Anyone familiar with Bordeaux?

[gulfstream69xr7]

My wife and I are going to France in a couple weeks and have most of the trip planned.

One thing we are still looking for is recommendations for wine tasting and chateaux visiting on the left bank in the Bordeaux region. She has an entire day of tastings organized on the right bank, but has yet to get a response from any of the wineries we've contacted on the left bank. It's as if they aren't taking reservations for visits yet. Not that they've said they are booked, just no response at all. Know of any wineries on the left bank that would be booking tastings/tours before April 1st.

Also, any restaurant recommendations, or wine tasting places for Bordeaux City? We are spending one night in the city, before we head back to Paris.

How about a place for lunch mid day on the left bank?

Any places beer places in or around Bordeaux, that I could sample some local or regional French beers. I love the French farmhouse ales, and it would be awesome to find a nice beer bar to slip into after a week of wine tasting. I've done brewery tours from Japan to Germany. I'd love to find a French microbrewery to visit.

Any other do's - don'ts? Suggestions of any kind?

Thanks!

[KDS777]

I can't give you any restaurant reco's because I did this back in 2001.......but it is one of the best days you'll ever spend.

[mschafer]

See if you can stay at CHÂTEAU CORDEILLAN-BAGES. Let them set you up with Lynch-bages, we did a whole vertical tasting and wine class with them. I think they also offer this in English. We also visited Pontet canet and some other vineyards thanks to the concierge. As for food, we loved the cafe lavinal as it was hard to a table at the CHÂTEAU CORDEILLAN-BAGES.
One of our fav trips...so I'm very jealous. Luckly we're going to Arles in the late spring for the Rencontres (photo festival).
But i hear (NYT) Bordeaux shapped up and has some interesting things going on.

[gulfstream69xr7]

Originally Posted by mschafer

See if you can stay at CHÂTEAU CORDEILLAN-BAGES. Let them set you up with Lynch-bages, we did a whole vertical tasting and wine class with them. I think they also offer this in English. We also visited Pontet canet and some other vineyards thanks to the concierge. As for food, we loved the cafe lavinal as it was hard to a table at the CHÂTEAU CORDEILLAN-BAGES.
One of our fav trips...so I'm very jealous. Luckly we're going to Arles in the late spring for the Rencontres (photo festival).
But i hear (NYT) Bordeaux shapped up and has some interesting things going on.

Thanks for the tip. We are already booked for Hotels, but I will ask the concierge about booking Pontet Canet. We are staying at Chateau Mirambeau.

[AK797]

I haven't been since I was a teenager with the family, but I remember having a great time on Arcachon beach not far away. Also Cognac is not far North, worth a visit for obvious reasons.

[OmegaJJH]

Have a wonderful time

Please keep us updated and i'd be really grateful if you could drop me a PM on your return with what was fantastic and unmissable and what to avoid etc (especially when it comes to wine tasting).

We are going to Bordeaux for a week in June