Outline Itinerary for Proposed Private Wine Tour For The Wine Society Dining Club To Left Bank, Bordeaux in 2018 Day One: Meet British Airways flight that lands Bordeaux Airport at 09.20 Transfer to Chateau Dutruch Grand Pujeaux in Moulis en Medoc for tasting and lunch at the estate. (Journey Time 1 hour). Continue to Hotel to Check in (journey 25 mins) Evening tasting at Chateau Batailley in Pauillac followed by dinner at the estate (journey time 10 mins). Return to the hotel after dinner. Meals: L / D Overnight: Pauillac or Margaux
Day Two: Breakfast at Hotel Morning tasting visit at Chateau Phelan Segur in St Estephe (journey 15 mins). Continue to St Julien for lunch with the Barton family at Chateau Leoville Barton (journey 20 mins). Return to Hotel (journey 10 mins) Either free evening in Pauillac or can add in another wine estate visit (see notes) Meals: B / L Overnight: Pauillac or Margaux Day Three: Breakfast at Hotel Morning Tasting at Chateau Pichon Comtesse in Pauillac classification (journey 5 mins) Tasting at Chateau Pichon Baron followed by a Buffet lunch at the Chateau (journey 2 mins on foot) Return to the hotel mid-afternoon (journey 5 mins) Early evening tasting at Chateau Lynch Bages (journey 7 mins on foot) Dinner at Lynch Bages Restaurant at Cordeillan Bages (journey 7 mins on foot) Meals: B / L / D Overnight: Pauillac or Margaux Day Four: Breakfast at Hotel and Check out Morning tasting visit at Chateau Margaux in Margaux (journey 35 minutes) Continue to central Bordeaux for free time over lunch and afternoon (journey 55 mins) (NB check in at hotel is not until 15.00 but luggage will be left with the concierge whilst you explore).
Evening tasting visit and dinner at Domaine de Chevalier in Graves (journey 45 mins) Return to hotel after dinner. Meals: B / D Overnight: Central Bordeaux Day Five: Breakfast at Hotel Transfer to Merignac Bordeaux Airport in time for BA flight that departs at 10.00 (journey time 30 minutes) Tour Ends. Meals: B Please note: The tour outline is only a proposal and no hotels or visits have yet been booked. Morning departures times will be 09.00 (except the last day). Notes on Hotel: In the Medoc, there are two options either the Relais de Margaux in Marguax which is a golf hotel with Spa. The rooms are a little chintzy but it avoids pointless travel to / from Bordeaux central (which can be hideous at the best of times due to the ring road) adding huge amounts of travel time daily. I used it last year for a London Livery Company and they were very happy with the hotel. The other option is Chateau Cordeillan Bages in Pauillac, which is lovely but might be on the expensive side. In Bordeaux, I would use the Four Star Hotel de Sezes and offer the Upgrade at the Five Star Le Grand Hotel (Intercontinental) which is directly opposite. Notes on Travel: Journey times are approximate intended as a helpful guide to your planning choices only. I have calculated journey times in the itinerary above for the Pauillac Hotel but there will not be much difference over the time on the Left Bank. BA flight timings are currently frightful: Outbound: Depart Gatwick at 06.45 land Bordeaux 09.20 Depart Gatwick at 20.35 land Bordeaux 23.10 Inbound: Depart Bordeaux at 10.00 land Gatwick 10.35 Depart Bordeaux at 22.55 land Gatwick 23.30
There are also Easyjet Flights as follows but am not sure how appealing this is to the group. These flights would ALL have to be booked by the clients individually. They also fly Luton to Bordeaux. Outbound: Depart Gatwick at 09.40 land Bordeaux 12.20 Depart Gatwick at 18.45 land Bordeaux 21.25 Inbound: Depart Bordeaux at 12.50 land Gatwick 13.30 Depart Bordeaux at 21.55 land Gatwick 22.30 As of June 2017, the new TGV fast train starts down to Bordeaux so this would be an appealing option for anyone who prefers a more relaxed start to their holiday. I would suggest that the tour does not include flights and we arrange to meet the early BA flight therefore anyone who wants to fly with a more reasonable check in can fly out the da beforehand and meet at Bordeaux airport it is a short taxi ride to the centre of town and there is a very good and frequent bus shuttle that stop within walking distance of the hotel. Notes on Dates / Days of the Week: I would suggest that the tour goes Monday Friday. The Bordelaise are not