Sunday, February 22, 2015

Find The Best Bordeaux Wine Tours For You

By Olivia Cross


If you love wine, or are even just vaguely familiar with it you will have heard of Bordeaux. The name is synonymous with quality wine as the region is home to over 8000 wine producers . Bordeaux wines have traveled the world but it is also possible to travel & taste them in their home. The best Bordeaux wine tours include visits to producers, incredible gastronomy and of course a guide to explain all about those wonderful wines.

The vast majority of wine produced in the area is red. Only about ten percent is white or rose. This is partly due to the soil and climate. The south west of France is a limestone region with well drained gravel soils. There are three major rivers which irrigate the land and replenish nutrients.

There are various areas within the region which produce wine with different characteristics. One of the most famous is Medoc which is situated on the left bank of the Gironde. The highest quality wines come from the banks of this river and are highly prized by wine lovers. A package tour may include several of these areas of for those wishing to specialize in a particular one there are tailored tours available.

A great way to get introduced to these aspects of wine culture is to go to wine school. They host classes to introduce visitors to the principles of tasting and also describe the region. There are also classes which explain the more technical side of wine making and some even teach blending. Courses last from a few hours to a few days.

Winery tours usually take a couple of hours. There are many vineyards both large and small. The character of a visit to each is quite different. In a smaller one the owner will often give the tour and host the tasting. This can be extremely interesting as they are usually passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about their product. It is a privilege to taste something made by the producer and share their pride.

There are a few times of year when it is best to avoid a trip to taste wines in Bordeaux. The winter months, December and January are cold and most wineries are busy with blending. In April the professionals are in town and are classifying the wines so vineyards are busy with them and do not usually take appointments. Most are also closed on weekends so plan a midweek trip if tasting is your priority.

The city itself is also a top tourist attraction and a World Heritage Site and there is plenty to do so you may want to stay an extra few days. There is incredible architecture, top museums and, this being Franc, extraordinary food. A wine tour package will usually include a guide, transport (you do not want to have to spit out all that wine), accommodation and some meals. Some also include a class at wine school. Many companies also offer bespoke packages so if you have particular wineries you want to visit this would be a great option.

A typical wine tour package will include visits to a variety of wine producers, a guide, transport and driver, lunches, accommodation and often a class at wine school. Most operators also offer bespoke tours. This means for people who have an interest in a particular wine or type of grape they can choose which vineyards to visit. Travel agents can also arrange stay in local villages, spa trips, history tours and more.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment