After Bruges, our ship docked in Verdon, and we had prearranged a private tour of the Médoc wine region.

Touring the Médoc with Frédéric

It was a wonderful day touring some wineries in Bordeaux, learning about the process and rules of making Bordeaux wines on a private day tour with Frédéric from Rendez-Vous Au Château. We were fortunate to be visiting while they were harvesting merlot grapes, so everything was in full production. We remain a huge fan of the French countryside.

Château Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe

We started at Château Lafon-Rochet in the Saint-Estèphe region, guided by another William. These wine estates are, in reality, exactly what you would imagine them to be.

Château Lamothe-Bergeron in Haut-Médoc

Then onto Château Lamothe-Bergeron in Haut-Médoc, guided by Anne. Equally as lovely in its beauty and in its wine.

Lunch at Le Bontemps

Such touring builds up an appetite, so off to Le Bontemps for a delicious prix-fixe lunch — a small café in a small village. Mussels, an eggplant and goat cheese salad, and canelé with coffee.

A Few More Stops on the Way Back

And some stops and sights on the way back to the ship.

Our Take

Thank you, Frédéric, for a great day — the pacing, the estate tours, the wine tastings, and lunch were all spot on. Cheers!

Quick Tips for a Private Médoc Wine Tour from Verdon

• Book a private tour, like the one with Rendez-Vous Au Château, if you want a well-paced day covering multiple estates plus lunch.
• Ask about harvest timing — visiting during the merlot harvest meant seeing the estates in full production, which added a lot to the day.
• Save room for lunch at a local spot like Le Bontemps — a prix-fixe menu at a small village café rounded out the day perfectly.
• Trust your guide’s pacing — moving between two very different estates (Saint-Estèphe and Haut-Médoc) in one day worked well without feeling rushed.