We love arranging private tours tailored to our guests’ interests. We had a wonderful time this spring with Peggy and John during a week-long immersion in the local culture of the Médoc and Bordeaux. Their adventure is a beautiful showcase example of the type of getaway we can create for you.

We explored the busy summer market and serene Atlantic beaches of Montalivet. Our winery visits included the elegant Château Tronquoy-Lalande in St-Estèphe and the enchanting Château Larrivaux, whose quarries provided a lot of the gorgeous limestone characteristic of the stately buildings in Bordeaux (Fun deep-dive about the stone).

Not just because Larrivaux prepares delightful dinners just for us, the château holds a very special place in our hearts: It has great wines and an intriguing history. Since the late 1500s, this château has been operated exclusively by the women of the family, each generation maintaining tradition while infusing it with their own energy and ideas. This blend of continuity and verve makes Larrivaux a big pleasure to share with people. Check out their Instagram

Another highlight was a trip to the nearby abbey ruins. We went expecting to see the nest white storks build annually at the arch's tip, but were amazed to discover 14 nests adorning the monastery walls and buildings!

This experience underscores how viniculture in our region goes beyond preserving cultural traditions, driving the economy, and serving the palates of wine lovers. It maintains the health of the landscape along the Gironde river which, along with the regions forests, marshes, and Atlantic coast, provide reliable habitats that attract and support a rich array of bird life that includes white storks, herons, skylarks, nightingales, and fan-tailed warblers.

Happy New Year! 

Looking back over last year makes us terribly excited for the year to come. Last year we saw two of the amazing wine estates nearby open up opportunities for visitors to tour the gussied-up châteaux and vineyards. It's really thrilling to be able to get a better insight into what makes this region so special to the world of wine.

Phélan-Ségur has a wonderful program of tastings, vineyard walks with their chef, and luncheons. At the Phélan-Ségur harvest last year, we were lucky to be able to see the harvest operation, hear about the new investments and ideas they are bringing to their winemaking, do a vertical tasting of their wines, and join a sumptuous lunch for wine négotiants from Bordeaux. 

The other estate to make big changes is Cos d'Estournel, which opened a beautiful boutique inn and restaurant called Maison d'Estournel in the Château Pomys in St-Estèphe. Worthy of the write-ups it's getting, Maison d'Estournel is a gem of flawless hospitality. We love dropping in for a cocktail and a snack either in the library or on the lawn patio overlooking the famous vineyards and plan to go back lots this year.

Here's hoping in this new year you will be able to join us on some of our adventures.

​Cheers!