Morning:  FREE

Afternoon:  The trip begins in downtown Bordeaux (easily reached by air or high-speed rail from Paris).   We’ll head north of the city to the Medoc area, the epicenter of Bordeaux’s cabernet-based wines.  Chateau Beychevelle, one of the esteemed Grand Cru wineries, has been leased and will be our home base for the next four nights.  Known as the “Versailles of the Medoc,” Beychevelle is one of the most stunning winemaking chateaux in France.   Our inaugural affair will be a private tour and tasting at one of the Medoc’s highest-rated Grand Cru producers.

Morning:   World-class may be an understatement as today we visit Chateau Latour.   Known for producing consistently exceptional wines, Latour has received accolades from wine critics around the globe and is considered to be one of the world’s top wines.

Afternoon:  Lunch will be on your own at one of the many waterside bistros in the famous wine village of Pauillac.   Next, a pilgrimage to what many oenophiles consider mecca, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild.   In addition to a private tour and tasting, we will visit Baron Rothschild’s extravagant museum housing a priceless collection of wine-related art---a visit here is an absolute must for any wine or art lover.

Morning:  We’ll start off at Chateau Lynch-Bages with a step back in time with two different venues.  First, we’ll tour the winery’s extraordinary museum of Bordeaux’s illustrious winemaking past.  Then, we’ll visit the recently restored village of Bages.   Completely deserted until recently, the entire hamlet has been totally renovated by the owners of Lynch-Bages and is now a thriving village for the gourmand. To top it all off, there will be a private tasting of at Chateau Lynch-Bages.

Afternoon:  Next, we head to another of the crown jewels of the Medoc, Chateau Pichon Longueville.  Well known for its Grand Cru wines, the Chateau also has a drop-dead fabulous collection of museum quality porcelain, in addition to a setting that will take your breath away.   A private tasting will be held overlooking the Chateau’s attractive gardens.

Morning:  FREE

Afternoon:  No trip to Bordeaux would be complete without a visit to one of its most famous villages, Margaux.  You’ll have time to explore the shops…many are filled with precious hard-to-find vintages of the leading chateaux, as well as gourmet culinary products. Next, we’ll have a private tour and tasting at what many consider the pinnacle of Bordeaux, Chateau Margaux.   Producing highly acclaimed wines, this chateau is a fitting last stop to toast our farewell to the Medoc region.   Last, we’ll stop at a supermarche (supermarket)…a perfect spot to buy gifts for foodie friends back home.

Morning:  An hour from the Medoc zone of Bordeaux, St Emilion is home to the planet’s most revered Merlot-based wines.  Our first stop will be at a benchmark winery where the private tasting just may knock your socks off.

Afternoon:  You’ll be free to enjoy the enchanting medieval town of St Emilion, or simply relax at our dazzling wine-making chateau.

Morning:  Today we’ll journey further east along the breathtaking Dordogne River to the charming town of Sarlat.  Replete with some of the best-preserved medieval buildings in the country, Sarlat has served as the movie set for numerous Hollywood films.   But the real purpose of our visit is the town’s celebrated weekly food market offering a cornucopia of South West France’s best food products.

Afternoon:  For lunch we’ll visit a nearby duck and goose farm but, this is not just any farm.  This famous farm has been known to host many of Europe’s Michelin star chefs who come to learn about foie gras and the farm cuisine of yesteryear.

Morning:  It doesn’t get any more extraordinary than this.  We’ll begin the day at a Champagne breakfast with the Mayor and other international dignitaries to celebrate the beginning of the harvest.   Widely covered by television stations, the harvest festival is one of the top wine-related galas in France.  Next, we’ll accompany the Mayor and top winemakers to the Cathedral for the official blessing of the 2012 vintage.  Then, we’ll be guests at a private ceremony of St Emilion’s VIP wine society, the Jurade.   Dressed in medieval regalia, the Jurade is one of the oldest wine institutions in the world.

Afternoon:  Now, to really blow your mind, today’s finale will include a killer lunch with the Jurade wine society in a medieval palace.   This once-in-a-lifetime event will include an astounding collection of wines, compliments of the region’s megastar winemakers.

Morning:  Onward we journey to the southern-most part of Bordeaux’s vast wine district.   We’ll begin in the Graves area, home of voluptuous whites and earth-shaking reds.   A private tasting will be held at one of the mover-and-shaker wineries of international acclaim.

Afternoon:  Next, we’ll head to the neighboring Sauternes district.  While most people think of Sauternes for only dessert, these luscious wines pair beautifully with buttery foods as lobster or foie gras.  The remainder of the afternoon is free.

Morning:  Free….we suggest a walk to the nearby village of Sauternes.

Afternoon:  Private tasting at one of the most respected producers of Sauternes.

Morning:  Free time.

Afternoon:  Lillet, one of our most favorite aperitifs, is produced in Bordeaux and today we will visit the factory in which it is made.  Created from Bordeaux grapes, it may very well become your fave as well.  Then, we’ll move on to one of the benchmark producers of Graves wines for an impressive private tour of their knock-out grounds, followed by a private tasting.