★★★★★
Private Médoc day in a Citroën DS
Riding in the DS was a highlight of the trip and one of the most comfortable rides going. The owner does the driving and shares a lot of knowledge on the way.
Steve N. · May 2024
Bordeaux France Médoc Day in a 1973 Citroën DS Convertible
Tasting fees extraThe MédocYour group onlyHotel pickup
The day to book if the drive matters as much as the wine. Your chauffeur-guide collects you in Bordeaux in a 1973 Citroën DS convertible, and only your party rides. You choose a half day or a full day on the Médoc's châteaux road. The tastings are yours to pick, and you pay each château when you arrive.
The Route des Châteaux in a 1973 Citroën DS
A 1973 DS convertible
The classic Citroën with its roof down, and a chauffeur-guide at the wheel.
Your party only
A private day for up to eight, collected from your hotel or flat in Bordeaux.
Margaux and Saint-Julien
Past Château Margaux and Château Beychevelle on both lengths of day.
Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe
Added on the full day, to the far end of the châteaux road.
Tastings you choose
Your chauffeur-guide suggests estates to suit your taste; the fee is paid there.
5.0 from 49 reviews
48 five-star reviews and one four-star, for the car and the knowledge.
Half day or full day on the châteaux road
You pick the length when you book. The half day runs four to five hours and takes you north through Margaux and Saint-Julien. Margaux holds 21 of the red growths ranked in 1855, more than any other appellation, from Château Margaux, a First Growth, down to the fifth rank. In Saint-Julien, eleven growths of 1855 make 90% of the wine, and the car passes Château Beychevelle.
The full day runs eight to nine hours and goes on to Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe at the end of the road. Pauillac alone has 18 growths of 1855, three of them First Growths: Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild. If you want the whole road, book the full day; the half day does not reach Pauillac. The banks and the ranks are laid out on the Bordeaux vineyards page.
Tastings you choose, paid at the château
This is the fact to read before you compare fares. Your fare covers the car, bottled water and a chauffeur-guide who knows the wines. It does not cover the tastings. You pay each château on the day, typically EUR 10 to 60 a person per estate, and lunch is at your own expense too. In return, the day is built around what you like to drink.
A traveller collected from a rented apartment had private tastings booked at two wineries. Another had the whole day planned, lunch at a winery included. If you would rather settle everything up front, a Médoc day with the tastings in the fare is below. Still deciding on your Bordeaux France reservation? Every fare sits side by side, per person and per car.
What you can buy on board
The car carries a few extras you can buy on the way: a bottle of Grand Cru champagne for EUR 50, a half-bottle of white wine for EUR 25 and a box of eight canelés, Bordeaux's caramel-crusted cakes, for EUR 15. None is in the fare, and none is required.
How the day runs, half or full
- Pickup in Bordeaux. At your hotel or flat; the operator offers custom pickup points.
- North on the châteaux road. Roof down, with your guide on the wines as you go.
- Margaux. A stop in front of Château Margaux, the appellation's First Growth.
- Saint-Julien. Past Château Beychevelle and the estates of the commune.
- Your tastings. At the estates you chose, paid at each one.
- Full day only: Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. The far end of the road, and back.
- Drop-off in Bordeaux. Four to five hours after pickup, or eight to nine.
Who this suits: couples and small groups who want the drive itself
Book this if
You want a private day in the Médoc with an occasion to it: an anniversary, a honeymoon, a milestone. It suits couples and parties of up to eight who like to choose their own châteaux, and travellers who need an accessible car: the transport is wheelchair accessible, with pushchair access and infant seats.
Book something else if
You want the tastings paid up front: the private Médoc half day includes two wineries' tasting fees, and the Médoc day in a Citroën 2CV includes two châteaux for up to three people. For Saint-Émilion instead, the private Saint-Émilion half day collects you too. For a lower fare with both banks, the shared day in Saint-Émilion and Margaux costs $206. Every private day sits on private tours from Bordeaux.
What the fare covers and what it doesn't
In the fare
- Bottled water
- Private transportation
- Local chauffeur-guide, wine expert
Not in the fare
- Bottle of champagne Grand Cru: 50€
- Wine tasting fee at your own expense (typically 10 to 60€ per person / chateau)
- Half-bottle of white wine: 25€
- Box of 8 Canelés de Bordeaux: 15€
- Gratuities
- Lunch
The pickup at your door in Bordeaux
There is no kerb to find. Your chauffeur-guide collects you in Bordeaux, from your hotel or a flat, and you give the address when you book. The operator allows custom pickup points in the city, so ask if you are arriving from a cruise ship or a station.
If you book within two days of your date, your confirmation can take up to 48 hours, so book early for a fixed date. The day ends back in Bordeaux, at the address you choose.
Know before you go
- Budget for the tastings. Typically EUR 10 to 60 a person at each château, paid there.
- Budget for lunch. It is at your own expense; your guide can plan the stop with you.
- Pick the length first. Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe are on the full day only.
- Travelling with a baby? Infant seats and pushchair access are available; say so when you book.
- Book ahead. Inside two days, confirmation can take up to 48 hours.
- Tips are extra. Gratuities are not in the fare.
What travellers say about the DS day
★★★★★
Private Médoc day in a Citroën DS
Good communication before the day, and collected exactly on time at a rented apartment in Bordeaux. Private tastings were booked at two wineries, and the ride in the car was very comfortable.
Stefanie S. · April 2024
★★★★★
Private Médoc day in a Citroën DS
The whole day was planned, lunch at a winery included, and people turned to watch the car go by.
Jeremy X. · September 2023
Frequently asked questions
Are the wine tastings included?
No. The fare covers the car, bottled water and your chauffeur-guide. You pay each château's tasting on the day, typically EUR 10 to 60 a person per estate.
What is the difference between the half day and the full day?
The half day, four to five hours, reaches Margaux and Saint-Julien. The full day, eight to nine hours, adds Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe.
Is there a day with the tastings in the fare?
Yes. The private Médoc half day with two pre-selected wineries includes the tasting fees, and so does the 2CV day. For a shared day with everything paid, the Saint-Émilion day with lunch includes eight wines and a picnic.
Can you pick us up from a cruise ship?
The operator allows custom pickup points in Bordeaux. Give your ship and berth when you book, and confirm the time with your chauffeur-guide.
Is the car wheelchair accessible?
The transport is wheelchair accessible, with pushchair access and infant seats. Tell the operator your needs when you book.
What if I cancel?
You get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. Inside those 24 hours the fare is not refunded.
Other ways into Bordeaux wine country
Ready for the châteaux road with the roof down?
Check dates for the half day and the full day, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Check availability