Friends of the House
Here's how this one goes.
We kick things off in Bordeaux: one night, just enough time to drop your bags, find your people, and raise a glass to the ten days ahead. Consider it the opening act. The city has been built on wine and trade for centuries and it shows, in the best possible way.
Then we head east to Sarlat-la-Canéda, and honestly? This part alone is worth the flight. We're arriving during the annual Sarlat Truffle Festival, which means the entire medieval town smells like the inside of a Michelin-starred kitchen and nobody is complaining. Markets everywhere. Black truffles in everything. Locals and producers and chefs all gathered for a tradition that feels equal parts festive and deeply, deliciously French.
This is where we get earthy and unapologetic about it, think candlelit dinners, big rustic flavors, and wines that were basically born to sit next to truffle-laced everything. After four days in Sarlat, we return to Bordeaux for four nights and this time with a whole new layer of context, a sharper palate, and a lot more to talk about. Vineyard visits, curated tastings, long dinners, slower mornings. This is where the trip really settles in.
And here's the part I want you to notice: this is our first-ever co-ed Friends of the House retreat. That's not a small thing. We're opening the table (and I mean that literally and figuratively) to bring together the kind of people who travel with intention, eat with curiosity, and know that the best part of any trip is always the conversation.
Ten days. Two regions. One unforgettable table. Friends of the House is officially open to everyone.
xo,
Stephanie
Where we'll lay our heads
Bordeaux 4-Star Hotel
For our first night in Bordeaux, we’ll be settling into a beautifully curated 4-star hotel right in the heart of the city, the kind of place that feels effortlessly stylish, comfortable, and perfectly positioned for exploring. Think chic interiors, thoughtful details, and that welcoming French charm you notice the moment you walk through the door, similar to the vibe you get at boutique favorites like the Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes.
While we’re finalizing the exact property, rest assured we’re choosing a hotel that reflects the spirit of the city and keeps you both relaxed and inspired from the very first evening.
Chateau de la Bourlie
Château Vrai Canon Bouché
Trip Details
There’s a rhythm to this journey that shifts with the landscape. In Bordeaux, mornings begin with café and fresh pastries in sunlit streets, the hum of the city rising slowly as wine merchants prepare their shops and the river glints beneath early light. Time feels deliberate here, measured in sips, strolls, and the subtle art of noticing.
Then, in Sarlat-la-Canéda, the pace deepens. Medieval streets glow honey-gold, market tables overflow with truffles and winter produce, and the cool air carries the earthy scent of the surrounding forests. Here, the day unfolds naturally: conversation, flavors, and discovery flowing as unhurried as the river carving its way through the valley.
Both places ask the same of you: to slow down, breathe deeper, and let the experiences linger.
Trip at a Glance
Excursions & Exploration
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Visits to storybook villages such as Sarlat-la-Canéda
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Visit to La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux
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All-Access to the Annual Sarlat Truffle Festival
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Discover hidden corners of southwest France far from the typical tourist trail
Wine Expereinces
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Guided tours and tastings led by our expert sommelier co-host, with insider access to some of the most respected producers in the region
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Private visits to iconic estates on both the Left and Right Bank — think Saint-Émilion, Sauternes, and the legendary appellations of Margaux, Pauillac, and beyond
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An introduction to the full range of Bordeaux varietals
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Truffle-paired wine dinners in Sarlat
Culinary Experiences
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Hands-on cooking class with a 1* Michelin chef, highlighting regional specialties
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Dining at Michelin-rated restaurants
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9 dinners & 5 lunches
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Daily breakfast
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Private chef at our château
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Exploration of Dordogne’s culinary heritage: truffles, foie gras, walnuts, and exceptional local wines
Pace
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Intentionally slow and immersive, with cobblestone walks, gentle hills, scenic countryside drives, and a few longer day trips balanced by meaningful time to relax and unwind.
How we'll spend our days
Sample Itinerary
This itinerary is a lovingly crafted preview of what your week could look like. While small shifts may happen as we fine-tune timing, weather, and opportunities, consider this your delicious sneak peek at the adventure ahead.
