Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We spent 6 days in Bordeaux in late May. Decanter secured a local guide 6 days and a local driver 5 days. Our guide, Veronica, was very knowledgeable of the appellations, the history and the wines in the Bordeaux region. Julie at Decanter spent time with us upfront to understand the types of experiences we wanted. The tours were personalized to our preferences. Julie arranged wonderful lunches at the Chateaus we visited, which were outstanding. One lunch included a cooking class with chef Stephanie. Julie arranged a boat excursion on the bay of Arcachon, including a great lunch and oyster tastings. Our guide, Veronica, and our driver, Eric, were fun, friendly and on time. Julie and Audrey at Decanter also planned 2 days for us in Champagne including incredible tastings, very special access and experiences including two wonderful lunches. Our guide, Lucie, and driver, Lucas, were both local to Reims. Again our guide and driver were very knowledgeable, friendly, and explained exactly what to expect for the day. I would highly recommend Decanter for a truly unique and personalized tour experiencePosted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I started out my search for a 3 week trip to France for my wife & I’s wedding anniversary. We wanted to concentrate on Bordeaux & Champagne but ending in Paris for our actual anniversary. We interviewed 3 different companies & Decanter stood out heads & tails above the rest for the following reasons: 1) They were able to get us into Chateau’s & Champagne houses we normally wouldn’t have had access to with elevated experiences not for the general public. Contacts like Julie & Audrey, make the impossible possible. Other companies we interviewed told us they couldn’t get us in or they wanted to control the itinerary. Decanter for 90% of the trip allowed me control. 2) The other companies wanted us to stay at properties of their choosing so they can control the entire experience, which I get but I had places I wanted to stay at & Dencanter was very flexible on this. 3) The price was the best part as they were very reasonable compared to the other quotes & provided more bang for the buck. During our touring days, we were paired with the greatest guides & drivers I’ve ever experienced. They were knowledgeable & accommodating. If we wanted to extend the time, pull off the road to look at something off the beaten path, it wasn’t an issue. Always suggesting more things we could see or do on our down time. All guides were WSET3 if I remember correctly, maybe 1 was a 4. Any issue that popped up during the trip, was handled professionally & timely. While we were in Paris, we learned about the 20% TVA tax which is reimbursable but none of the Chateaus or Champagne houses we purchased from provided the correct documentation for us to claim the refund. Even though we were through our touring with Decanter, Julie provided exceptional service after trip with help on invoicing, shipping & TVA (taxes). Without her help we would not have gotten the tax money back. So thank you to everyone at Decanter for making our anniversary a once in a lite time memory. I highly recommend them & would use them again & again. Sincerely, MitchPosted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was an incredible trip. Our driver, Eric and our guide, Veronica were simply amazing. Every detail was taken care of. We especially enjoyed the flexibility in adjusting the itinerary to accommodate our needs. We booked 5 days in Bordeaux including a day at Arcachon Bay and in Cognac. Our time at Remy was unparalleled to anything else we’ve done. I researched private luxury tours for quite a while and I am so glad we chose Decanter. We would do it all over again. Thank you Julie and Mary for putting all of this together.Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The visits to the Bordeaux chateaus over 3 days for our group were outstanding. Julie was detailed including the selection of the wines and vintages, responsive and took into account our preferences in organising the itinerary. We appreciate our highly knowledgeable tour guide, Veronica who made the visits so interesting and informative. She was funny and clear, imparting knowledge clearly and accurately. We highly recommend her for Bordeaux chateau visits. She is the best! (All this coming from one who has been drinking and reading up about Bordeaux wines for more than 30 years). Not to forget our driver, Patrick whose driving was impeccable and brought us to our venues promptly and safely.Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From beginning to end, Decanter is pure passion, professionalism, and hospitality. After reaching out initially, Julie's highest priority was to understand the experience we were looking for and tailor to the tour to match it. She was very responsive and kept a great dialogue going all the way up until the tour date. While we couldn't secure a visit at a First Growth, due to many of them being closed for renovations, she was able to secure us a tour a Haut-Brion's little sister, La Mission. The tour itself was everything we hoped it would be. Our awesome tour guide Veronica met us in the lobby of our hotel and escorted us to a brand new Mercedes driven by the dignified Zak. Veronica was expertly versed in all things Bordeaux (and beyond) and being from New Zealand, is a natural English speaker which made us feel very much at ease being in the heart of France. She accompanied us on all of the tours and was a perfect liaison between us and the chateau. Our first stop at, La Mission Haut-Brion, was an exquisite history lesson in how the top-tier winemakers separate themselves from the rest. Our host Andre was warm, knowledgeable, and proud to be part of this legendary estate. We appreciated how he recognized our experience with wine tours and organically tailored the experience based on our questions. Our tour ended with a 2-wine tasting including their second label and grand cru. While we could've sipped and chatted with Andre for another hour, we made our way to our second stop which set the new standard for wine tour hospitality, Marquis d'Alesme. As soon as you walk in the door, you're welcomed with a warm towel and refreshing tea. Those that are familiar with Asian style hospitality will feel very at home here. The tour was has the standard fermentation tanks and barrels, but also added unique aromatic workshop. Our tasting was a comprehensive perspective of their many estates including their refreshing whites and 3 vintages of their opulent reds. We were then treated to a great lunch with our tasting bottles in tow to finish things off. I can't say enough good things about our experience and highly recommend them to others. The price of admission is high, but from our experience, you won't be disappointed with the product.Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Julie at Decanter Tours was amazing! She planned a wonderful trip for my wife and I on very short notice. She was responsive and creative in helping us determine what all we wanted to see in Burgundy. I cannot recommend Decanter Tours enough!Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This is not just a wine tour. This is the tour you book if you want Bordeaux to change you. I could talk about the exceptional communication, the get-to-know-you Zoom, the texts before the tour, the beautifully outlined brochure for our custom trip, or the fact that we canceled after placing a deposit and, a year later, they still honored it. I could talk about how quickly they respond. But honestly, with this outfit, that level of excellence feels like a given. What you really need is a guide. You need Veronica. Not someone who simply explains how red wine is made. If you came to Bordeaux just to ride around and drink in a pretty place, there are easier and cheaper destinations. Bordeaux is for people who want to understand why wine matters. Understand wine throng history, sociology, geography, meteorology, agricultural traditions, and cultural. You want the gossip behind why two of the world’s most expensive Merlots intentionally left their elite classification. You want to see black charcoal marks on the ceiling of ancient limestone wine caves, carved by monks over centuries (800-1800). You want to hold history in your hands through a 1694 accounting book discovered in an attic, revealing centuries of unknown family legacy at a château run by women for 29 generations, over 500 years. You want to sit with the chateau owners and hear their stories of battling harsh climate threats and modernizing resistant ancient appellations. The passion and willingness to survive in a downturning wine market, and how the fighting against all odds comes from as one wine maker described it “a love affair”. You want to understand how the same grape varietals in the same appellation can create completely different wines through choices, philosophy, and technique. You want to stand where the Roman’s planted vines 2,000 years ago. You want to be so in awe of the place, the culture, and the people that you almost forget about the drinking. And then there is Xavier. He is not just a driver. He is a photographer, world traveler, and mind reader who thinks ten steps ahead. Doors open, trash disappears, everything flows so perfectly it feels like magic. This is not a “pose for photos” outfit (although Veronica took and shared dozens of photos). This is an educational, emotional, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You may only visit Bordeaux once. Make it count. Be wowed. This is the tour.Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This is the second time we have used Decanter Tours to provide private guided tours for us on our vacation in Europe. For this trip, we visited several different counties (France, Italy, Austria, others) and they were able to connect us with high quality local experts in each region to plan and host our visits. We are very happy with the extensive knowledge of these guides and their connections which allowed them to plan a great experience for us.Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had the most amazing wine tour thanks to Veronica and Thibault! Veronica was an absolute delight — knowledgeable, warm, and full of passion for Bordeaux and its wines. She made every stop come alive with fascinating stories and insights that made us appreciate each château even more. Veronica even went the extra mile, we went with our daughter and Veronica even took the time to make sure Marcela was making a great experience as well and even colored and played with her, she was truly exceptional. Thibault was an excellent driver — professional, friendly, and made the whole journey smooth and relaxing. Together, they created the perfect balance of fun, education, and comfort. It truly felt like a special experience, far beyond a typical tour. We can’t recommend them highly enough — if you get the chance to have Veronica and Thibault as your guide and driver, you’re in for a treat. Hope to see them soon when we’re back!Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Julie and Audrey were amazing. We were able to gain access to some of the most exclusive Château's in Bordeaux through Julie's friendship and connections with viewers throughout Bordeaux. Each tour was private and were all unique regarding the personalized experiences. I have traveled to most of the world's wine regions and I must say this was as exclusive and indepth as I have ever experienced. My group of 5 friends all had the same opinion, Decanter Tours is the best choice.Load more
Experience the finest private wine tours in Bordeaux and beyond. With over 20 years of expertise, we craft tailor-made wine journeys to iconic regions like Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Burgundy, and Champagne. Explore exclusive chateaux with expert guides and seamless planning for a truly unforgettable experience.
