Why Bordeaux is uniquely positioned for 2021 travel
Bordeaux beckons for 2021 travel
As avid travelers start to think about their 2021 travel plans, health and wellbeing is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Despite ambitious vaccination programs being deployed the world over, many health and safety protocols will remain in place throughout 2021. As such, travelers are looking for destinations offering private experiences, an abundance of fresh air and outdoor activities without the usual vacation crowds . This is why Bordeaux is uniquely positioned to welcome the 2021 traveler.
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in Sauternes. Credit: Deepix Studios
About Bordeaux
When one thinks of Bordeaux, images of fine wine and memories of special meals with friends, family and colleagues might come to mind. What might not immediately spring to mind are the seemingly endless vineyards which span this colossal wine-making region, or the region’s 200 miles of pristine, uncrowded coastline. Bordeaux is the largest wine producing region in France, with over 6,000 wineries and almost 300,000 acres under vine. Despite welcoming 7.7 million visitors in 2019, the sheer size of the region allows visitors to enjoy their own private moment in the vineyards. While group tours are available to explore this region, it is equally easy to enjoy authentic, unique, and most importantly - private - experiences, shared with only your nearest and dearest.
Whatever your speed, there is an abundance of experiences for you to enjoy which offer the privacy and peace of mind so many of us are looking for. From the vineyards, to the coast and taking to the skies, there are a number of activities throughout Bordeaux which visitors can enjoy in their own private bubble.
Private experiences - wine tours and tastings
The approach to hospitality in Bordeaux is markedly different from other wine regions around the world, especially ‘new-world’ wine regions such as the US, and Australia. Here in Bordeaux, you will struggle to find many wineries with an open-door policy and you most certainly won’t find the bachelorette parties and crowded scenes typical of many a winery in Napa and Sonoma. Many of the wineries, known as ‘châteaux’, are private family homes, so anyone turning up unannounced could be in for a frosty welcome. The vast majority of vineyard tours and wine tastings in Bordeaux are by appointment only and are private – meaning you will not be grouped with a bunch of strangers. This is not a new format introduced because of COVID, but is the way tours have been operating in Bordeaux since the châteaux began opening their doors. This may seem a little antiquated, but this is due to the simple fact that the wineries of Bordeaux put the making of great wine first. Hospitality, including the receiving of the general public, is a more recent phenomenon. The welcoming of visitors to the estate is almost always managed by a very small team of two or three people who are simply not equipped to host a constant stream of visitors throughout the day, or indeed throughout the year. The upside is that visitors will often have the entire estate to themselves and will receive a tailor-made experience geared to their level of wine knowledge and other interests such as history, art or architecture which results in a far richer and more memorable experience.
Wine tours and tastings vary from château to château, but can range from a simple tour of the estate with a tasting of two wines to a more extravagant affair involving the tasting of some of their prized vintages. Some tastings may be paired with a cheese or chocolate tasting or even a multi-course lunch. One of the visits at Château Gruaud Larose ends with the tasting of their 1983, 1989, 1996 and 2001 vintages, while Château d’Issan has a visit that culminates with the tasting of some of their best recent vintages including the 1995, 2005, 2010, and 2015. While the visits can change from year to year, the one constant is that each visit is private.
A private vineyard tour at Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion.
The private tasting room at Château de Ferrand in Saint-Émilion.
A private visit of Château Beauregard in Pomerol.
“...visitors will often have the entire estate to themselves and will receive a tailor-made experience geared to their level of wine knowledge and other interests such as history, art and architecture. ”
Private accommodations in Pessac-Léognan. Credit: Guillaume de Laubier
Private accommodations
In addition to a growing number of 5-star hotels in both the city and the vineyards of Bordeaux, there exist a number of discrete, privately owned properties which, with the right connections, can be rented for short stays in Bordeaux. These properties range from wonderful family villas to grand, ultra-luxurious châteaux adorned with priceless antiques. Many of these exclusive estates are secondary residences of the owners who use them as their own private retreats and to host special events. When not in use by the family, the properties are made available on a discretionary basis to well-heeled travelers looking for privacy and the comforts of home.
The larger, more upscale properties typically come with their own house manager and staff to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. However, if the guest would prefer to be left alone in total privacy then that can certainly be arranged, with food, wine and other supplies delivered on a daily basis.
Many of these private vacation rentals are set amidst the vines of some of Bordeaux’s most famous appellations including Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Emilion and Pomerol.
One example is an elegant vineyard estate located in the Médoc with eight bedrooms, a grand living room, and indoor and outdoor pools. This is one of the owner's vacation homes but also a working winery which offers guests a real glimpse into château life. A property manager will take care of all of the guests’ needs while the in-house private chef can prepare anything from a multi-course banquet to a late night grilled cheese sandwich.
Another example is a historic château in the heart of Saint-Emilion located on a permier grand cru classé estate. The private residence can accommodate up to 10 people in 5 suites with the reception room opening onto a stunning viewpoint across the village of Saint-Emilion. With imposing fireplaces, custom furniture and beautiful antiques, the property offers a combination of refined luxury and comfort. A 7 course one-Michelin star dinner with a selection of the château’s wines is included in the rental price of the property.