Day 3
Feasting on Black Diamonds
The picturesque town of Sarlat-la-Caneda transforms into a gastronomic temple dedicated to the black Perigord Truffle each January for their annual Fete de la Truffe - a Festival celebrating this culinary treasure known as the black diamond.
Day 6
Castle Country
We ease into our last morning in the Dordogne the way every morning should start- slowly, with no agenda and a good cup of coffee. Then we hit the road toward Bordeaux, winding through the countryside and stopping to explore the medieval castles that sit along the way like they've been waiting for us, all before settling into our new home base for the rest of the trip with a proper welcome dinner around the table.
Day 9
Left Bank Legends
If Saint-Émilion taught you the soul of Bordeaux's Right Bank, the Médoc reveals its architecture.
Today we're exploring the famous Route des Châteaux, a drive that is, in itself, an education, passing legendary estates and grand stone façades as the appellations shift from one to the next. The morning brings your first stop: an intimate, family-run winery where the welcome is personal and the wines speak directly of the land. A guided cellar visit, a tasting, and a conversation with people who have devoted their lives to this terroir.
Day 1
Arrival & Welcome Dinner
Bienvenue à Bordeaux, the beating heart of Southwest France’s dual temples to gastronomy and wine. Our exploration of the best of Bordeaux’s 10,000 vineyards (truly the world’s wine capital) and the culinary delights that best compliment them begins at a classic Bordelaise bistro where we’ll enjoy excellent food and wine while getting to know one another.
Day 4
Time To Pause
Today we're spending the day in the French countryside doing what the French do best, slowing down. You'll be free to sleep, read, wander the grounds of the chateau at your own pace. Space and time are luxuries we lean into this week.
Day 7
Among Historic Vines
We leave the château in the morning, rolling east toward the limestone plateau where Merlot has reigned for centuries.
Our local guide will lead us through UNESCO-protected Saint-Émilion on foot first: medieval streets, centuries of stories, and a morning wine tasting in the village that sets both the palate and the tone. Then it's out to the estates. You'll return to the château sun-warm, a little wine-happy, and with a real understanding of why people make pilgrimages to this particular corner of France.
Day 10
Farewell,
For Now
After breakfast, say au revoir to Bordeaux and your new friends, carrying the memories, flavors, and magic of this magical region home with you. Group transfer to the airport included.
Day 2
Drink Liquid Gold & Explore the Dordogne
Our first day begins with a visit to Bordeaux’s renowned La Cité du Vin, an interactive Wine Museum that provides the perfect overview and introduction to the Bordeaux wine region. After lunch we’ll begin our leisurely journey to the Dordogne - land of castles & truffle festivals - with a visit to an acclaimed Sauternes winery that has been crafting the eponymous, famed botrytized dessert wine for five centuries.
Day 5
Hunting for Buried Treasure
After a restful evening, today we are trying out something that sounds like a fairytale and tastes even better: hunting for black truffles with a local expert and the most motivated dog you've ever met. This is the Dordogne at its most delicious: muddy boots, earthy treasure, and a lunch that makes the whole thing feel completely worth it.
Day 8
An Afternoon Among Friends
Some of the best wine experiences in France don't have a name or a tasting room brochure. They happen when someone who knows someone opens a door.
Through a local connection we've been cultivating, this day takes us off the map entirely, away from the appellations and classifications and into the quieter world of family cellars, personal collections, and the kind of generous, unhurried hospitality that only exists when you're a guest rather than a tourist.
The Details
Retreat Pricing
$7,250 per person
King Room with Ensuite Bathroom
Double Occupancy
Deposit: $2,537 Due at Time of Booking
ONLY 3 LEFT
or
$12,000 per room
*One room, two twins, double the magic.
This exclusive twin-bed room with ensuite bathroom must be booked together, so find a friend and make it yours.
$6,000 per person
Deposit: $2,783 (Per Guest) Due at Time of Booking
SOLD OUT
Payment Method
To reserve your space, we require an initial, non-refundable deposit due at the time of booking.
The remaining balance of the trip will be paid in 2 additional installments.
Not Included
Airfare
Travel Insurance (Required)
Some meals & optional activities