good at weekend visits. If we use the Cordeillan Bages, I need to check but their main restaurant is only open on Wednesday which is fine (usually is One or Two Michelin Star they have new Chef am sure will have Star back again after revamp). Notes on Meals: Whilst most clients would prefer there only to be one included meal (either lunch or dinner) plus breakfast each day, the problem on the Left Bank is the absence of any big towns and so there is nothing to do much except relax at the hotel when at tastings which is quite nice and relaxed but does mean that meal options for non- included meals are limited. Ie meal on second evening, we could perhaps do a cheese / wine snack at the hotel rather than a full meal? If staying at Cordeillan Bages then they have a very good Bistro so free evening there is possible. Notes on Visits: I have taken advice from Tim (Bordeaux Buyer at The Wine Society) for estates with whom the WS has particularly strong links. Of the above estates, I have added in from my own choice Pichon Comtesse / Pichon Baron/Margaux. Tim says he has strong links all over the Left Bank so deals with a wide range and I thought these estates would balance out the range of visits. Love Wine Food Ltd Petersfield, Hampshire April 2017 Company Registration Number 9689025 Tel: 07810 371 633 Email: cmh@lovewinefood.com
Outline Itinerary for Proposed Private Wine Tour For The Wine Society Dining Club in 2018 Right Bank Bordeaux Day One: Meet British Airways flight that lands Bordeaux Airport at 09.20 Transfer for visit, tasting and lunch at Domaine de Chevalier in Graves (journey 35 mins) Continue to hotel for Check in (journey 1 hour) Evening tasting and dinner at Chateau Angelus (journey 10 minutes) Meals: L / D Overnight: St Emilion
Day Two: Breakfast at the Hotel Morning tasting visit at Chateau Climens in Barsac (journey 1 hour) Lunchtime tasting & lunch at Chateau Doisy Daene in Barsac (5 minutes on foot or hop on coach) Return to Hotel for free evening in St Emilion (journey 1 hour) Meals: B / L Overnight: St Emilion Day Three: Breakfast at the Hotel Optional Guided walking Tour of St Emilion Late morning departure for Chateau Pitray in Cotes de Castillon for tasting and lunch (journey 25 minutes) Return to Hotel (journey 25 minutes) Evening tasting and dinner at one of J P Moieux properties (Pomerol / St Emilion) (Journey 10 mins) Meals: B / L/ D Overnight: St Emilion Day Four: Breakfast at the Hotel & Check Out Morning tasting visit at Chateau de la Grave in Bourg (journey 45 minutes) Continue to central Bordeaux for free time over lunch and afternoon (journey 35 mins) (NB check in at hotel is not until 15.00 but luggage will be left with the concierge whilst you explore). Evening tasting and dinner at Chateau Smith Haut Lafite in Graves (journey 30 minutes) Meals: B / D Overnight: Central Bordeaux
Day Five: Breakfast at the Hotel Transfer to Merignac Bordeaux Airport in time for BA flight that departs at 10.00 (journey time 30 minutes) Tour Ends. Meals: B Please note: The tour outline is only a proposal and no hotels or visits have yet been booked. Morning departures times will be 09.00 Notes on Hotel: In St Emilion there are several options including the Four Star Grand Barreil or the Five Star Hostellerie de Plaisance. In Bordeaux, I would use the Four Star Hotel de Sezes and offer the Upgrade at the Five Star Le Grand Hotel (Intercontinental) which is directly opposite. Notes on Travel: Journey times are approximate intended as a helpful guide to your planning choices only. BA flight timings are currently frightful: Outbound: Depart Gatwick at 06.45 land Bordeaux 09.20 Depart Gatwick at 20.35 land Bordeaux 23.10 Inbound: Depart Bordeaux at 10.00 land Gatwick 10.35 Depart Bordeaux at 22.55 land Gatwick 23.30 There are also Easyjet Flights as follows but am not sure how appealing this is to the group. These flights would ALL have to be booked by the clients individually. They also fly Luton to Bordeaux. Outbound: Depart Gatwick at 09.40 land Bordeaux 12.20 Depart Gatwick at 18.45 land Bordeaux 21.25 Inbound: Depart Bordeaux at 12.50 land Gatwick 13.30 Depart Bordeaux at 21.55 land Gatwick 22.30 As of June 2017, the new TGV fast train starts down to Bordeaux so this would be an appealing option for anyone who prefers a more relaxed start to their holiday.
