I’ll be honest with you, choosing the best wineries to visit in Bordeaux is an impossible task! The Bordeaux wine region is home to around 6,000 wineries with many being open for visits. Bordeaux has more than 60 AOCs (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) prodicing very different types of wines. So choosing a winery to visit will depend on your taste as well as how far you’re willing to travel.
In this article, I wanted to be very inclusive and give representation to the most famous appelations you should be visiting. From each of these, I chose one or two wineries I particularly enjoyed visiting. All the wineries on my list offer tours in English which are very easy to book.
If you’re new to this region, I recommend reading my Guide to the Bordeaux wine region first. However, the most important thing to know is that the Bordeaux wine region is largely divided into three parts: the right bank, the left bank, and Entre Deux Mers. In this article you’ll learn about each of these regions and by the end of this article you’ll be able to choose the best winery to visit in Bordeaux.
How to get to Bordeaux’s wineries:
Before we start, let me say a few words about the best ways to visit wineries in Bordeaux. You have plenty of guided tours from Bordeaux to some of the best wineries in the region. So if you want a hassle-free experience, you can choose one of the tours from my Best Wine Tours in Bordeaux article.
In case you’re using my list to build your own tour, then you’ll need to rent a car to get to most of the wineries here. Alternatively, you can also find quite a few great wineries you can get to by train/ bus in my article about wineries to visit by public transport. One such winery is Château Pape Clément which you’ll find in this article.
Now let’s dive in and discover the best 12 wineries to visit in the Bordeaux wine region.
Bordeaux wineries to visit on the right bank – rive droite of the Dordogne
The right bank (rive droite) of the Bordeaux wine region covers all the vineyards located on the right bank of the Dordogne River and the Estuary of Gironde. The wines from that region showcase Merlot-dominant blends celebrated for their velvety texture and aging potential. These wines often embody a harmonious balance of fruitiness and structure, reflecting the terroir of the region.
There are quite a few appellations on the right bank but here I’m going to talk about the most famous ones: Saint Emilion, Pomerol, and Fronssac. It’s really hard to choose just a few wineries to visit from this region as there are so many great ones! So I ended up including the ones I most enjoyed visiting this year! If you want to visit more wineries in this region, check out my list of wineries to visit in Saint Emilion.
Château de la Rivière, Fronsac appellation
The stunning Château de la Rivière, overlooking the Dordogne valley, is an award-winning winery in the Fronsac appellation. It’s one of the biggest vineyards in the region, covering an area of 100 hectares and producing both red and white wines.
The visit itself is particularly interesting here and you get to wander around their 16th century defensive fortress. The bottles are kept in caves dug in the 19th century that you visit with flashlights.
Château de la Rivière is one of the best wineries to visit with kids in the Bordeaux wine region. And you can even spend a night there, as the chateau owns a beautiful B&B with a pool overlooking the vineyards. So if you want to make it a weekend experience you can book it here.
Château de la Rivière is open for visits all year from Monday to Saturday, by appointment only. Book your visit here.
Château de Sales, Pomerol appellation
Pomerol is a very small appellation with boutique wineries covering approximately 800 hectares. It’s home to renowned estates like Pétrus and generally produces some of the world’s most coveted and luxurious red wines.
Château de Sales is one of the biggest and most impressive domains in the Pomerol appellation. Its 90s-hectare property makes it the biggest vineyard in the AOC Pomerol. They are known for Merlot-dominated wines blended with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, to create a very elegant texture.
Château de Sales is a family-owned winery, entirely passed down from generation to generation for almost five centuries. The beautiful manor house was built in the 17th century and has been listed as a Historic Monument in France since 1996. Their tasing room on the other hand is very modern and nicely designed.
The chateau offers a variety of touristic experiences: you can discover the chateau, do a wine and chocolate pairing workshop, a wine and cheese pairing, and even a cycling tour in the vineyards. All of these experiences include wine tasting of course!
Château de Sales is open from Tuesday to Saturday (and closed on bank holidays), you must book a tour to visit it.
Address: 11 Chem. de Sales, 33500 Libourne
Chateau de Bernateau, Saint-Émilion Grands Crus
Château Bernateau is a family-run winery owned by the 11th generation of the Lavau family. The tours are run by the lovely Karine who is married to one of the sons running the family business.
On their best visit, called From the Vine to the Cellar, you get to discover a variety of old and baby vines and tour their beautiful vat room. The tour ends with a tasting session of 3 Saint Emilion Grands Crus to understand the differences in terroirs and the evolution of the wines.
It’s not one of the fancy chateaux of Saint Emilion but if you want to visit a family-owned winery this is a great choice. Around their traditional stone house, you’ll find a charming garden and a small playhouse for kids. A perfect place for a relaxed visit which you can also end with a picnic in the garden.
