Day 1 - Bordeaux city
Arrive in Bordeaux and walk the Place de la Bourse and the water mirror. Visit the Cite du Vin museum for a tasting. Afternoon in the Saint-Pierre quarter with its boutiques. Evening at a wine bar for a glass of Merlot and a planche of cheese. Sleep in the center. The tram makes the city easy without a car for now.
Day 2 - Medoc left bank
Pick up a car and drive north to the Medoc. Visit two or three chateaux for tours and tastings of Cabernet blends. Lunch at a vineyard restaurant with a glass of red. Afternoon the Pauillac and Margaux villages. Evening back in Bordeaux for a dinner of duck and a library wine. Sleep in the city to keep things simple.
Day 3 - Saint-Emilion right bank
Drive east to Saint-Emilion, a hilltop village. Tour the monolithic church and the underground catacombs. Taste Merlot-led wines at small estates. Lunch of local macarons and pate. Afternoon the troglodyte houses and the panorama. Evening a riverside dinner with a right-bank bottle. Sleep in Saint-Emilion or return to Bordeaux.
Day 4 - Gravel bars and exit
Morning across the river to the Graves and Sauternes for a sweet wine tasting. Lunch at a chateau with foie gras and a glass of white. Afternoon return the car and a last stroll of the quays. A final cafe and canele before your train or flight. Keep transit loose; tastings make the day slow on purpose.
Daily food picks
Bordeaux pairs wine with duck, lamb, and oysters from the nearby Arcachon Bay. Try caneles for dessert and macarons in Saint-Emilion. A planche of cheese and charcuterie with a glass of Merlot is the easy lunch. Vineyard restaurants serve set menus with pairings. Bakeries cover breakfast; markets in the city are fresh and cheap.
Getting around & budget
Rent a car for the chateaux; the city itself is walkable with trams. Budget 160 to 250 euros daily with tastings and mid-range dinners; top estates charge for visits. Book chateau tours ahead in summer. A designated driver or a tour van helps with tasting. Sleep in Bordeaux to cut lodging moves to one base.
