Bordeaux Wine Day TourMargaux Wine Tour: Half Day With 5 Wines from Bordeaux
A Margaux wine tour is the shortest way to taste the left bank of Bordeaux without giving up a whole day. This listing from Olala Bordeaux runs 4 hours in an air-conditioned minivan and costs $101 per person. It covers two guided estate visits in the Margaux appellation, one of them a Grand Cru Classé, with 5 wines poured across the two tastings. A 10-minute photo stop at Château Margaux sits between the châteaux. The group is capped at 8 and there is no hotel pickup, so you meet at 2ter Rue Mably in the centre of Bordeaux. This page breaks down the price, the stop-by-stop plan and who should book a different tour instead. See all Bordeaux wine day tours side by side.
About This Tour
Olala Bordeaux runs this half-day Margaux wine tour from the centre of Bordeaux in an air-conditioned minivan. The drive out is about 50 minutes each way, and you spend about 1 hour at each of two estates in the Margaux appellation. At the first vineyard you taste 3 wines, at the Grand Cru classified château you taste 2 more, and the listing says the 5 glasses help you learn to identify different notes.
At least one of the two estates is a Grand Cru Classé of the Margaux appellation. The listing names possible châteaux such as Siran, Dauzac, Paveil de Luze, Marquis de Terme, Prieuré Lichine and Desmirail, and it says the châteaux and the schedule may vary. Between the two visits there is a 10-minute photo stop at Château Margaux.
The listing is flagged as likely to sell out, and it holds a 4.6 rating from 436 reviews on GetYourGuide.
$101 per person, with reserve now and pay later available on GetYourGuide
4 hours, starting times shown when you check availability
2ter Rue Mably, 33000 Bordeaux. No hotel pickup, arrive 15 minutes before departure
Limited to 8 participants with a live English-speaking guide and driver
2 estates with 5 wines total, at least one Grand Cru Classé, plus a 10-minute photo stop at Château Margaux
Lunch, personal expenses and tips. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Check Dates and Availability
The listing does not print fixed departure times, so pick a date to see the starting times on offer. It is flagged as likely to sell out, so booking ahead matters in summer.
Quick answer The short answer
This Margaux wine tour costs $101 per person, runs 4 hours from central Bordeaux and includes 2 estate visits with 5 wines, at least one of them a Grand Cru Classé, plus a photo stop at Château Margaux. The group is capped at 8 and the guide speaks English. There is no lunch, no hotel pickup and no children under 16.
Key takeaways
- See how the price breaks down in what the price actually covers.
- Follow the stop-by-stop plan in what the day is really like.
- Want more châteaux in one day? Compare the Saint-Émilion and Margaux full day from the same operator.
- Short on days in Bordeaux? The full list of Bordeaux wine day tours shows every half-day option side by side.
What the Price Actually Covers
At $101 per person this is a mid-price half-day listing, and almost everything you do on the day is inside that figure. The list below separates what the operator includes from what you pay for yourself.
Included in the $101
The listing includes transportation in an air-conditioned minivan with a guide who is also the driver, so you never drive after tasting. Both visits are covered: a guided tour of a vineyard with a tasting of 3 wines, and a guided tour of a Grand Cru vineyard with a tasting of 2 wines. The wines are tasted from 5 glasses so you can compare notes between them.
The photo stop at Château Margaux is part of the package, and your mobile ticket is available immediately with no printing.
- Air-conditioned minivan transport from 2ter Rue Mably and back
- Guide and driver, tour conducted in English
- Guided vineyard tour with 3 wines at the first estate
- Guided Grand Cru vineyard tour with 2 wines at the second estate
- 10-minute photo stop at Château Margaux
What You Pay Extra on the Day
The listing lists personal expenses and tips as not included, and lunch is not part of this tour at all. Bring a water bottle to fill up in the morning, as the listing itself advises. Bottles you want to buy at the châteaux, and any snacks, come out of your own pocket.
If you want a food pairing with your Margaux tasting, a different listing pairs the same appellation with a platter of cheese, charcuterie and chocolate, described on the Médoc and Margaux gourmet platter page.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minivan transport | Yes | About 50 minutes each way between Bordeaux and Margaux |
| English guide and driver | Yes | Live guide, not audio |
| First estate visit and 3 wines | Yes | Guided tour of a vineyard and tasting |
| Grand Cru estate visit and 2 wines | Yes | At least one Grand Cru Classé of Margaux |
| Château Margaux photo stop | Yes | 10 minutes, photo stop only |
| Lunch | No | Eat before you leave, the tour has no food stop |
| Tips and personal expenses | No | Listed as not included by the operator |
The Honest Note on Which Châteaux You Get
The listing names six possible estates, Siran, Dauzac, Paveil de Luze, Marquis de Terme, Prieuré Lichine and Desmirail, but it does not promise any one of them. It says the châteaux and the schedule may vary, while the quality of the offer stays the same. If visiting one specific named château matters to you, check with the operator before booking or read the Margaux entry in the classifications section on the homepage.
