Bordeaux Wine Day TourMédoc and Margaux Wine Tour with Gourmet Platter
This Médoc and Margaux wine tour from A La Francaise Tourisme runs twice a day from Place des Quinconces in an air-conditioned minivan capped at 8 people. The morning departure visits one family-run winery for $100 per person. The afternoon departure, from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM, adds a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château and a guided tasting of 5 wines, and both departures include a photo stop at Château Margaux and a French aperitif platter. The platter is not a lunch. This page explains what the price covers, what the day looks like and who should book a different tour. See all Bordeaux wine day tours side by side.
About This Tour
A La Francaise Tourisme runs this half-day left-bank trip in a small air-conditioned minivan. You ride the Médoc Castle Route out of Bordeaux, stop for photos at Château Margaux and taste at a carefully chosen estate. The aperitif platter of cured meats, cheese, dark chocolate and fresh baguette comes with the tasting.
The two departures are not the same tour. The morning, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, visits one family-run winery and the number of wines is not stated. The afternoon, 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM, adds a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château and a guided tasting of 5 wines. If you can only book one, pick the afternoon.
$100 per person, booked on GetYourGuide. Reserve now and pay later is available.
3.5-4.5 hours. Morning 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM or afternoon 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
Monument aux Girondins, 2792 Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux. No hotel pickup.
Limited to 8 participants with a live guide in English or French.
Morning: 1 family-run winery, wine count not stated. Afternoon: 2 wineries and a guided tasting of 5 wines, including a Grand Cru Classé 1855 estate.
A French aperitif platter is included, it is not a lunch. Tips are extra. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
The listing is flagged as likely to sell out, so check dates early. Choose the afternoon departure at checkout to get both wineries and 5 wines.
Quick answer The short answer
This Médoc and Margaux wine tour costs $100 per person, lasts 3.5-4.5 hours and leaves from the Monument aux Girondins with a group capped at 8.
Key takeaways
- Pick the afternoon departure: it adds a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château and a guided tasting of 5 wines, the morning visits only 1 winery.
- The aperitif platter is not lunch, so eat before the 2:00 PM start. Compare the Saint-Émilion and Margaux full day if you want a real meal included.
- If Margaux is your only target, the Margaux Half-Day Wine Tour also pours 5 wines across 2 estates for $101.
- Not suitable for children under 4 or people with mobility impairments, and the tour needs a minimum of 2 people to run.
What the Price Actually Covers
At $100 per person this is one of the cheaper ways to reach the left bank with a guide. Here is exactly what the listing includes, what it excludes and where you may spend more on the day.
Included
The price covers transport in an air-conditioned minivan, a live guide in English or French, a guided tour and tasting at a Médoc wine château, and the French aperitif platter of cured meats, cheese, dark chocolate and fresh baguette. On the afternoon departure only, it also covers a guided tour and tasting at a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château and a guided tasting of 5 wines. The château names are not stated in advance, so treat the estates as a choice the operator makes rather than a fixed list.
- Air-conditioned minivan transport from Place des Quinconces
- Live tour guide, English or French
- Guided tour and tasting at a Médoc château
- Afternoon only: Grand Cru Classé 1855 château tour and tasting of 5 wines
- French aperitif platter with the tasting
- Photo stop at Château Margaux
Not Included and Paid Extra
Tips are not in the price and the operator reminds guests of this. Hotel pickup and drop-off are excluded, so you make your own way to Place des Quinconces. The platter is an aperitif, not a meal, on a departure that can run to 6:30 PM.
Plan lunch or dinner around it. No entry fees or tasting charges beyond the included visits are mentioned in the listing.
- Tips
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Any lunch or extra drinks
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minivan transport | Yes | Air-conditioned, departs Monument aux Girondins |
| Live guide | Yes | English or French, group of 8 maximum |
| First château visit and tasting | Yes | Médoc estate, 75 minutes on the itinerary |
| Grand Cru Classé 1855 visit | Afternoon only | Not part of the morning tour |
| Tasting of 5 wines | Afternoon only | 30-minute tasting at the second estate |
| Aperitif platter | Yes | Cured meats, cheese, dark chocolate, baguette, not a lunch |
| Tips and hotel transfers | No | Paid by you separately |
Honest Notes Before You Book
The operator does not name the châteaux, so one or both estates can change. Accept that flexibility or look at a listing that states its tastings upfront, such as the Médoc Half-Day Wine Tour with 2 tastings at 2 estates. The tour needs a minimum of 2 participants to run legally, and if you are the only booking it can be cancelled with a full refund, so a solo traveller should have a backup.
