I am visiting Bordeaux this year and would like to figure out my options for getting to my favourite wineries. Do I need to rent a car or can I get around with transit?
Posted by
29 posts
Hi Billy,
Renting a car would make things easier. However, it can be done via transit or on a bike.
Take a look at this website: https://sauvistication.com/planning-chateaux-visits/
Safe Travels!
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
Car is easiest for going various places in one day.
If you visit mid-June. There is a giant wine festival on the waterfront in Bordeaux, all the wineries will come to you. There are probably more wine festivals during the year but that's the only one I've visited.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
319 posts
Some great suggestions from Travel boss. June is a great time of year to visit if you are a wine connoisseur. It’s easier if you rent a car especially if you have specific wineries you’d like to visit. Another great resource is www.lostinbordeaux.com.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
319 posts
I’ll add that your transport options also depend on which specific wineries you’d like to visit. Some are easily reached by transport. Most though require a car especially if your specific wineries are in the greater Médoc area.
Posted by
OP
United States
12 posts
Thank you for your recommendations. It looks like I missed the wine festival in June, Damn. I was unfamiliar with Sauvistication, but I am finding it to be useful.
I've seen Lost in Bordeaux before. There are way too many ads and some of the winery recommendations are bizarre. I don't like it.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
If there are specific wineries you want to visit, you'll definitely need a car. If you just want someone to take you to a selection of wineries in one of the appellations, the tourist office can arrange this for you. I've taken three different tours through them and they were excellent. Two were on a small van with just 5-6 other people and the other one was on a bus that only had about 12 others on it. Had a great time and only one crappy winery - all the rest were excellent.
Posted by
SoCal
1130 posts
The tough part about visiting wineries in a rented car is that you can't really taste their wines, unless you can get someone else to drive. That would ruin it for me.
I took two tours run by Ophorus. Very well done. One was right bank (St-Emilion and Pomerol) and the other left (Margaux, Pauillac and St-Estèphe). The downside is that you don't pick the chateaux; they do.