from Médoc, with one exceptional wine from Graves, Château Haut-Brion. Over the years, numerous changes have taken place in the names, ownership, vineyards, and quality of the wine of these châteaux. Due to estate divisions, the original list now comprises 61 châteaux. However, any estate with a traceable lineage to the classification retains its esteemed cru classé status.
The châteaux listed as Grand Cru Classe (or Great Classified Growth estate) are:
First-Growths
Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Latour, Pauillac
Château Margaux, Margaux
Château Haut-Brion Pessac, Pessac-Léognan
Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated to first-growth in 1973), Pauillac
Second-Growths
Château Rausan-Ségla (Rauzan-Ségla), Margaux
Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
Château Léoville Las Cases, St.-Julien
Château Léoville Poyferré, St.-Julien
Château Léoville Barton, St.-Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
Château Gruaud-Larose, St.-Julien
Château Lascombes, Margaux
Château Brane-Cantenac Cantenac-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, Pauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Lalande, Pauillac
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien
Château Cos-d'Estournel, St.-Estèphe
Château Montrose, St.-Estèphe
Third-Growths
Château Kirwan Cantenac-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château d'Issan Cantenac-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château Lagrange, St.-Julien
Château Langoa Barton, St.-Julien
Château Giscours Labarde-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château Malescot-St.-Exupéry, Margaux
Château Cantenac-Brown Cantenac-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
Château Palmer Cantenac-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château La Lagune Ludon, (Haut-Médoc)
Château Desmirail, Margaux
Château Calon-Ségur, St.-Estèphe
Château Ferrière, Margaux
Château Marquis-d'Alesme-Becker, Margaux
Fourth-Growths
Château St.-Pierre, St.-Julien
Château Talbot, St.-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Pouget Cantenac-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château La Tour Carnet St.-Laurent, (Haut-Médoc)
Château Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estèphe
Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien
Château Prieuré-Lichine Cantenac-Margaux, (Margaux)
Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux
Fifth-Growths
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Château Batailley, Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Château Lynch Bages, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
Château Dauzac Labarde, Margaux
Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac
Château du Tertre Arsac, Margaux
Château Haut-Bages Libéral, Pauillac
Château Pédesclaux, Pauillac
Château Belgrave St.-Laurent, Haut-Médoc
Château de Camensac St.-Laurent, Haut-Médoc
Château Cos Labory, St.-Estèphe
Château Clerc Milon, Pauillac
Château Croizet-Bages, Pauillac
Château Cantemerle Macau, Haut-Médoc