Sources: Saint-Émilion Tourist Office, Bordeaux wine, Wikipedia
Vineyards near Château Margaux beside the road through the appellation. Photo: Maarten Sepp, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing publishes a timed itinerary, so you know exactly how the 4 hours divide between driving and tasting before you book.
Meeting and the Drive Out
You meet at 2ter Rue Mably in central Bordeaux, and the listing is firm about the timing: arrive 15 minutes before departure, with no delay possible, to respect the group's schedule. The van then covers about 50 minutes of road to reach the Margaux appellation on the left bank of the Gironde. Margaux itself covers 1,413 hectares across five villages, Margaux, Cantenac, Arsac, Soussans and Labarde, and its grapes ripen 7 to 10 days earlier than elsewhere in the Médoc.
First Estate: Guided Tour and 3 Wines
The first stop in the Margaux AOC lasts about 1 hour and combines a guided tour with a tasting. You see the vineyards and hear about the grape varieties used in the appellation, then discuss production and winemaking with the wine experts on site. Six red grapes are permitted around Margaux, with Cabernet Sauvignon predominant, and typical left bank blends run about 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot.
You taste 3 wines here from the 5-glass set.
Château Margaux Photo Stop
A 15-minute van hop brings you to Château Margaux, the appellation's only 1855 First Growth. This is a photo stop of 10 minutes, not a visit, and the listing does not include entry to the estate. Margaux commune holds 21 classified châteaux, more than any other commune, so the classified estates are packed close around this one famous gate.
Second Estate: Grand Cru Classé Visit and 2 Wines
Another 10 minutes in the van brings you to the second Margaux AOC stop, a Grand Cru classified château, for about 1 hour of guided tour and tasting. The listing notes the history and architecture of the property, and the inclusions list 2 wines here. The longer description says at least 3, so plan on the 5-wine total.
Since no food is served, 5 pours on an empty stomach is worth planning around, so eat a proper lunch first.
The Ride Back
The last 50 minutes are the drive back to Bordeaux, and the itinerary ends where it began at 2ter Rue Mably. The listing gives no return time, only the 4-hour total duration, and the start time itself is shown when you select a date.
Can You Visit Château Margaux? Wine Tasting in the Margaux Appellation
Tasting in the Margaux appellation and what the famous estate allows. Third-party video by The European Compass. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This listing fits travellers who want Margaux only, in a small group, in half a day. Several common needs disqualify it, and each has a straightforward alternative from the same comparison.
Families with Children Under 16
Children under 16 are not allowed, and neither are pets or unaccompanied minors, a rule the operator sets for the group's comfort. The listing recommends a private tour if you travel with children under 16 or pets. If you want a shared half day that takes younger children, the Saint-Émilion village and Grand Cru half day accepts children from 4 years old.
Travellers Who Need Lunch Built in
There is no food on this tour, and at 4 hours with 5 wines that is the single biggest gap for many people. Several listings on this site solve it with a picnic or platter, and the closest in spirit is the Saint-Émilion and Margaux full day, which runs 9 hours from the same meeting point and includes a château picnic with a glass of wine. For a shorter outing with food, the gourmet platter tour adds cheese and charcuterie to a Margaux tasting.
Travellers Who Want More Than One Appellation
This tour stays inside Margaux, which keeps the drive short but means no Saint-Émilion and no village walk. If you want both banks in one day, the full-day combined tours cover it, or you can spend the other day on Saint-Émilion itself. If you want a wider sweep of the Médoc beyond Margaux, the Médoc full-day wine tour covers three classified estates over 8 hours.
Travellers Who Need Hotel Pickup or Easy Access
There is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to 2ter Rue Mably and be there 15 minutes early. The listing gives no wheelchair or difficulty information. Bring comfortable shoes, the listing asks for them explicitly.
The group cap is 8 and the listing is flagged as likely to sell out.
Getting to the Start and the Rest of Your Day
The listing gives the meeting address but no walking directions, and the 4-hour duration leaves room for more sightseeing around it.
Reaching 2ter Rue Mably
Check the exact address on a map before you go, because the listing gives no walking directions. Bordeaux trams run from about 04:30 until midnight and a single tram ticket costs €1.90. Place des Quinconces, a 25.6-hectare square, is a common meeting point for other small-group tours and is served by tram lines B and C. Its 54-metre Monument aux Girondins is the usual landmark, but this tour does not meet there.