I would suggest that the tour does not include flights and we arrange to meet the early BA flight therefore anyone who wants to fly with a more reasonable check in can fly out the day beforehand and meet at Bordeaux airport. It is a short taxi ride to the centre of town and there is a very good and frequent bus shuttle that stop within walking distance of the hotel. Notes on Dates / Days of the Week: Normally I would suggest that the tour goes Monday Friday. The Bordelaise are not good at weekend visits. Notes on Meals: Whilst most clients would prefer there only to be one included meal (either lunch or dinner) plus breakfast each day, I have included a free evening but as St Emilion is quite small, do not wish to overkill free time. Notes on Visits: I have taken advice from Tim (Bordeaux Buyer at The Wine Society) for estates with whom the WS has particularly strong links and all of the above are Tim s choice of WS suppliers except Angelus and Smith haut Lafite, whom I have added in on top of his original list. Love Wine Food Ltd Petersfield, Hampshire April 2017 Company Registration Number 9689025 Tel: 07810 371 633 Email: cmh@lovewinefood.com
Outline Itinerary for Proposed Private Wine Tour For The Wine Society Dining Club Left and Right Bank Bordeaux in 2018 Day One: Meet British Airways flight that lands Bordeaux Airport at 09.20 Transfer to Chateau Belgrave in the Haut Medoc for tasting visit and lunch at the estate (journey 1 hr 10 mins) Continue to Hotel to Check in (journey 15 mins) Evening tasting at Chateau Batailley in Pauillac followed by dinner at the estate (journey 10 mins). Return to the hotel after dinner. Meals: L / D Overnight: Pauillac or Margaux Day Two: Breakfast at the Hotel Morning tasting in Margaux at a Neogiciant, for a range of wines across the classifications (Journey 30 mins) Continue to St Julien for lunch with the Barton family at Chateau Leoville Barton (journey 15 mins). Return to the hotel mid-afternoon (journey 10 mins)
Early evening tasting at Chateau Lynch Bages (journey 7 mins on foot) Dinner at Lynch Bages Restaurant at Cordeillan Bages (journey 7 mins on foot) Meals: B / L / D Overnight: Pauillac or Margaux Day Three: Breakfast at the Hotel and Check Out Morning tasting in St Julien / Pauillac - estate TBC (journey time 10 mins) Transfer to Chateau Dutruch Grand Pujeaux in Moulis en Medoc for tasting and lunch at the estate. (Journey 15 mins). Continue to central Bordeaux for free time over lunch and afternoon (journey 55 mins) (NB check in at hotel is not until 15.00 but luggage will be left with the concierge whilst you explore). Free evening in Bordeaux. Meals: B / L Overnight: Central Bordeaux Day Four: Breakfast at the Hotel Morning visit and Lunchtime tasting and lunch at one of J P Moieux properties (Pomerol / St Emilion) (Journey 55 mins) Free time in St Emilion Return to hotel (Journey 55 mins) Evening tasting visit and dinner at Domaine de Chevalier in Graves (journey 45 mins) Return to hotel after dinner. Meals: B / L / D Overnight: Central Bordeaux
