★★★★★
Saint-Émilion day with three wineries and lunch
Three very different wineries, small, medium and large, and a clear look at how the wine is made. The countryside was worth the trip on its own.
Louise · Family · Australia · September 2026
Bordeaux France Day in Saint-Émilion with Three Wineries and Lunch
Tastings in the fareSaint-ÉmilionMax 8 guestsLunch included
The day to book if you want Saint-Émilion's wine and its village without paying anyone on the day. You meet at Rue Mably in central Bordeaux. Three wineries pour eight wines between them, and lunch is a picnic at a château. Your guide drives and walks you through the village, and you are back in town about seven hours later.
Three Saint-Émilion wineries and eight wines
Three wineries
A guided visit and tasting at each, the visits and the wines all in your fare.
Eight wines
Three at the first château, two at the second, three at the last.
A picnic at a château
Lunch from a local caterer, served in jars, with a glass of wine.
The village on foot
Your guide walks you through the UNESCO-listed streets of Saint-Émilion.
Eight people at most
One driver-guide and one air-conditioned people carrier for the whole day.
4.9 from 1,138 reviews
Travellers single out their guides and the mix of small and large wineries.
Why three wineries in one day
Most wine days on the right bank give you one château and the village. This one gives you three, and they differ on purpose. One traveller in September counted a small, a medium and a large estate, and saw how the wine is made at each. You taste three wines at the first château, two at the second and three at the last: eight in all, every glass in your fare.
Why does that matter? In Saint-Émilion, rank and style change from one estate to the next. The wine council's 2022 list names 85 classified châteaux, and it is redrawn every ten years. Tasting across three estates lets you hear the difference your guide explains between the wines, the grapes and the ways each estate makes them. Still weighing up Bordeaux France guided tours? Every fare sits side by side, with who pays for the tastings marked on each.
A picnic lunch at the château, in the fare
Lunch is where this day parts company with the half days. At about noon you sit down at a château for a picnic from a local caterer. It comes in jars, with a glass of wine. One traveller's dietary needs were looked after, so tell the operator yours when you book. Nothing is left to pay at the table.
Saint-Émilion village on foot
Your guide walks you through Saint-Émilion itself. UNESCO listed the village and its vineyards in 1999, over 7,847 hectares, and the churches and hospices go back to the 11th century. One traveller had just under an hour in the streets: enough to explore quickly and grab an espresso.
The underground Monolithic Church is not part of the day. The Saint-Émilion tourist office allows it by guided visit only, so if you want it, come back by train on another day. The things to do in Bordeaux page has the details.
How the seven hours run
- Rue Mably, 10 minutes early. Your guide leaves on time; the start time is on your booking.
- About an hour on the road. The people carrier heads east to the Saint-Émilion vineyards.
- Saint-Émilion village. A guided walk and the story of the place, with time on your own.
- Noon, the first château. A guided visit, three wines, then the picnic lunch.
- The second château. A second visit and two more wines.
- The last château. A final visit and three wines to finish.
- About an hour back. Drop-off at Rue Mably; traffic can move the time.
Who this suits: a first wine day with everything paid up front
Book this if
You have one day for the vineyards and want the tastings, lunch and the village settled before you set off. It suits couples, friends and families with teenagers of 16 or over, and anyone on a first wine day who wants a guide to explain it as you go.
Book something else if
You only have a morning or an afternoon: the half day with a Grand Cru Classé and a platter takes four hours, and the half day at an organic winery costs $86. If you want the Médoc as well, the day in Saint-Émilion and Margaux leaves the same kerb. With children under 16, or for a car of your own, a private day such as the Saint-Émilion and Pomerol Grand Cru day collects you. Every private day sits on private tours from Bordeaux.
What the fare covers and what it doesn't
In the fare
- Driver-guide
- Transport by air-conditioned people carrier
- Guided tour of the village of Saint-Emilion
- Guided tour of 3 wineries and tasting of 8 wines in total
- Picnic at the château (fresh lunch in jars and a glass of wine)
Not in the fare
- Personal expenses
- Tips
The start at Rue Mably
You meet at 2ter Rue Mably, 33000 Bordeaux, the operator's shop in the city centre. Be there ten minutes before your start time: the van leaves on time, and a late arrival cannot join. There is no hotel pickup, and the day ends back at Rue Mably.
The operator runs more than one van on busy days, so your confirmation says which one is yours. Return times move with the traffic on the way back into the city, so leave some slack before a dinner booking or a train.
Know before you go
- No children under 16. Book a private day instead if you travel with younger children.
- The guide speaks English. The whole day runs in English.
- Bring a water bottle. The operator refills it in the morning and keeps plastic off the day.
- Most of the day is outdoors. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
- The châteaux can change. The estates and the order vary by day; the tastings stay the same.
- Tips are extra. So are your own purchases, such as bottles at the châteaux.
What travellers say about the day with lunch
★★★★★
Saint-Émilion day with three wineries and lunch
A very funny guide who knew the subject inside out and wanted the group to get the most from the day. Lunch was delicious, and dietary needs were looked after.
Lauren · Couple · Australia · September 2026
★★★★★
Saint-Émilion day with three wineries and lunch
Just under an hour in Saint-Émilion itself: enough to explore quickly and grab an espresso.
Mark · Couple · Canada · September 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is lunch really in the fare?
Yes. A picnic from a local caterer, served in jars with a glass of wine, is included at one of the châteaux. Only your own purchases and tips are extra.
How many wines do you taste?
Eight: three at the first château, two at the second and three at the last. All three visits and their tastings are in the fare.
Can I do a shorter version?
Yes. The half day with a Grand Cru Classé and a platter takes four hours from the Monument aux Girondins, morning or afternoon.
Do we see the Monolithic Church?
No. The underground church is visited only with the Saint-Émilion tourist office's own guide. You get a guided walk in the village and some free time.
Can children come?
Not under 16. The operator suggests a private tour for families with younger children.
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 a day in Saint-Émilion with lunch in the fare?
Check dates for the day with three wineries and a picnic, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
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