Top 10 must-do activities and experiences around Bordeaux

Touring the vineyards on an electric bike 

What better means of transport than an electrically-assisted bicycle to take full advantage of the landscapes of the Bordeaux vineyards? It's the ideal soft mobility solution for exploring the vineyards at your own pace and discovering the region from a more sustainable angle. The Bulle Verte routes allow you to cycle through the region effortlessly, while discovering the secrets behind the production of these world-renowned wines. Let the web app be your guide as you explore the medieval village of Saint Emilion, at the heart of the first vineyard to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by bike! Immerse yourself in the world of the Sauternes vineyards from Château Guiraud. Stroll through the vineyards of the Sauternes-Barsac appellation and admire the lush green landscape around you as you follow the Bulle Verte route from Château Doisy Daëne! Each cycle tour ends with a tasting of the estate's wines, for a complete experience.

Walking among the vines

Would you like to discover the Bordeaux vineyards in a different way? Why not try a walking tour? Walking among the vines with the Bulle Verte is not just about visiting the vineyards in a more sustainable way, it's also about taking the time to appreciate the surrounding nature, learn more about viticulture, go behind the scenes of Bordeaux wine production and discover the history of a wine château. The various points of interest along the way are indicated on the itinerary displayed on the app. Let yourself be carried along and enjoy! The tour ends with a tasting of the wines from the estate you've explored on foot. Each route is unique and takes you through a unique environment. Walk along the banks of the Garonne in a bucolic setting on the Bardet vineyard trail in Saint-Émilion. Take a break between port and vineyards at Château de Portets. Enjoy a nature walk along the banks of the Garonne at Château de Cérons. There are many other walking trails to discover around Gironde with the Bulle Verte!

Learn the art of blending

Bordeaux wines are blends, which means that they are made from different grape varieties. A Bordeaux red wine will be the fruit of a skilful blend of Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec. For white Bordeaux wines, the main grape varieties are Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle. The blending workshop is an unusual and immersive activity that allows you to discover this precious know-how from another angle. After identifying the flavours and specific characteristics of each grape variety, and carrying out several trials to find the perfect dosage, you'll be able to compose your own wine. This original experience offered by Château des Tourtes gives you all the keys you need to understand the world of Bordeaux wines.

Visit a Bordeaux wine château

Visiting a wine château is one of the must-do activities on a trip to the heart of the Bordeaux wine region. This flagship wine tourism experience gives you the opportunity to meet the people who shape the region and contribute to the international reputation of the Bordeaux wine region. It's a chance to share local know-how, the history of a family estate and the specific characteristics of a terroir.  A large number of wine châteaux open their doors to you, so which one should you visit? It all depends on the type of experience you're looking for: discovering a grand cru classé, visiting a monument steeped in history, meeting independent winegrowers, exploring an architectural gem, going behind the scenes at a prestigious château. With Bulle Verte experiences, you can visit a wide variety of châteaux spread across the different wine-growing regions of the Gironde: Médoc, Blaye, Graves and Sauternes, Entre-deux-Mers.

Tasting the region's emblematic wines

Wine-tasting is the wine tourism activity par excellence. How can you visit an area known the world over for its grands crus classés and prestigious wine châteaux without tasting its exceptional wines? The tasting workshop will be an opportunity to learn how to taste and appreciate Bordeaux wines. Saint-Émilion, Médoc, Margaux, Léognan, Sauternes and Pomerol are just some of the appellations that have made the Bordeaux wine region famous, and you can discover them all during your stay! Red wine, dry white wine, sweet white wine: you'll be spoilt for choice. Tastings are included in all our Bulle Verte experiences, so Bordeaux wines will hold no secrets for you.

Enjoy the countryside on an electric scooter 

The all-terrain electric scooter is a great alternative to the electric bike. It's effortless to get around, but the sensations are multiplied tenfold. The all-terrain electric scooter is perfectly suited to the undulating landscapes of the Entre-deux-Mers region. You'll have no trouble reaching the magnificent views from the region's hillsides. Get your thrills and enjoy the exceptional panoramas all around you as you travel through the vineyards on an electric scooter! Fancy giving it a try? The Château Vieille Tour is the ideal starting point for an excursion combining heritage and nature, guided by web app. Ready for an adrenalin rush in the heart of the vineyards?

Picnicking among the vines 

The vineyards of Bordeaux are the perfect backdrop for a bucolic picnic. Whether at the foot of the vines or in the shade of the trees in the grounds of a wine château, it's up to you to choose the experience that suits you best! A country picnic combines wine tasting at a renowned estate with the discovery of local produce. The composition of the picnic will reflect the prestige of the château offering it. The great picnic classics can be revisited by a chef, as at Château de Cérons, or made with produce from the estate's vegetable garden, as at Château Guiraud. A moment to share with your partner, family or friends in an exceptional setting!

Visiting cellars and wineries around Bordeaux

If you choose to explore the vineyards of Bordeaux, a visit to the cellars or wineries is one of the experiences you won't want to miss during your stay! The creation of a Bordeaux wine is not limited to the work in the vineyards: blending and ageing also play a major role. By taking part in a tour of a winery, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how these prestigious wines are made. It's the perfect wine tourism experience to discover the world of this exceptional terroir. Visiting the cellars of a Bordeaux château is an excellent way to get started.

Enjoy a delicious meal in an unusual setting

The variety of landscapes in the Bordeaux vineyards offers a wealth of possibilities for unusual experiences! A picnic in the gardens of a cloister sounds crazy? In the heart of the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, the Cordeliers cloister invites you to enjoy an unusual picnic showcasing the region's producers. Château Vieille Tour, meanwhile, invites you to savour delicious home-made platters made from local and seasonal produce in a guinguette atmosphere in the heart of nature. At Table de Réaut, you can enjoy local dishes with a panoramic view of the hillsides and the Garonne. What could be better?

Sleep in the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards

It's a dream to travel the Bordeaux wine route and sleep in authentic surroundings in the heart of the vineyards! Experience the life of a château for a night or a weekend - that's what a number of hotels in the Bordeaux region have to offer. Luxury hotel, bed and breakfast, unusual accommodation - all you have to do is choose the type of accommodation that suits you best for your nature break in Gironde. Here are a few addresses carefully selected by La Bulle Verte to offer you a moment of total relaxation with your feet in the vineyards: the refined guest rooms at Château Sigalas on the Bordeaux wine route in Graves and Sauternes, the 5-star Château Hôtel Grand Barrail in Saint-Émilion, the Château Léognan hotel estate or the luxurious guest rooms at Château Prieuré-Marquet !

Let yourself be tempted by a natural and sustainable getaway around Bordeaux with the Bulle Verte - Exploration tranquille experiences !  FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @explorationtranquille - Copywriting & photos by @erikavoyage