Day Five: Breakfast at the Hotel Transfer to Merignac Bordeaux Airport in time for BA flight that departs at 10.00 (journey time 30 minutes) Tour Ends. Meals: B Please note: The tour outline is only a proposal and no hotels or visits have yet been booked. Morning departures times will be 09.00 (except the last day). Notes on Hotel: In the Medoc, there are two options either the Relais de Margaux in Margaux which is a golf hotel with Spa. The rooms are a little chintzy but it avoids pointless travel to / from Bordeaux central (which can be hideous at the best of times due to the ring road) adding huge amounts of travel time daily. I used it last year for a London Livery Company and the location worked well. The other option is Chateau Cordeillan Bages in Pauillac, which is lovely but might be on the expensive side. In Bordeaux, I would use the Four Star Hotel de Sezes and offer the Upgrade at the Five Star Le Grand Hotel (Intercontinental) which is directly opposite. Notes on Travel: Journey times are approximate intended as a helpful guide to your planning choices only. I have calculated journey times in the itinerary above for the Pauillac Hotel but there will not be much difference over the time for the Margaux hotel. BA flight timings are currently frightful: Outbound: Depart Gatwick at 06.45 land Bordeaux 09.20 Depart Gatwick at 20.35 land Bordeaux 23.10 Inbound: Depart Bordeaux at 10.00 land Gatwick 10.35 Depart Bordeaux at 22.55 land Gatwick 23.30 There are also Easyjet Flights as follows but am not sure how appealing this is to the group. These flights would ALL have to be booked by the clients individually. They also fly Luton to Bordeaux. Outbound: Depart Gatwick at 09.40 land Bordeaux 12.20 Depart Gatwick at 18.45 land Bordeaux 21.25
Inbound: Depart Bordeaux at 12.50 land Gatwick 13.30 Depart Bordeaux at 21.55 land Gatwick 22.30 As of June 2017, the new TGV fast train starts down to Bordeaux so this would be an appealing option for anyone who prefers a more relaxed start to their holiday. I would suggest that the tour does not include flights and we arrange to meet the early BA flight therefore anyone who wants to fly with a more reasonable check in can fly out the day beforehand and meet at Bordeaux airport. It is a short taxi ride to the centre of town and there is a very good and frequent bus shuttle that stop within walking distance of the hotel. Notes on Dates / Days of the Week: Normally I would suggest that the tour goes Monday Friday. The Bordelaise are not good at weekend visits. If we use the Cordeillan Bages, then we would need to start on a Tuesday as their main restaurant is only open on Wednesday which is fine as last day of the tour would be Saturday and flight airport transfer only. If stay at Relais de Margaux then we could do Monday Friday. Notes on Meals: Whilst most clients would prefer there only to be one included meal (either lunch or dinner) plus breakfast each day, the problem on the Left Bank is the absence of any big towns and so there is nothing to do much except relax at the hotel when at tastings which is quite nice and relaxed but does mean that meal options for non- included meals are limited. Ie meal on second evening, we could perhaps do a cheese / wine snack at the hotel rather than a full meal? If staying at Cordeillan Bages then they have a very good Bistro so free evening there is possible. Notes on Visits: I have taken advice from Tim (Bordeaux Buyer at The Wine Society) for estates with whom the WS has particularly strong links and all of the above are Tim s choice of WS suppliers. I have only put one visit in on the Right Bank day as JP Moieux are the supplier for the WS s Pomerol and Exhibition St Emilion so suspect they will want to put on quite a tasting but can add in an additional visit beforehand if required. Love Wine Food Ltd Petersfield, Hampshire April 2017 Company Registration Number 9689025 Tel: 07810 371 633 Email: cmh@lovewinefood.com