EDU Wine Tours

Bordeaux, the ‘French Wine Capital’ is famous for its First Cru Chateaux and their Bordeaux blends. There are the five main international grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carménère, Petit Verdot and even ‘black’ Malbec makes the list.

New challenges are now occluding the bright image of the region. Global warming, climatic changes, declining consumption, uncertain markets, and consumer trends are disturbing production.

A large EU funded incentive program to encourage pulling vineyards out, with the removal of thousands of planted areas, mostly in the Entre-Deux-Mers subregion of Bordeaux has been the most immediate answer to the glut of red generic Bordeaux wine production.

Newly implemented and innovative vineyard and winery programs are helping to adapt Bordeaux to challenges. These Include the use of single varieties or forgotten ones, changes in training, pruning, organic methods and agroforestry. In the winery the use of lighter extraction, shorter macerations in concrete, terracotta, or large foudre casks, if not contemporary style of bottles and labels. All are contributing to a new age of Bordeaux Chateaux.

During the week tour we will visit wineries from Graves to Pessac and Barsac, St Emilion and Pomerol, Blayes and Medoc. ‘Old’ styles and new ‘Vignerons Pirate’ winemakers will present their best solutions.

Every day, we will visit two to three key wineries, hosted by the proprietor or the head winemaker and followed by focused tastings.