Those following the Barefoot Blogger know I’m a wine lover, not a wine connoisseur. That didn’t stop me from wine toursย in Bordeaux.
Offered by the Tourist Office in Bordeaux,ย the Secrets of Great Wine tour started with a walk through the historic wine-merchant district, the Chartrons. ย We traced the wine route — from barrels that came into warehouses straight from the fields to barrels that left the district to be transported around the world from the Gironde River.
As good luck would have it, the guide for the tour was a direct descendant of one of the wine merchants of the district from 1812 to 2004 — ย the Calvets. Along the way, Mme Calvet told us about her family life when the merchant trade and the neighborhood were bustling with activity — before warehouses were converted to schools, offices, and apartments.
As a child, Mme Calvet lived in the building that now houses the Musรฉe du Vin et du Nรฉgoce. Before her father (Patreice Calvet) retired, the father and daughter designed the museum at the behest of the city. They used family artifacts to tell the story of the merchant trade of the past.
Mme. Calvet shared the memory of her father tasting wine each morning. He would drink from small glasses lined up on a table in his office. After each taste, he’d spit out the wine and then pass judgment on each before selling new wines to his customers. At that time, the wine merchant was solely responsible for the wines’ reputation — not the vineyard. The merchant produced, barreled, aged, and sold the wine. It was not until the eighteenth century that bottles were used to age wine!
Next stop on the Wine Tour Bordeaux
Following a wine tasting at the museum and lunch at a neighborhood cafe, those of us on the morning tour joined a larger group for a 40 km drive to the small town of Saint Emilion. The rainy day drive into the countryside beyond Bordeaux was a perfect relaxing time.
The route was through miles and miles of vineyards. Along the way, it is evident that the recent cold snap had severely damaged much of the crop.
Saint-Emilion, the Medieval Town
Soon, we arrived at Saint Emilion. Named for รmilion, a cave-dwelling monk from Brittany who created a monastery there in the mid-700s, Saint Emilion has long interested travelers and pilgrims. The site is, in fact, a stopping point along the Santiago de Compostela route. Emilion escaped persecution by the Benedictines and lived a hermetic life here, performing occasional miracles. Early pilgrims came to the town on the chance they could be healed or saved. After his death, his followers built the monolithic Church of Saint Emilion (photos no longer allowed). The cross-shaped church (125′ x 66′) carved through limestone rock is the largest in Europe. Today, tourists flock here to see the cave where he lived (the Hermitage), the underground church that includes the catacombs, and the Holy Trinity Chapel built in the thirteenth century. The town is a UNESCO site, along with the surrounding vineyards (the “jurisdiction).
Saint-Emilion, the Vineyards
Saint Emilion vines were among the earliest cultivated in the region — first by the Romans, later harvested by monks. Today, the area is protected as a UNESCO site and is one of Bordeaux’s largest wine producers. They have the broadest range of wines and styles, as well. The distinctions are dictated by the soil and terrain — sandy or limestone rock — and choices made by the winemaker.
Our tour made a leisurely stop at Chรขteau Haut-Veyrac, a Grand Cru producer of fine wines of the highest quality. The vineyard’s energetic and knowledgeable guides stepped us through the process — from grapes and vines to bottles on the shelf.
At Chรขteau Haut-Veyrac, they are held to standards above the norm, intended to distinguish the area’s finer wines from more everyday wines.
After the lessons on wine-making and the tour, it was time for a tasting and more classes. It’s all about color, aromas, and your own tasting impressions.
So much wine, so little time!
There are not enough hours in the day to learn and experience the secrets of Bordeaux wines. Interestingly, one new fact stands out. Do you know there are often rose bushes in a vineyard? Roses are susceptible to fungi and other diseases that affect grapevines. The health of the rose bush indicates good or bad conditions for vines.
And I thought they were just for decoration!
More about Bordeaux
Bordeaux Travel Guide:ย ย
Bordeaux Day 1: The Secrets of Great Wine
Bordeaux Day 3: The Magnificent City