On the afternoon departure you will taste 5 wines and eat only an aperitif platter, so have a late lunch before the 2:00 PM start.
Sources: Saint-Émilion Tourist Office, Bordeaux wine, Wikipedia
Château Giscours in Labarde, in the Margaux appellation. Photo: David Perez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
Both departures follow the same shape, out of Bordeaux along the Médoc Castle Route and back again. The listing gives the itinerary below, and it notes that itineraries are subject to change.
Start at the Monument Aux Girondins
Meet at the Monument aux Girondins, 2792 Place des Quinconces. The morning departure runs 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and the afternoon departure 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM. There is no hotel pickup, so arrive with time to find the guide.
The minivan leaves the city centre and heads north into the Médoc, where about 1,500 vineyards line the road nicknamed the Route des Châteaux.
First Château, Visit and Tasting, 75 Minutes
The first stop is a guided tour and wine tasting at a Médoc château, with 75 minutes on the itinerary. On the morning tour this is the single visit, a family-run estate, and its wine count is not stated. On the afternoon tour this slot is followed by a second estate.
The Left Bank grows Cabernet Sauvignon above all, with typical blends around 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot on well-drained gravel.
Photo Stop at Château Margaux, 30 Minutes
Both departures include a 30-minute sightseeing stop at Château Margaux in the Margaux appellation. This is a photo stop, not a visit inside the estate. Your guide introduces the history of one of the most famous names in Bordeaux, the only First Growth of the Margaux commune, which holds 21 classified châteaux in total.
The Margaux appellation covers 1,413 ha across five villages, and its grapes ripen 7 to 10 days earlier than elsewhere in the Médoc.
Second Château and the Aperitif Platter, 30 Minutes
On the afternoon tour the itinerary shows a 30-minute tasting at a second estate, a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château. The guided tasting covers 5 wines, and the listing pairs the tastings with a French aperitif platter of cured meats, cheese, dark chocolate and fresh baguette. It is an aperitif, not a seated meal.
Drop-off Back in Bordeaux
The tour ends at one of 2 drop-off locations, one of which is the Monument aux Girondins on Place des Quinconces. A precise return time is not stated beyond the departure windows of 12:30 PM and 6:30 PM.
What Makes Château Margaux So Special
A visit to the Margaux appellation and its First Growth. Third-party video by Attorney Somm. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing is clear about its limits. Check them before you book, because several are hard rules.
Children and Passengers
The tour is not accessible for children under 4, for security and legal reasons. Every passenger needs a ticket, including children, infants and even pets, and pets are not allowed on board. Families with young children should look at the Saint-Émilion Village and Grand Cru Half Day instead, which shares the same under-4 rule.
Mobility and Access
The listing states the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to reach Place des Quinconces on your own. The listing gives no difficulty level, and the stops are the châteaux and the Margaux photo stop.
Solo Travellers and the Minimum of 2
The listing says a minimum of two people is legally required to operate the tour. If only 1 participant books, the tour can be cancelled and you get a full refund. Solo travellers should keep a flexible plan and a second option, such as the Margaux Half-Day Wine Tour for the same appellation.
Anyone Who Wants a Full Meal or a Longer Day
The aperitif platter is not lunch, and the morning version is one winery with a wine count not stated. If you want 3 châteaux, a real picnic and both banks in a day, book the Saint-Émilion and Médoc Day with Lunch or the Médoc and Saint-Émilion, Three Châteaux with Lunch. For more Médoc depth on a full day, see the Médoc Full-Day Wine Tour.
Getting to the Start and the Rest of Your Day
Around the meeting point, the city offers several wine stops that pair well with a half-day tour.
Reaching Place Des Quinconces
Meet at the Monument aux Girondins, the 54 m column at the centre of Place des Quinconces, a square of about 25.6 ha and one of the largest in Europe. The Quinconces tram stop serves the square and has been the city's main hub since 2003. One source says three tram lines serve the stop, while the tour page names lines B and C. A single tram ticket costs €1.90, with the network running from about 04:30 until midnight seven days a week.
The Bordeaux Tourist Office is at 12 Cours du 30 Juillet.
Before or After the Tour
The CIVB Bar à Vin at 3 Cours du 30 Juillet is run by the Bordeaux wine council and opens Monday to Saturday 11:00 to 22:00. One listing gives 2 glasses for €3, while press snippets say from about €2 a glass. Tram line B, which stops at Quinconces, also runs to La Cité du Vin on the Bacalan quays, the wine museum at 134 Quai de Bacalan.