They are open daily and offer tours in English and French. Click here to book a tour online.
Address: Château Bernateau, 33330 Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse
Château Cadet Bon, Saint-Émilion Grands Crus
Château Cadet Bon is a small winery (7 hectares), located within a few minutes walk from the center of Saint Emilion. It has been producing classic Saint Emilion wine since 1867. Six of the seven hectares are planted on a single block on a hill overlooking the medieval town. Their dominant grape is Merlot blended with about 20% of Cabernet Franc grapes.
In 2001 the chateau was bought by Michele and Guy Richard who renovated the property and turned it into a Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé. In 2017, the owners started the transformation to create only organic wines.
Château Cadet Bon offers several tours. The small group tour includes a tasting of three wines accompanied by a detailed explanation. You can also enjoy a comparative experience where you get to taste other wines from Saint Emilion and Pomerol and compare them to Château Cadet Bon. They also offer a wine-tasting workshop, an amazing opportunity to deepen your understanding of how to properly taste wine.
You can book each one of these activities here.
Address: Au Cadet, 33330 Saint-Émilion.
Chateau de Ferrand, Grand Cru Classé
The impressive Château de Ferrand is located about 6km from the center of Saint-Émilion. The domain occupies 32 hectares, which is considered a big winery in Saint Emilion.
The tour takes you through the vineyard and the big wine cellars. Part of the visit also includes the history of the Château which dates back to the 17th century. There are two beautifully designed tasting rooms that they have recently finished renovating.
Most of the wineries I tend to include in my articles are smaller cozy wine estates, but it’s definitely not the case of Château de Ferrand. It’s much more professional and the wine-tasting part is conducted by a professional sommelier who will teach you how to taste wine.
Château de Ferrand offers a variety of visits, masterclasses, and wine-related events throughout the year. You can see them all here.
Address: Château de Ferrand, Saint-Hippolyte, 33330 Saint Emilion
Château La Croizzille, Grand Cru Classé
Situated on the elevated grounds of the Saint Emilion plateau, the Château La Croizille occupies one of the most fertile terroirs within the appellation. It’s a small winery, occupying only 5 hectares split between different plots with an important soil variety.
Château la Croizille offers a fascinating journey combining old and new. The modern château stands right next to the traditional Château of Tour Baladoz, owned by the same family.
Their basic tour allows you to discover the differences between traditional and more innovative techniques of winemaking. One of the highlights of this tour is the amazing view from the tasting room overlooking the vineyards from the top.
You can also enjoy a gourmet tour and combine the wine tasting with tapas on their terrace. And on sunny days, you can also book a wine tour with a picnic for lunch.
Click here to book a tour at Château la Croizille.
Address: lieu-dit Baladoz, 33330 Saint-Laurent des Combes
Bordeaux wineries to visit on the left bank – rive gauche of the Garonne river
The left bank (rive gauche) area of the Bordeaux wine region covers all the vineyards located on the left bank of the Garonne River and the Estuary of Gironde. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon-driven, these wines are known for their structure, tannic backbone, and aging potential. The terroir imparts a sense of minerality and complexity, with each appellation contributing unique characteristics.
The left bank is home to the famous Medoc appellation from the north and the Graves and Pessac-Leognan appellations in the southern part. In that huge sub-region, you can also find the Sauternes appellation which is renowned for its white sweet wines. My list includes at least one winery from every appellation mentioned here.
Château Lamothe Bergeron in Medoc
There’s no lack of amazing wineries to visit in Medoc so choosing only one is really challenging. I have a list dedicated to chateaux in Medoc so in case you need a bit more to choose from take a look at that. However, Château Lamothe Bergeron was my choice for this list mostly due to its great selection of visiting experiences. And it’s also open all year round, which is usually not the case in Medoc.
The stunning Château Lamothe Bergeron is located in Cussac-Fort-Médoc between Margaux and Saint Julian. The Cru Bourgeois classified winery produces Haut Medoc wine, using Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot as their only grape varieties.
The winery offers a variety of tours and activities that can fit both wine amateurs and professionals. You can choose anything from wine-tasting training to a cellar visit, a gourmet visit, and more.
Château Lamothe Bergeron is open every day from April to October and Mon – Fri from November to Mars. See all the available tours here.
Address: 49 Chem. des Graves, 33460 Cussac-Fort-Médoc
Château Pape Clément, Pessac-Leognan
Château Pape Clément is a Grand Cru Classé wine labeled under the Pessac Leognan appellation. It’s one of the most beautiful chateaux to visit in Bordeaux and the only one on this list you can easily visit by tram/bus from the city center.