In addition to the vineyard properties, a number of exclusive rental properties can be found dotted around the scenic Bassin d’Arcachon, famed for its quaint oyster villages such as l’Herbe and Cap Ferret and the soaring Dune du Pyla – the highest sand dune in Europe. Affluent French and European visitors flock to the area in the height of summer not just for the surroundings but also for the laid-back kind of chic for which this little nook of the French coast is known.
For city lovers, many of the small boutique hotels can also be privatized, offering a private bubble in the heart of the city.
Private dining experiences
In line with the tailor-made hospitality available in Bordeaux, is the opportunity to enjoy private dining experiences. This can take the form of a refined luncheon in the opulent dining room of an historic château or something far more casual such as a lunch amongst the vines. A small army of private chefs, some of which have received Michelin stars, are ready to receive guests at a number of the more exclusive Bordeaux châteaux – many of which compete to offer a more and more refined and differentiated dining experience. The typical fare is French haute-cuisine featuring the finest ingredients, oftentimes locally sourced from the region including black truffles from Dordogne, oysters from the Bassin d’Arcachon and sturgeon and caviar from the local sturgeon farms which produce the vast majority of all French caviar.
Château Haut-Bailly provides an intimate setting in its 19th century château to enjoy the finest pairing of wines and seasonal cuisine at “La Table Privée.” Chef Jean-Charles Poinsot creates each course to complement the wines of the château and to bring new layers of complexity to the tasting.
At the other end of the private dining spectrum you will find gourmet picnics, ranging from decadent picnic baskets with plush blankets and cushions to a seated al fresco experience with fine monogramed china. Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Emilion offers a private visit followed by a peaceful picnic amongst the vines where you can taste gourmet finger food created by the Chef David Charrier while Château de Cérons offers both a picnic in their park with a selection of deli meats from the Landes, aged cheeses, and fruits from the orchard, as well as lunch or dinner at their rotisserie where one can enjoy suckling pigs, wood pigeons or chicken that have been slowly roasted over an open fire.
With so many private dining experiences to be found, there really is something to cater to all tastes and occasions.
Exquisite private dining at Château Beychevelle in Saint-Julien, Médoc.
“With so many private dining experiences to be found, there really is something to cater to all tastes and occasions. ”
A dedicated driver
The region of Bordeaux encompasses a large geographic area which can easily take a couple of hours to navigate from one side to the other. As such it is prudent, if not required, to arrange for a driver well ahead of time. There are no Ubers to be found in the far-flung corners of Sauternes and even taxis are few and far between. This may sound inconvenient but having a dedicated driver for the duration of your stay will mean you are free to come and go as you please and enjoy the wines the region is known for to the fullest. A dedicated driver will typically meet you at your point of arrival, either Bordeaux Mérignac airport or the Gare Saint Jean train station. From there onwards, your driver can be available for your sole use until your day of departure. Not only will a dedicated driver afford you that extra sense of luxury, it will also offer a reassuring sense of peace of mind.
Enjoy a truly open air experience in a vintage sidecar, exploring the vineyards of Bordeaux with Retro Tours.
While Mercedes and Teslas tend to be the most common type of vehicle provided with driver, there are several classic cars available to get your around Bordeaux. One such car is a 1973 Citoren DS Limousine Convertible. This elegant car, with a selection of wine and champagne at your disposal, is the perfect way to visit the wineries and the historical buildings and monuments of Bordeaux. For the more adventurous, enjoy an abundance of fresh air from a vintage sidecar on either a tour of the city or the surrounding vineyards.
Dining ‘au bord de l’eau’ at La Cabane d’Edouard on the Bassin d’Arcachon.
Don’t forget the beach
If you’re looking for some beach time, it might surprise you to learn that the home of the world’s most famous wines also boasts an impressive coastline complete with seemingly endless white sand beaches and quaint fishing villages. The coastline stretches for over 200 miles and offers pristine, unspoiled beaches, endless pine forests, dramatic sand dunes, and the chance to find a quiet spot all to yourself – just you and Mother Nature.
The shelter of the Bassin d’Arcachon is the picture-perfect setting for a carefree day aboard a private boat. A private charter provides a unique vantage point from which you can take in everything the bay has to offer, from deserted sand banks and enormous sand dunes to the freshest seafood plucked straight from the deep blue waters of the bay. Onboard you can enjoy a custom food and wine program all to yourselves from a prime position overlooking the bay.
You can also enjoy the fresh air while you dine al fresco at one of the many ‘cabanes à huitres’, oysters huts in english, dotted around the bay. At these effortlessly chic eateries you can eat fresh oysters directly from the the bay accompanied by shrimp, various pâtés and inexpensive Bordeaux whites and rosés. What’s not to love about that?!
The team at The Bordeaux Concierge would be delighted to help you plan your tailor-made itinerary for 2021. We anticipate an uptick in demand for privatized accommodations, dining and experiences so be sure to plan well in advance.
