Loved the flower display on this building in Bordeaux
Bourse Maritime in Bordeaux, France
Me and my France travel tour partner, my sister at Château Prieuré-Lichine
Detail of the firebacks at Château Prieuré-Lichine
Château Margaux
My recent trip to France was inspired by a desire to see new things and to continue learning…and to have some great wine while soaking in amazing history and architecture. Craving countryside and quaint villages rather than big cities and crowds, I headed to the Bordeaux region and was joined by one of my favorite travel buddies: my sister.
A popular french food hall at Bacalon
Monument aux Girondins - Monument with a fountain & towering column erected to honor Girondin revolutionaries
The ancient Romans were the first to cultivate vineyards and produce wine in the area, and these centuries of tending to the land have paid off. We dove right in with a wine tour visiting Château Prieure Lichine, Château Lamothe Bergeron, Château Marquis de Terme, and Château Margaux. Among the highlights from that tour: tasting Merlot and Cabernet grapes (the Merlot were particularly delicious and snackable) and seeing how one château cleverly repurposed firebacks into wine vat doors.
Sara in front of Château Lamothe Bergeron
The Dordogne Valley is known for its epic views and cliffside villages, and our road trip adventure through several towns (including La Roque Gageac, Castelnaud, and Domme) did not disappoint. A canoeing excursion highlighted the limestone cliffs; the stones mined from them have had a starring role in buildings locally and throughout France for hundreds of years.
Dordogne valley view from Domme
View from our canoe
Limestone cave entrance at Château Franc Mayne
Later in our trip, we took a tour through limestone caves in St. Emilion. People even lived in underground limestone tunnels during the French Revolution!
A view of the aging process of the wine at Château Franc Mayne
St. Emilion, a region known for the humid, subtropical climate that contributes to the flavor of the wine, was our next stop. At Château Tertre Roteboeuf, one of the best winemakers in the region commandeers a unique operation. A nonconformist in an industry and a country both known for their adherence to specific rules, Francois Mitjaville eschews membership in the classification systems and trusts that the geography and topography of his land will continue to yield good wine under attentive stewardship. He let us sample wine right out of the barrel…and then invited us into his house. Of course, we couldn’t resist!
Francois Mitjaville wine sampling
Château Tertre Roteboeuf
House interior
The Roman road that traces back to the 4th century when the Romans ruled in France
Old church outside of St. Emilion
On the flip side, at Château Montlabert, two brothers (both with backgrounds in the wine distribution business) are taking the long-revered tradition of winemaking and giving it modern and more eco-friendly updates: they use air cross currents to moderate the temperature and have planted a wide variety of flora to promote biodiversity, examining the effect of these plants on their vines.
Château Montlabert interior
Château de la Brede
Cheers to wrapping up our amazing tour of the French wine country
In case you can’t zoom in my smile is ear to ear, this is my happy place
Memorable places we stayed or supped:
Marché des Capucins: mussels, cheeses, pâté, and oysters galore
La Tupina: traditional Bordeaux-style food, including foie gras and pâté
Chateau Hotel and Spa Grand Barrail: A beautiful space for us to lay our heads in St. Emilion after a day of drinking and biking
Everywhere we went on our journeys, we saw glimpses of the area’s storied past and also saw how the region embraced the future. For example, Château Franc Mayne’s wine is still made using wood oak casks, and a Roman road passes through the land. Nearby, I was especially charmed by the old post office, originally built in 1787, that was more recently turned into a residence.
The post office from 1787
Château Montlabert
It looks an elegant pool with floating concrete steps at the Château Montlabert wine house, but this reservoir is essential in case of a fire
On our way back to Bordeaux we stopped at Château de la Brède, where famous philosopher Montesquieu lived and wrote most of his works. It was built originally in 14th century, and our visit to this feudal castle was another exercise in stepping back in time.
Château de la Brede interior
For our final day, back in the city of Bordeaux, we went to an antique fair. Although we had packed our days with wine tastings and wanderings, as I perused the wares, I reflected on how the trip as a whole left me feeling inspired, revitalized…and ready for my next adventure!
Antique market
