We have travelled the world - bringing amazing guests to the most iconic regions of the world.
March / April of 2025 - we go to Bordeaux!
Built for 8-14 guests - we travel with these guilding principles.
a. Small groups to see the best in wine, local restaurants and hotels.
b. We avoid overly touristic restaurants
c. We stay in better hotels that provide value to our guests.
d. To keep the price of the trip very reasonable - $1000 a day we provide hotel, guide, car and driver, and pay for all tastings, breakfasts, lunches… and a welcome and finale dinner - wine included.
Core Trip [Sunday, March 30th to Saturday, April 5th]:
Core Trip Deposit $500 to secure your price based on the date. We are required to have 8 minimum and sells out at 14.
Deposit on after Nov 1 $7,495.00 per person based on double occupancy - single supplement is $1200
Deposit on or after Dec 1: $7,900.00 per person based on double occupancy - single supplement is $1200 (if rooms are available)
Price will continue to increase as date of trip approaches and we start to loose our reservations.
Trip is valued over $10,000 per person
Note*: "single supplement" is necessary as it covers the other 1/2 of the room cost as we stay in top quality hotels.
DAY ONE: Sunday, March 30th, Pessac
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Visit and tasting at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte
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WELCOME DINNER Dinner (1) at Le Lavoir on Sunday (#1 rated restaurant)
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evening including aperitif and 2 glasses wine
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Accommodation: 5-star Source de Caudalie
DAY TWO: Monday, March 31st, Saint Emilion & Pomerol
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Visit and tasting at Chateau Figeac in St. Emilion.
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Walk on the cobblestones of St. Emilion and have a casual lunch (not included)
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Visit the amazing Chateau Angelus
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Visit and tasting at Vieux Chateau Certain
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Dinner TBA
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Accommodation: 5-star Source de Caudalie
DAY THREE: Tuesday, April 1st, Pessac-Léognan
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Visit and tasting Chateau Pape Clement
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Lunch TBA (1)
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Visit and tasting Haut-Brion
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Visit La Mission Haut-Brion
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La Tupina Restaurant - Dinner is at your leisure; Ian and Alice will schedule this dinner location - all participants have the option to join or make plans of your own. Dinner is not included but you can decide your menu items and pay only for what you order and share. Wine Participation - pay for wines you choose to partake, participation is optional and additional.
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Accommodation: 5-star Hotel Burdigala
DAY FOUR: Wednesday, April 2nd – A day in the City Center Bordeaux & Entre Deux Mers
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By our third day we have visited a large number of Chateau - we will not put our walking shoes on for a number of special visits in the City Center -
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Visit Bordeaux Bassin des Lumieres – a beautiful adaptation of the Nazi U-boat pens with son et lumiere display of Art
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Place de la bourse *photo op"
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Visit Cite du Vin with sensory wine tasting to see Bordeaux’s new architectural masterpiece dedicated to wine
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Cheese affineur with a tasting lunch (2)
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Famous Duclot Wine Bar / Wine Store visit
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Bordeaux center walking tour
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Dinner is at your leisure; Ian and Alice will schedule this dinner location - all participants have the option to join or make plans of your own. Dinner is not included but you can decide your menu items and pay only for what you order and share. Wine Participation - pay for wines you choose to partake, participation is optional and additional.
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Accommodation: 5-star Hotel Burdigala
DAY FIVE: Thursday, April 3th – Visit Margaux & Pauillac
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Visit to Chateau Palmer, Margaux
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Visit Lynch Bages, Pauillac with Lunch (3) at Café Lavinal, Lynch-Bages
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Visit and tasting Château Grand Puy Lacoste
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Dinner is at your leisure; Ian and Alice will schedule this dinner location - all participants have the option to join or make plans of your own. Dinner is not included but you can decide your menu items and pay only for what you order and share. Wine Participation - pay for wines you choose to partake, participation is optional and additional.
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Accommodation: 5-star Hotel Burdigala
DAY SIX: Friday, April 4th – Saint Estephe & Pauillac
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Visit and tasting Pichon-Longueville Baron, Pauillac
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Lunch at Chez Driss, Pauillac Tajine place (4)
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Visit and tasting Chateau Calon Segur or Chateau Montrose - St. Estephe
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Farewell dinner: Maison Nouvelle* (michelin star, semi-traditional
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Accommodation: 5-star Hotel Burdigala
DAY SEVEN: Saturday, April 5th - Departure
CURRENT TRIP INCLUDES
Accommodation in Pessac and Bordeaux City Center for 6 nights
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2 nights 5-star Source de Caudalie from Sunday March 30th – Tuesday April 1st 2025
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Breakfast daily included in La Grande Vigne
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City tax daily
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4 nights 5-star Burdigala from Tuesday April 1st – Saturday April 5th 2025
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Breakfast daily
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City tax daily
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All chartered ground transportation for activities and drivers meals
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Transportation in midi-coach (8-20 pax) or minivan (5-7 persons)
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Visits, tastings and Four Lunches
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All breakfasts are included
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Four lunches are included
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Two Dinners are included
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(1) Welcome Dinner with aperitif and two glasses of wine
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(2) Farewell Dinner
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English speaking guided Bordeaux City Center Tour
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Admission/Entrance Fees into establishments being visited on DAY FOUR
All Wineries are tentative but quality will be high. Trip is not priced based on any one experience, visit, tasting or meal.
As we are still far out - we can change the order of events significantly to accommodate hotels and winery partner needs. Dates will not change.
Hotels are considered very good - some of the better accommodations - upgrades to better room types will also be offered inside the travel agreement.
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Steps
*Note this is a sample itinerary, confirmed itinerary details available via Registration Packet after a deposit for trip commitment has been received.
Core Trip Deposit $500 to secure your price based on the date. We are required to have 8 minimum and sells out at 14.
Deposit before Nov 1 $6,995.00 per person based on double occupancy - single supplement is $1200
Deposit on after Nov 1 $7,495.00 per person based on double occupancy - single supplement is $1200
Deposit on or after Dec 1: $7,900.00 per person based on double occupancy - single supplement is $1200 (if rooms are available)
Price will continue to increase as date of trip approaches and we start to loose our reservations.
Trip is valued over $10,000 per person
Note*: "single supplement" is necessary as it covers the other 1/2 of the room cost as we stay in top quality hotels.
About
IAN BLACKBURN
I discovered the wine industry while working with Chef’s Thomas Keller and Joachim Splichal in the top dining rooms of Los Angeles. My passion redirected my career from restaurants/hotels to vineyards and wine-education. Now with over 25-years of experience hosting events; leading trips around the wine world; I published a wine book; produced my own wine called Beekeeper Cellars and sat for the difficult Master of Wine Exam! Today, I am considered one of the region's best wine educators and work for my 20,000 followers (follow me), visiting vineyards and wine regions and produce over 100 wine classes and events a year for my businesses and my team.