Bordeaux Vineyards and Vintages

In partnership with Wine Enthusiast
5 Nights / 6 Days – November 2-7, 2026

from $9,250

Introduction


Cork + Compass Travel invites you to discover the legendary landscapes of Bordeaux, where the art of winemaking has been perfected over centuries. This intimate journey guides you through some of France’s most celebrated appellations, from Pauillac to Saint-Émilion, where grand châteaux and storied vineyards define the region’s heritage.


Led by Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Jeff Porter, you’ll gain insider access to acclaimed estates, savor unforgettable tastings, and meet the makers behind some of Bordeaux’s most exceptional wines. With exquisite French cuisine and elegant châteaux stays along the way, this journey offers an exclusive exploration of Bordeaux at its finest.

Jeff Porter

Your Expert

Jeff Porter is one of Wine Enthusiast’s Italy specialists and covers wines for Piedmont, Veneto, Northeast Italy, Lombardy, Northwest Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, and Umbria. His sommelier career began in Napa Valley working at Tra Vigne Ristorante. He joined the Bastianich Hospitality Group in 2009 at Osteria Mozza under the auspice of James Beard Award-winning chef Nancy Silverton.

Porter then served as the Wine Director at Del Posto Ristorante in NYC and grew to be the Beverage Operations Director for the company. In 2019, he filmed a travel docuseries, “Sip Trip” and began a consulting business. Helping clients create beverage lists and elevate service standards, Porter’s roster includes Hometown BBQ, Red Hook Tavern, the ecoresort Casa di Langa in the Langhe region of Piedmont, and the Barclays Center, home to the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.

Highlights

Exclusive Tastings

Enjoy private visits to renowned vineyards, including Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey and Château Smith Haut Lafitte.

Historic Sips

Sample wines from centuries-old vineyards made with traditional viticulture methods.

Personal Connections

Meet some of Bordeaux’s most celebrated winemakers, personally introduced by your host, Jeff Porter.

Seasonal Cuisine

Savor classic French cooking at every provided meal.

Local Charm

Immerse yourself in the alluring villages of Pauillac, Saint-Émilion, and beyond.

Itinerary

Hotel

Day 1

BORDEAUX

Bienvenue à Bordeaux

Arrive in Bordeaux and transfer as a group to your hotel set along the scenic Gironde estuary. Meet your Cork + Compass Travel expert Jeff Porter and fellow travelers, and journey a few minutes down the road to Château Lynch-Bages for a tasting of bold and innovative wines that exemplify the Pauillac region. Dinner this evening is at Château Beychevelle.

Included Meal: Dinner

Accommodations: Château Cordeillan-Bages

Wineries: Château Lynch-Bages

Haut batailley outside building

Day 2

BORDEAUX

Pauillac

Begin with a morning tasting at the esteemed Château Haut-Batailley, where elegant wines with fine tannic structure develop complexity and depth over time. Pause midday to enjoy an independent lunch in Pauillac and the opportunity to explore the town’s charming cafés at your own pace. In the afternoon, continue for a tasting at the iconic Château Cos d’Estournel, founded in 1811 by Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel and located on 91 hectares of gravel and limestone-clay soil. Return to your hotel in the evening and gather for dinner at Café Lavinal.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Château Cordeillan-Bages

Wineries: Château Haut-Batailley, Château Cos d’Estournel

Carbonnieux courtyard chateau

Day 3

BORDEAUX

Saint-Émilion

Check out of Château Cordeillan-Bages and travel to the famed wine region of Saint-Émilion for a full day of exploration. Begin with a guided tour, tasting, and lunch at Château La Tour Blanche, where morning fog blankets the vineyards and aids in the development of noble rot. The afternoon offers tours and tastings at two distinguished estates: Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, located over 70 meters above sea level and celebrated for its superb sweet wines, and Chateau Carbonnieux, known for exclusively producing dry reds and whites classified as Grands Crus Classés de Graves. Afterward, check in to your room at Château Léognan and gather for dinner at Le Manége.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Château Léognan

Wineries: Château La Tour Blanche, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Château Carbonnieux

Sunrise vignoble canon la gaffeliere (crédit françois poincet)

Day 4

BORDEAUX

Saint-Émilion

The morning begins with a tour and tasting at Château Canon La Gaffelière, where the clay and limestone subsoil has been planted with vines since Gallo-Roman times. Enjoy lunch and explore at your leisure in the medieval city of Saint-Émilion, then continue to Château le Puy, famed for its natural winemaking traditions. Your final tasting today is at the 17th-century Château Troplong Mondot, located at the highest point of the appellation and home to a dozen horses that roam up and down the vineyards. Return to Léognan, where you’re free to enjoy dinner on your own and explore the area.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: Château Léognan

Wineries: Château Canon La Gaffelière, Château le Puy, Château Troplong Mondot

Chateausmithhautlafitte new cooperage

Day 5

BORDEAUX

Bordeaux

Enjoy a guided walking tour of Bordeaux’s historic city center and take in the grandeur of Quinconces Square, the stately exterior of the 18th-century Le Grand Théâtre, and the elegant façade of Place de la Bourse. Pause to savor a rum and vanilla-flavored canelé, the region’s most famous pastry. After an independent lunch, visit the distinguished Château Smith Haut Lafitte for a tour of the vineyards and a tasting. Try to catch a glimpse of the shire horses ploughing the white wine vineyard’s fragile slopes. In the evening, gather for a festive farewell dinner cruise aboard the riverboat Le Sicambre and admire the illuminated buildings along the Garonne River as you raise a toast to your journey through Bordeaux.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Château Léognan

Wineries: Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Bordeaux photo

Day 6

BORDEAUX

Au Revoir

Bid farewell to Bordeaux with a transfer to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport for individual flights home.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations

Cordeillanbages hotel

Château Cordeillan-Bages

Pauillac

A beautifully restored 17th-century estate in the heart of Pauillac, Château Cordeillan-Bages invites guests to experience the perfect balance of heritage and modern elegance. Nestled amongst the prestigious vineyards of Bordeaux’s Médoc region, this Relais & Châteaux property offers 28 bright and spacious rooms alongside peaceful gardens, a fitness center, heated outdoor pool, and sauna. The on-site Café Lavinal features seasonal French cuisine and a wine list with more than 1,800 bottles. (2 nights)

Château Léognan

Pessac-Léognan

Château Léognan, set amidst the vineyards and forests of Bordeaux’s prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation, offers a refined retreat where history and nature meet. This elegant estate pairs classic architecture with modern comfort, welcoming guests to 15 carefully designed rooms. A relaxing wellness area offers a sauna, hammam, and Nordic bath, while Le Manège restaurant, located in the former stables of the estate’s draught horses, uses local produce to create creative French gastronomy. (3 nights)

Chateau leognan exterieurs 012

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