Bordeaux Wine Trail

8 Days | From £1899pp

France ( Best airport: Bordeaux)

Ride through the vineyards of Bordeaux, tasting some of the world-famous wines produced in the region: Médoc, Côte de Blaye, Côte de Bourg, Bordeaux Supérieur, Lalande-Pomerol, St Emilion and Sauternes to name a few. Wash these down with plenty of local cheeses, meats and potato dauphinoise for a truly indulgent experience combined with fast-paced riding through the quintessentially french countryside.

The Riding

The trail takes you to the medieval city of St Émilion, the 13th century castle of Rauzan and the medieval fortified town of Cadillac during the week and the accommodation is in traditional french guesthouses and hotels.

The pace on this trail is varied to suit the terrain with long periods of walk and plenty of opportunities to canter and gallop. The scenery encompasses rolling hills, green, sun-drenched vineyards, woods and forests.

Level of Riding and Fitness

Riders must be comfortable in all paces including gallop and happy to do some fast riding in open spaces on an obedient and responsive horse. Riders need to be in good physical condition, you will cover around 195km over the six days of the trail and will be in the saddle for between 5-7 hours per day. The weight limit is 90kg.

Guides and Group Size

As well as being experienced horsemen and women your guides on this trail have a thorough knowledge of local history and the wine industry. All guides are multilingual French/English and their knowledge of the terrain ensures the riding has a great mix of walking, trotting and canters with some gallops.

Group size is 5-10.

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The Horses

The horses are pure or cross-bred Arabian or Thoroughbreds and warmbloods varying in height from 15.2hh to 17hh. The horses are exceptionally well-schooled and good-mannered at this destination and many of them have been bred and trained by your hosts themselves. The tack used is specialist trail riding saddles and you will be provided with saddlebags, a rain poncho, and a water bottle. Horses are ridden in Myler bits which help to facilitate effective communication between horse and rider and a relaxed and happy horse. Helmets are not mandatory but are strongly recommended.

Accommodation and Dining

Accommodation on this trail is in small, charming hotels or guesthouses, nestled into the rural surroundings. You’ll stay in a different location each night of the trail, some have swimming pools and some are large country houses situated on the vineyards themselves. Most of the rooms will have an en suite bathroom although this cannot be guaranteed. Rooms are twins or doubles although single rooms are available for a supplement. The luggage is transported in the support vehicle and transferred to each accommodation so you only need to carry daily essentials in your saddle bags.

Continental breakfasts are served at your hotel each morning typically consisting of a hot drink (tea, coffee, hot chocolate), juice, breakfast pastries (croissant, pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins), bread, butter and jam, and sometimes yogurt. Lunches are traditional french pique-niques, expect fresh baguettes, sumptuous cheeses, salads and tasty charcuterie, along with a bottle of something local. Dinner will be typical French fare comprising several courses of regional specialities. Please note that wine is not included with dinners.

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive at Bordeaux airport and meet your hosts and fellow riders at the meeting point; the "Brioche Dorée" snack bar in HALL B at 18.30. Transfer to your first night's accommodation in the small village of Moulis en Médoc and get to know everyone over dinner.

Day 2 Enjoy breakfast at 8:00am before meeting the horses. You’ll set off on the trail through gentle landscapes between vineyards and forests. A picnic lunch is enjoyed on the banks of the Gironde river before sampling a fine Medoc. You’ll then cross the Gironde by ferry (including the horses!), towards Blaye. Upon arrival you’ll visit the 18th century citadelle Vauban on horseback before checking into your hotel for the night.

Days 3 After breakfast, saddle up and set off by 10.00am. Today you’ll ride through the hilly region of the Côtes de Blaye and the Côtes de Bourg. A picnic lunch will be served at a wine producers’ establishment at Castle Lamothe where you can also enjoy a tasting of the Côte de Bourg. Departure at 15.00 towards Cubnezais, the evening will be spent at another vineyard with a tasting during the meal. Night onsite.

Day 4 After breakfast you’ll be back on the horses by 09.30 and ready to explore a region where vineyards alternate with little forests leading the group all the way to the castle Mayne Vieil, for a picnic and a tasting of Fronsac wine. After lunch we will travel towards Libourne, passing through the well-respected red wine region of Pomerol. The horses will stay in Pomerol while we visit Belles Graves castle for a tasting. You’ll spend the evening at the La Tour hotel in Libourne or similar.

Day 5 Heading towards Saint Emilion, pass through the famous properties of Château Pétrus, Cheval Blanc and Château Figeac. A picnic lunch will be served in St Emilion with a tasting of the local wine, followed by a visit to the city. In the afternoon you’ll ride through the large valley of Dordogne and arrive at Chateau Courros for wine tasting by 19:00. Overnight at B&B in Saint Jean de Blaignac.

Day 6 Today you’ll be riding through the l'Entre deux mers region, with its varied landscapes and beautiful wineries as well as the 13th century castle of Rauzan. In the afternoon you’ll ride through more vineyards until you reach the castle of Broustaret where you’ll stay the night. Dinner will be in the local city of Cadillac where you can taste the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux.

Day 7 Today the trail is very hilly as you pass through the valley of Garonne to reach the vineyards of Graves and Sauternes. Picnic lunch at the castle of Myrat, where you’ll be offered a tasting of this golden wine. In the afternoon, gallops between the vineyards and forests will lead to Sauternes. During the evening meal, taste wine from Graves and spend your final night at the hotel.

Day 8 Say goodbye to your fellow riders and hosts. You will be transferred to the airport after breakfast about 9.30am, the journey time is around 1hr 15 mins.