Pauillac, France

Bordeaux Wine & Barrels

Visits to French Coopers and Winemakers Learn how wine barrels are made and enjoy the vintage in which they are aged on this insightful excursion. Cross the Gironde Estuary by ferry, then drive to Blanquet, home to the barrel maker Morlier. Take a guided tour of the workshop and see how wood slats are shaped into casks designed to age fine Bordeaux wines. Continue to Château Léoville-Poyferre; located on the Gironde Estuary, it takes advantage of the pebbly earth that regulates soil temperature. Tour its cellars and sip its wines with artisanal cheese. After lunch in Margaux, continue to Château Paloumey. Though the house has been here since the early 1800s, the phylloxera crisis and the war shut the vineyard down; it was reopened in 1989. You will sample the results during a tour of the cellars and a tasting. Afterward, pass the famous Château Margaux en route to Château Kirwan, where you will enjoy dinner. * Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.