A Village-only Day on Your Own
If you would rather skip the van one day, Saint-Émilion sits roughly 35-40 km from Bordeaux, depending on the source, and is reachable by train from Gare Saint-Jean in about 30 minutes. Read the guide to Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion by train for times and the uphill walk from the station. Or compare every wine day tours from Bordeaux in one table before you commit.
Itinerary
Times and durations come from the operator's own itinerary, which is subject to change. The château names are not announced in advance.
-
Morning 9:00 AM or afternoon 2:00 PM
Meet at the Monument aux Girondins
Gather at 2792 Place des Quinconces and board the air-conditioned minivan. Groups are limited to 8.
-
After departure
Drive the Médoc Castle Route
Leave Bordeaux and head north into the Médoc vineyards along the road nicknamed the Route des Châteaux.
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75 minutes
First château, guided visit and tasting
A guided tour and tasting at a Médoc château. Morning groups visit a family-run estate here, afternoon groups continue afterwards.
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30 minutes
Photo stop at Château Margaux
Sightseeing stop in front of Château Margaux while the guide explains the estate and the Margaux appellation.
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30 minutes
Second château and aperitif platter
Afternoon only: a guided tasting of 5 wines at a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château, paired with the platter of cured meats, cheese, dark chocolate and baguette.
-
End of the tour
Drop-off in Bordeaux
The tour ends at one of 2 drop-off locations, including the Monument aux Girondins, by 12:30 PM or 6:30 PM.
Pros and Cons
A straightforward half day on the left bank, with one clear reason to choose the afternoon over the morning.
What we genuinely like
- The afternoon departure gives 2 wineries, a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château and 5 guided wines for $100 per person
- Group capped at 8 with a live guide in English or French
- Photo stop at Château Margaux is included on both departures
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, with reserve now and pay later
- Meeting point at Quinconces is served by tram lines B and C, a €1.90 single
The honest downsides
- The morning tour visits only 1 winery and its wine count is not stated, so it is much thinner for the same $100
- The aperitif platter is not lunch, on an afternoon that runs to 6:30 PM
- The châteaux are not named in advance and can change
- No hotel pickup, and the tour needs a minimum of 2 bookings to run at all
- Not suitable for children under 4 or anyone with a mobility impairment
Who it's NOT for: Not for families with under-4s, wheelchair users, solo travellers who cannot risk a cancellation, or anyone who wants a real lunch and 3 châteaux in one day.
Questions About This Tour
Is Château Margaux on this Médoc and Margaux wine tour?
Yes, both departures include a 30-minute photo stop in front of Château Margaux, but you do not visit inside the estate. For more Margaux time, compare the Margaux Half-Day Wine Tour.
Morning or afternoon departure, which should I pick?
Pick the afternoon, 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM. It adds a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château and a guided tasting of 5 wines, while the morning visits only 1 family-run winery. The Saint-Émilion Afternoon, Two Grands Crus follows a similar afternoon-only logic on the right bank.
Does the $100 price include lunch?
No. The platter of cured meats, cheese, dark chocolate and baguette is an aperitif, not a meal. If lunch matters, look at the Saint-Émilion and Margaux Full Day, which includes a château picnic.
Where does the tour start and how do I get there?
At the Monument aux Girondins, 2792 Place des Quinconces, reached by tram lines B and C for a €1.90 single ticket. There is no hotel pickup. Other operator meetings happen at the tourist office, as on the Médoc Half-Day Wine Tour.
What happens if I am the only person booked?
The listing says a minimum of 2 participants is legally required, so the operator can cancel with a full refund and will contact you. Have a backup plan, such as a DIY day in Saint-Émilion.
Can I bring children or a pet?
No. The tour is not accessible for children under 4, pets are not allowed, and every passenger including infants needs a paid ticket. The Saint-Émilion Village and Grand Cru Half Day has the same under-4 rule.
Which châteaux will we visit?
The listing does not name them. You get a family-run estate on the morning tour and a Grand Cru Classé 1855 château plus a family winery on the afternoon tour, and estates can change. For three winery visits in one day, see the Médoc Full-Day Wine Tour.
What Travelers Said
Lovely tour, wonderful hosts, and it was a pleasure to have Gabriel as our driver and guide.
Our guide Juliette was very friendly and knowledgeable. There were seven of us on the tour in a comfortable minivan. The two Château’s were completely different from one another, and it was nice to see a traditional wine maker and then a small family owned modern winery.
We loved this tour! Our guide Mel was super knowledgeable and a good driver. The winery tour guide was exceptionally well versed in the wine making process as well. The wine tasting was delicious and we ordered the white Bordeaux to be shipped home.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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