Pickup is from your hotel or accommodation in Bordeaux. Travel throughout in a premium air-conditioned Mercedes minivan (up to 8 guests) with an onboard PA system for clear expert commentary.
The Graves wine region takes its name from the deep gravelly and stony soils that have shaped its wines for nearly 2,000 years — making it the oldest continuously cultivated wine-producing area in Bordeaux, first planted by the Romans. These soils create ideal drainage and mineral conditions for producing wines of exceptional depth and ageing potential.
Your morning visit is to a carefully selected Grand Cru Château in the Graves appellation, where a guided tour of the vineyards and cellar is followed by a tasting of red and dry white wines — the combination unique to this part of Bordeaux.
Your visit concludes with a guided tasting of Sauternes wines, revealing their signature flavours of honey, apricot, blossom, and toasted oak, alongside insights into food pairing with these exceptional golden nectars.
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Meet your Guide at your Accommodation in Bordeaux
Visit and wine tasting at 1st winery
Visit and wine tasting at 2nd winery
Free time for lunch in Martillac or surroundings
Visit and wine tasting at 3rd winery
Drop off at your accommodation in Bordeaux
Informations
Languages spoken
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Know before you book
Important information concerning wine tours in France: We carefully select the wineries visited during our wine tours, but the number of wines you’ll taste is set by each estate and varies by region, price and quality.
Please also 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.
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.
Planning Your Graves & Sauternes Escape:
Year-round adventure: Explore the Bordeaux vineyards any time (except Dec 25th & Jan 1st).
8-hour private tour: Relax and enjoy an in-depth wine & history experience.
Comfortable exploration: Wear comfortable shoes for some walking.
Languages: Tours are conducted in English, with other languages available upon request.
Group size: Explore with 2-8 guests (larger groups, inquire within).
Accessibility: This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Pricing Information (2 – 8 Persons)
Base 2
Base 3
Base 4
Base 5
Base 6
Base 7
Base 8
510€
390€
330€
294€
270€
253€
240€
*Prices shown are per person.
Included
Pre-booked reservations at 3 châteaux across Graves, Pessac-Léognan & Sauternes
We will come and pick you up at Train Station, Hotel or Airbnb in Bordeaux or surrounding area, circle of 30 kms (20 miles) around Bordeaux at no extra cost.
Return
Tour returns to original departure point.
Reviews
4.7/5
(3 reviews)
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TripAdvisor
5
Alison Cownden30, Sep 2021Our tour guide was very well informed and gave us excellent information
4
PaigeLO19, Jun 2019Comfortable transportation and knowledgeable guide. Easy pick-up at our rental unit.
We were a group of 4 and we toured 3 unique chateaus in the Sauternes Region. Helen was very friendly and had a great wit to her. Having worked in the wine industry for many years, she answered all of our questions quickly and with good details. Unlike wine tastings in the US, it is normal in this region to sample only one red and one white at each tasting room. Not having much to compare at each stop, we took back much less wine that we had planned to. Lunch was not included and the restaurant that we were taken to cost each of us around 50 Euros. Wear comfy shoes - there is a lot of walking on gravel and dirt roads. I kept having to dump pebbles out of my ballet flats.
5
Gail H12, Apr 2019On my return trip to Bordeaux last month, I signed up with Orphorus for their three wine tours based on recommendations and ratings of other Trip Advisors. From the time I contacted the company I was pleased with the efficient manner in which they handled my request for information. Christophe was responsive and quite helpful. I showed up for my first tour on Friday morning to Graves and Sauternes and was a bit late because I was unsure of the meeting point; however, Sarah, our brilliant tour guide, was gracious, gentle and quite understanding as were the rest of my tour partners for the day. We headed out and the mood in the van was quite jovial. Sarah led us through Bordeaux to our destination and filled us in on a bit of history of the area and its most prized resource – wines. She encouraged us to ask questions, we did and she answered them all brilliantly. When we got to our first destination Chateau Carbonnieux, our lovely host met us, took us on a tour of the beautiful facility, and gave us an account of the Chateau's history; the place was beautiful and the wines outstanding. It was only 10:00 o'clock and a bit early for wine tasting but I enjoyed tasting the wines and bought a bottle; in fact, several of us did! The drive through Graves was a lovely one; I thought it was the most beautiful of the three regions we toured. Each region has its own charm but Graves was the most charming. We visited a small Chateau across from Chateau d'Yquem and tasted one of the best Sauternes I have ever tasted - several members of the group purchased wines there! We took pics of Chateau d’Yquem, which is like a fairytale castle. We had a lovely first day!