The vineyards of Château Pape Clément were planted at the request of the Archbishop of Bordeaux, the future Pope Clement V. The château itself was built much later and has beautiful Neo-Gothic embellishments. Today apart from producing wine it’s also one of the most beautiful luxury hotels in Bordeaux.
Château Pape Clément offers daily visits in both French and English as well as winemaking workshops where you can assemble your own wine. The winery is open daily most of the year. You can see all the available tours here.
Address: 216 Av. Dr. Nancel Penard, 33600 Pessac
Château de Cerons in Graves
Château de Cerons is one of the more impressive properties to visit in the Bordeaux wine region. The château is a historical Chartreuse (little house) dating back to the 17th century. The winery produces both red and white dry wines from their 30-hectare vineyard.
The Chateau offers a range of different visits that include wine tasting, picnic baskets with regional products, and even a tour with a nap 🙂
It’s one of the more kids-friendly wineries in the region. You can rent bikes at the château and go on a beautiful rural path discovering the heritage of the village and the Garonne River. If you want to discover other kid-friendly options, check out my dedicated list.
Château de Cerons is open Mon to Sat from May to October and Mon to Fri from November to April – you can book a tour here.
Address: 1 Latour, 33720 Cérons
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in the Sauternes appellation
The Sauternes appellation has quite a lot to offer when it comes to beautiful wineries but to me, the most impressive one is Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey. Located in the tiny village of Bomme, it’s one of the oldest chateaux in the region, dating back to the 13th century.On the domain, you can also find a Michelin-star restaurant and one of the best wine hotels in the region.
The Château with its 18.5 hectares is located on a hill, 70 m above sea level. Just next to it, you can find one of the most prestigious wineries of Bordeaux, Château d’Yquem.
Apart from the discovery tour they also offer a wine pairing experience guided by the chef or their Michelin restaurant.Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is open every day in the high season and from Thursday to Monday in the low season. You can visit the winery by appointment only.
Book your tour in Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey here.
Best wineries to visit in the Entre deux Mers wine region – Bordeaux’s white wines
Entre deux Mers is the biggest wine region in Bordeaux and funny enough it’s actually dedicated to white wines! Wines labeled under the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation are typically dry white wines, and they are often blends of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes. The name Entre-Deux-Mers translates to “between two seas,” referring to its location between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers.
While many wineries in this region still produce red and rosé wines, only their white ones can be labeled as Entre deux meres AOC. The red wine in this region will usually be labeled under the Bordeaux or Bordeaux Supérieur AOCs.
Château de Camarsac
The imposing Château de Camarsac is nicknamed Château du Prince Noir (Castle of the Black Prince). Construction of the castle started in 1312, and the structure underwent significant alterations and modernizations from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
The domain produces everything from whites, roses, three types of reds, and even their own beer. The winery offers three tours: A guided tour with wine tasting, a Panoramic tour with a visit to the 14th-century restored dungeon as well a blending workshop.
The castle is located in the little village of Camarsac located about 15 km from Bordeaux, which makes it an easy gateway from the city. From time to time they also organize fun events for both adults and kids. Château de Camarsac is open for visits all year long, by appointment only.
You can see and book all their tours here.
Address: Castle Camarsac, 30 Rte de Bergerac, 33750 Camarsac
Château le Grand Verdus
Last but not least on our wineries in Bordeaux list is Château le Grand Verdus, located in Sadirac, about 20 km from Bordeaux. The beautiful property was built in the 16th century and has been owned by the Le Grix de la Salle family since 1820. Today the winery is run by Antoine and Thomas Le Grix de la Salle who have inherited all their winemaking knowledge from their family.
Château le Grand Verdus produces organic wines in their vineyards that occupy 114 hectares. Their wines include all reds, whites, and rose from the following appelations: Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux Blanc, and Bordeaux Rosé. Their wines are very easy to drink and are perfect for the hot days of Bordeaux.
Château le Grand Verdus is open from Monday to Friday. You can choose between their discovery tour, a visit dedicated to producing white wines (quite rare in Bordeaux), and the same for red ones. You can see and book all their tours here.
In the summer they also have an outdoor wine bar with concerts twice a week. See all the details here.
Address: Château Le, Grand Verdus, 33670 Sadirac
Is it you’re first time visiting the Bordeaux wine region? Here are a few tips
If you want to spend the night at a Bordeaux vineyard. Check out my article about the best wine hotels in Bordeaux. If you’re visiting the region with kids you can combine it with a trip to one of the family-friendly wineries in Bordeaux.
Here are more Bordeaux wine-related articles you may find useful!
A detailed guide to the Bordeaux wine region
A day trip to Saint Emilion
Wineries to visit in Saint Emilion
Wineries to visit in the Sauternes wine region
Wineries in Bordeaux to visit by public transport
A weekend in Medoc
Best wineries to visit in Medoc
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of Francevia Lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
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