There are thousands of wineries and more than 270,000 acres of grapes under vine in Bordeaux. The wider region consists famously of the Left Bank and Right Bank regions, situated on either side of the Gironde River.
Traditionally, Bordeaux wines are blends — Left Bank wines are typically dominated by cabernet sauvignon, and Right Bank wines are ruled by merlot.
Beyond wine, the city offers impressive museums, stunning neoclassical buildings, gorgeous river walks, and many farm-to-table bistros and wine bars.
I’ve spent days just strolling around Bordeaux, running into architectural masterpieces and hole-in-the-wall wine shops with hundreds of coveted, impossible-to-buy-elsewhere bottles.
Plus, it’s just a two-hour train ride from Paris, making it an excellent stop if you want to experience local wine culture during a trip to the City of Lights.
Don’t miss this winery: If you’re just swooping into Bordeaux for a brief trip, head to Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
Visits are by reservation only, and include tours of the winery’s own Museum of Wine in Art with exceptional rarities and original artworks created by contemporary painters for Mouton Rothschild’s famous, unique labels for each vintage.