Quick answers
Do you organize pick up and return at accommodation for Bordeaux private tours?
Yes, absolutely. We will come and pick you up at your Hotel, accommodation or AirB&B in Bordeaux. We can also come and pick you up if your accommodation is located within a 30 kms (20 miles) radius around Bordeaux.
What type of vehicles are used during your Bordeaux private tours?
Our company uses only premium cars & minivans that are recent, comfortable and fully equipped including individual A/C, shaded windows and large leg space.
Who conducts your private wine tours from Bordeaux?
We only employ accredited and licensed tour guides that are also the drivers for all tours that need visits to be conducted by certified guides. Good examples are: the visit of museums, guided walking tours in cities, visit of historical monuments and so on.
In some regions, where wine tours prevail (Bordeaux, Alsace) the tours are conducted by professional local guides or sommeliers that are experts in Wines.
Can we choose which wineries we will visit during your Bordeaux private wine tours?
Yes, we will be happy to organize and pre-book your winery tours of the Graves & Sauternes wine regions. During the booking process you will have the possibility to include your wine tasting fees. If you have certain wineries that you would like to visit, send us your list and our team will do the rest. Also, it is important to mention that we only make the required Chateau reservations once you have booked your private wine tour with Ophorus.
Is lunch included on this private Graves & Sauternes wine tour from Bordeaux?
No, we never include lunch on our private tours. However, if you would like to include lunch don't hesitate to reach out and we will be happy to make the necessary arrangements for you. It is also possible to ask your guide for suggestions.
Is it possible to visit Château d'Yquem?
Yes, absolutely. Château d'Yquem is open to visitors. If you would like to visit this winery it will be possible for you to add it as an extra during the booking process. There are three different visits offered by Château d'Yquem so you will need to choose the one that suits you best. Please note that we will confirm your booking as soon as we have received confirmation by the winery. Visits are subject to availability at time of booking.
Is it possible to visit Château Haut Brion?
No, it's not possible to visit Château Haut Brion as the Château is currently under renovation until 2025. However, it can be replaced by a visit at La Mission Haut Brion, just in front of Château Haut Brion. If you would like to visit this winery, don't hesitate to reach out and our team of travel advisors will do the rest. Important information though, as visits to this winery are in high demand, you will need to plan your visit months ahead!
What type of wine is Sauternes?
The Sauternes wine region of France is part of the Graves section of the Bordeaux vineyard. The sweet white wines of Sauternes are made of Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle and Sémillon grape varieties. What makes Sauternes wines so unique is that the grapes have been affected by Botrytis Cinerea which is also known as noble rot. This occurs thanks to the specific climate conditions that can be found in the Sauternes area. The Sauternes wines pair perfectly with soft cheeses, blue cheeses, foie gras, ice cream and cheesecake.
What type of wine is Graves?
Graves is a very interesting Bordeaux wine region to visit as it is the only one where you can wine taste the three main wine types of Bordeaux - reds, whites and sweet wines. The wine production is dominated by the red wines that are typically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet France to which winemakers sometimes add Petit Verdot and/or Malbec. The typical white wines of the Graves wine region are dry and blended with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grape varieties.
Pessac-Léognan wines resemble in a way those of Médoc wine region. The main grape varieties used in the blend of the wines are Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot that bring to these wines a subtle mix of power, delicateness and refinement. As for the whites, the blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes bring complexity, freshness, intensity and harmony to these wines. The Pessac-Léognan appellation includes all of the Crus Classés of the Graves wine region that produce reds and/or dry whites.