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.
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

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
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
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
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
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
Day 6
BORDEAUX
Au Revoir
Bid farewell to Bordeaux with a transfer to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport for individual flights home.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations
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)
Please note that this property does not have elevators. All guest rooms are accessible only by stairs. For your convenience, luggage will be delivered to your room upon arrival. If you have mobility concerns or need additional assistance, please let us know in advance so we can ensure a comfortable stay.
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)
Please note that this property does not have elevators. All guest rooms are accessible only by stairs. For your convenience, luggage will be delivered to your room upon arrival. If you have mobility concerns or need additional assistance, please let us know in advance so we can ensure a comfortable stay.
Limited number of one-bedded rooms, whether double or single occupancy. (3 nights)
Get the Brochure
All details about the Bordeaux trip are available in the PDF version of our brochure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trip Details
How do I reserve my spot?
A deposit of $1,000.00 (unless otherwise specified) is due to secure your space on the tour. Deposits are refundable up to 50% until 120 days prior to departure (unless otherwise specified).
When do I need to pay for my trip?
Your deposit is due upon reservation. Your final balance is due upon receipt of your invoice, 90 days prior to departure. If you are making a reservation within 90 days of the trip’s departure, full payment will be required upon confirmation.
How big will the group be?
Our trips have a maximum group size of 25 people. They are large enough to meet new people with diverse backgrounds, but small enough to be on a first-name basis with everyone.
Are solo travelers welcome?
Of course! There is always a good number of solo travelers on our trips, and they are welcomed with open arms. Group meals generally take place at medium to large tables, and our Travel Directors ensure that everyone is included in conversation. Because our trips are priced for doubles sharing a room, there is a supplemental cost for those who choose not to share.
How much free time should I expect to have?
Our trips are designed to give our travelers special insight and understanding of the places we visit. The talks and commentary by our hosts and local guides, in addition to time set aside for writing and reflection, are what make our itineraries special, and this kind of curated experience cannot be obtained on one’s own. For this reason, our trips generally do not incorporate long periods of free time during the day, although evenings and some meals will be at leisure.
Can I arrive early, or stay on after the tour ends?
Yes, absolutely! If you wish to arrive early at the first hotel on the itinerary or stay on at the last hotel, our Guest Services Advisors will be happy to advise you on the best way to make arrangements.
What do I need to bring on my trip?
We’ll send you a detailed clothing and equipment list well before departure so you know what you’ll need to pack. We provide the rest: comfortable accommodations, an engaging daily itinerary, expert trip management, and access to people and places that will thrill and delight you.
Once I reserve my trip, what happens next?
After you reserve your trip and pay your deposit, you will be sent a confirmation email with our Terms and Conditions, insurance information, and a Traveler Information Form from our Travel Management Company, Academic Travel Abroad. Your Guest Services Advisor will reach out when it’s time to book airfare after a minimum of 10 travelers have enrolled on your departure. Final trip details will be sent roughly 2-3 weeks before departure.
Rates and Cancellation Information
Are tips included?
Yes! Tips to local guides, restaurant staff, bell staff, and drivers are all included in the trip price. Your Trip Leader and Travel Director are taken care of and will not accept tips. The only time tips are not included is during free time and meals on your own, as well as for any personal services.
Are drinks included?
In addition to the tastings included in the itinerary, a couple glasses of wine are included for all group dinners. Any additional alcoholic beverages are not included in the program price. Non-alcoholic beverages are included in all meals.
Is airfare included?
Airfare to and from the starting and ending point of the program is not included in the price in order to give you maximum flexibility in choosing your preferences for air travel. This way you can use frequent flier upgrades, depart from your airport of choice, or add pre- and post- trip extensions with no constraints. Please refrain from booking your airfare until your Guest Services Advisor reaches out to confirm your departure.
What is your cancellation policy?
Deposits will be 50% refundable 120 days prior to departure. Cancellation between 119-91 days before departure: 100% of deposit is forfeited. Cancellation between 90-61 days, 50% of the Trip price is forfeited. Cancellation within 60 days of departure: no refund. You always have the option to transfer your deposit to a future Post and Courier Travel departure up until 90 days prior to departure with no penalty.
Health & Safety
Are you able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies?
Every effort will be made to try to accommodate any special dietary requests you may have (e.g., low salt, vegetarian or vegan). Please discuss your requests with us when signing up for a trip.
What are the physical requirements of this trip?
Travelers should be in good health and able to walk up to 3 miles (with stops) over uneven terrain and be able to navigate stairs unassisted. In city centers, we do try to walk from place to place due to traffic restrictions and also in keeping with our commitment to environmental sustainability.
Do I need trip insurance?
We strongly suggest purchasing travel insurance to help protect your investment and provide you with financial recourse in the event of trip cancellation or interruption due to sickness or quarantine. When purchasing a policy, please consult with a trip insurance agent to review what contingencies are covered. While we will do our best to recover any unused portion of your trip due to sickness, it is often the case that payments cannot be refunded. We recommend using our partner insurance provider, Travel Insurance Services, which offers three different policies for you to choose from.
What happens if I get sick on tour?
Our top priority is to keep our travelers, staff, and the communities we visit as healthy and safe as possible. Not only do we care about your well-being, but illness on tour alters the group dynamic, diverts staff attention, and interrupts the smooth functioning of the trip. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers to stay up to date with recommended vaccinations. Additionally, we encourage traveling with a mask and notifying your Tour Director immediately should you feel any symptoms of illness.
Let us take you there.
Wine Enthusiast’s Cork+Compass Travel is the magazine’s gateway to exceptional wine travel and tourism. Our philosophy is rooted in the mission of our parent company, Wine Enthusiast—to enhance the wine experience for all.