Before or After the Tour
The CIVB Bar à Vin at 3 Cours du 30 Juillet is open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00 except bank holidays, and it lists 2 glasses of Bordeaux for €3, a cheap way to calibrate your palate before a tasting. La Cité du Vin sits on tram line B at its own stop in Bacalan, at 134 Quai de Bacalan, and pairs well with a wine-themed day. If this tour leaves you hungry for the right bank, you can make a Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion by train trip on another day for a village-only visit without a car.
Itinerary Step by Step
Times below come from the listing's own itinerary, which gives durations for each leg rather than clock times.
-
Start
Meet at 2ter Rue Mably
Arrive 15 minutes before departure with no delay possible. Board the air-conditioned minivan with your guide and a group of up to 8.
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50 minutes
Drive to the Margaux appellation
Leave central Bordeaux for the left bank. Margaux covers 1,413 hectares across five villages along the Gironde.
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About 1 hour
First estate: guided tour and 3 wines
See the vineyards, learn the grape varieties of the appellation and taste 3 wines with the estate's wine experts.
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After 15 minutes
Photo stop at Château Margaux
A 10-minute photo stop at the appellation's only First Growth. No entry is included.
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After 10 minutes
Grand Cru Classé visit and tasting
About 1 hour at a Grand Cru classified château in the Margaux AOC, with the history and architecture covered on the guided tour and 2 more wines tasted.
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50 minutes
Drive back to Bordeaux
Return along the road to the city centre.
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End
Arrive at 2ter Rue Mably
The tour ends at the same meeting point where it started. The listing states no exact return time.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this listing against the other half-day and full-day options leaving Bordeaux.
What we genuinely like
- Five wines across two guided estate visits for $101, with at least one Grand Cru Classé included
- Group capped at 8 with a live English guide, so questions actually get answered
- About 50 minutes each way between Bordeaux and Margaux
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later
- A 4.6 rating from 436 verified bookings on GetYourGuide
The honest downsides
- No food at all, and 5 wines on an empty stomach is a real planning issue
- The exact châteaux are not guaranteed, the listing names six possibilities and says the schedule may vary
- The Château Margaux stop is 10 minutes outside the gates, not a visit
- No hotel pickup and a hard rule to arrive 15 minutes early
- The listing shows about 50 minutes of driving each way
Who it's NOT for: Anyone under 16, anyone travelling with pets, and anyone who wants lunch, Saint-Émilion or a specific named château guaranteed.
Margaux Wine Tour Questions
How much does this Margaux wine tour cost?
It costs $101 per person for the 4-hour tour, with reserve now and pay later offered. Personal expenses and tips are not included, and neither is lunch. For a price comparison across every Bordeaux wine day tour, the homepage table lists them side by side.
Which châteaux will I visit on this tour?
The listing names Château Siran, Dauzac, Paveil de Luze, Marquis de Terme, Prieuré Lichine and Desmirail as possible stops, and guarantees at least one Grand Cru Classé of the Margaux appellation. The châteaux and schedule may vary. The tour includes a photo stop at Château Margaux but no visit.
Is lunch included on this half-day tour?
No, lunch is not included and there is no food stop. The operator advises bringing a water bottle. If you want food with your tasting, the Médoc and Margaux gourmet platter tour adds a platter of cheese, charcuterie and chocolate to a similar Margaux itinerary.
Can children join this Margaux wine tour?
No, the tour is not suitable for children under 16, and pets and unaccompanied minors are also not allowed. The operator suggests a private tour for families. The Saint-Émilion village and Grand Cru half day accepts children from 4 years old if a shared tour suits your family.
Where does the tour start and how do I get there?
It starts and ends at 2ter Rue Mably in central Bordeaux, with trams running from about 04:30 until midnight and a single ticket at €1.90. There is no hotel pickup, and you must arrive 15 minutes before departure. The Saint-Émilion village and Grand Cru half day meets at the Monument aux Girondins on Place des Quinconces instead.
How many wines do I taste and is a Grand Cru Classé included?
You taste 5 wines from 5 glasses: 3 at the first vineyard and 2 at the Grand Cru vineyard. At least one estate visited is a Grand Cru Classé of Margaux, which holds 21 classified châteaux in the 1855 ranking. See how the full-day Saint-Émilion and Margaux tour compares on wine count.
What if I want more of the Médoc than Margaux?
This 4-hour tour stays inside the Margaux appellation, so it covers only the Margaux appellation. For more of the Médoc, the Médoc full-day wine tour visits 3 classified estates over 8 hours with all tasting fees included. All listings are compared on the homepage of Bordeaux wine tours.
What Travelers Said
Xavier was knowledgeable and good fun. Pace was good and we tasted excellent wines
Very interesting, superb guides Lovely area to visit, so beautiful
Nice Tour. Excellent driver/guide (Mia) and good selection of winemakers for the tastings.
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