BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Bienvenue à Bordeaux, the beating heart of Southwest France’s dual temples to gastronomy and wine. Our exploration of the world’s wine capital, and the culinary delights that best compliment them begins at a classic Bordelaise bistro where we’ll enjoy excellent fare while getting to know one another.

Our first day begins with a visit to Bordeaux’s renowned interactive Wine Museum that provides the perfect introduction to this wine region. Later we will head to Dordogne - land of castles & truffle festivals - with a visit to an acclaimed Sauternes winery.

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.

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.

After a restful evening, we’ll try something that sounds like a fairytale and tastes even better: hunting for black truffles with a local expert and their trusty dog. This is the Dordogne at its most delicious: muddy boots, earthy treasure, and a lunch that makes the whole thing feel completely worth it.

We ease into our last morning in the Dordogne 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.

We’ll roll 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 wine tasting in the village. Then it's out to the estates. You'll return to the château sun-warmed, wine-happy, and with a real understanding of why people make pilgrimages here.

Some of the best wine experiences in France don't have a name or a tasting room brochure. Through a local connection we've been cultivating, this day takes us off the map entirely, 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.

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, passing legendary estates and grand stone façades. The morning brings your first stop: an intimate, family-run winery, a guided cellar visit, tasting, and a conversation with people who have devoted their lives to this terroir.

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.