Private Médoc Wine Tasting Experiences from Bordeaux
About this activity
Highlights
- Blend your own Bordeaux wine
- Enjoy a picnic lunch at a Château winery
- Taste exquisite wine paired with chocolate
- Visit prestigious wineries and vineyards
Full description
Private Bordeaux Wine Blending Workshop, Château Picnic and Chocolate Pairing Experience
Immerse yourself in Bordeaux winemaking on a private full-day wine tour featuring a hands-on blending workshop, Médoc château visit with wine tasting, gourmet picnic lunch in château gardens, and a wine and chocolate pairing session at a 1855 Grand Cru Classé estate in Margaux. Learn the art of blending Bordeaux's classic grape varieties, create your own personalized wine, and discover the surprising aromatic connections between fine wine and artisan chocolate.
Hands-On Wine Blending Workshop
Begin your experience at a boutique Bordeaux winery with a 90-minute wine blending workshop led by an expert winemaker or oenologist. Most Bordeaux wines are blends — winemakers assemble their finest wines by combining different grape varieties to achieve balance, complexity, and distinctive character. The region's most important red grape varieties include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, with Malbec, Carménère, and Petit Verdot playing supporting roles in select blends.
Taste Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon separately to understand each varietal's unique characteristics: tannin levels, acidity, alcohol content, structure, flavors, and aromatic profiles. Merlot typically offers soft, fruity, plummy notes with silky tannins, while Cabernet Sauvignon contributes structure, blackcurrant aromas, and aging potential.
Once you've explored the individual grape varieties through guided comparative tasting, create your own Bordeaux blend using professional blending equipment. Mix different proportions under expert guidance to craft a wine matching your personal taste preferences — a unique hands-on experience revealing the artistry and precision behind Bordeaux's world-renowned wines.
Médoc Château Visit, Wine Tasting and Gourmet Picnic
Journey along the famous Château Route of the Médoc, passing prestigious wine estates surrounded by endless vineyards. Arrive at your next château for a comprehensive winery tour explaining the complete winemaking process from vineyard to bottle: grape cultivation, harvest methods, fermentation, barrel aging, and bottling. Discover how terroir, climate, and winemaking techniques influence the distinctive character of Médoc wines.
After your tour, participate in a commented tasting of three château wines with expert guidance explaining each wine's appellation, blend composition, aging, and tasting notes. Then relax and indulge in a gourmet picnic lunch prepared with seasonal local products served in the château's beautiful park or garden. Your picnic features French charcuterie, artisan cheeses, fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits, authentic macarons, crusty baguette, château wine, water, and coffee or tea — a leisurely, elegant lunch surrounded by vineyards and historic architecture.
Wine and Chocolate Pairing at 1855 Grand Cru Classé
Conclude your day at a prestigious Margaux appellation estate, classified as a Grand Cru Classé in the famous 1855 Bordeaux Classification. After a tour of this historic winery showcasing traditional and modern winemaking facilities, participate in an innovative wine and chocolate pairing workshop exploring the surprising aromatic connections between fine Bordeaux wines and premium chocolate. Discover how both share complex flavor compounds including fruity, floral, spicy, and earthy notes.
Taste carefully selected château wines paired with artisan chocolates of varying cocoa percentages and origins, learning how tannins, acidity, and flavor profiles complement or contrast with chocolate's intensity, sweetness, and texture. This unique sensory experience reveals new dimensions of both wine and chocolate appreciation, concluding your immersive day in Bordeaux wine country.
Included / Excluded
- Wine Blending workshop in a Grand Cru Winery
- Visit & Picnic lunch in a Château Winery
- Wine & Chocolate pairing in a Grand Cru Winery
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Travel in premium, spacious vehicles
- Personal travel insurance, expenses.
- Gratuities for the guide
- Meals or snacks outside of included tastings
Itinerary
Bordeaux departure
Meet your guide, make you way to the Médoc wine region
Wine blending workshop
Participate in a wine blending workshop in a Grand Cru Classé winery of the Margaux appellation
Meeting point
Start Location
Bordeaux, France
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour is private — pricing per person with minimum 2 participants
- Full-day tour duration approximately 8 hours including transportation
- Tour is operated in English, other languages on request.
- Wine blending workshop, château visits, tastings, and picnic lunch included
- Picnic lunch prepared with seasonal local products and château wine
Know before you go
- Tours typically depart 9:30 AM; return around 5:30 PM
- Wear comfortable casual clothing; château visits have no strict dress code
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended for winery and vineyard visits
- Picnic lunch served outdoors weather permitting; indoor option if rain
- Camera recommended for vineyards, château architecture, and picnic setting
Cancellation policy
Ophorus requires full payment by credit card, internet payment (through our website) or wire transfer (Wire transfer fees at the charge of the Guest) to make a reservation. We accept payment by AMEX, Visa and Master Card. There is no charge or service fee for processing credit card payments except with American Express +3%. For any cancellation, the following fees will be deducted from the refund: Up to 72 hours prior to departure: no cancellation fees except the booking fees. 72 hours prior to departure and less > no refund. No show - no refund.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
Reviews
We had a very fun day with Matt to Mont Saint-Mitchel. Matt is an excellent tour guide & he cared for his clients very much. He's an on time person. We learned a lot about the history of Saint-Mitchel via Matt. He made sure we have enough time browsing this beautiful UNESCO. We definitely recommend friends & family this tour. Thank you Matt
Pascal was, above all, a smiling whirlwind of energy from the very start — bursting with knowledge, passion, and just the right amount of dramatic flair. He painted the horror of the Omaha Beach invasion so vividly that we could practically hear the chaos, then marched us through the bunkers at Pointe du Hoc like we were on a mission ourselves. And before we even caught our breath, he had already catapulted us back to Bayeux at invasion speed. A legend in tour‑guide form. Thanks from Croatian Team😉
Our Normandy D-Day tour was well worth it and we so enjoyed our tour guide Matt. He made the tour engaging, entertaining and informative. The tour was just the right size and a half day was perfect for us. It would have been much harder to get around to the sites and understand each without the information that Matt was constantly sharing. There was hardly a time that Matt was not telling us what/how/when of what we were looking at. Thanks Matt!
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Additional information
This private Bordeaux wine blending workshop and château tour is perfect for wine enthusiasts wanting hands-on winemaking experience beyond standard tastings. It appeals to curious travelers learning Bordeaux blend composition and the art of assemblage, couples seeking romantic wine country experiences with gourmet picnic lunch, and foodies exploring innovative wine and chocolate pairing.
Ideal for visitors wanting comprehensive wine education combining theory with practical blending, travelers appreciating exclusive access to Grand Cru Classé estates in prestigious Margaux appellation, and those preferring leisurely experiences with time to relax in beautiful château grounds.
With expert guidance throughout three distinct wine experiences and the opportunity to create and bottle your own personalized Bordeaux blend, this tour delivers hands-on immersion for wine lovers seeking authentic, creative engagement with one of the world's most prestigious wine regions.
In regards to the protection of the environment, we will no longer provide plastic bottles of water during our tours. You are kindly advised to bring your own. Water and refills are available at the wineries, museums and attractions visited.
Please note: In France, snacks are usually not provided during wine tastings to preserve the purity of the wine's flavor. We recommend having a good breakfast or lunch beforehand.