Decanter Tours

The Best Time to Visit a Medoc Chateau

Decanter Tour Staff
 - 
July 24, 2024
Share This 

Home to some of the world’s most famous and prestigious chateaus, the Médoc is a region in southwest France, just at the doorstep of the capital of wine, Bordeaux. Situated on the legendary “Left Bank”, referring to its geographical position in relation to the Gironde estuary, Médoc is known for its high-quality red wines, particularly those made from grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc

A stone’s throw away from Bordeaux, the Medoc is a vast area that stretches some 50 miles (80 kms) in length and 9 miles at its widest point (15 kms). Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Gironde estuary to the east, it takes roughly one hour and 45 minutes to reach the peninsula’s most westerly point, the Pointe de Grave, from Bordeaux. 

The Médoc itself is divided into several smaller appellations, including:

  • Haut-Médoc: The southern part of Médoc, known for prestigious wine communes such as Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Saint-Estèphe.
  • Bas-Médoc: Sometimes simply referred to as Médoc, it encompasses the northern part of the region.

The Médoc region is home to many of the classified growths (crus classés) from the Bordeaux Official Wine Classification of 1855, which ranks the top châteaux in Bordeaux. Some of the most famous estates include Château Margaux, Château Latour, and Château Mouton Rothschild. 

With the prestige and reputation of the region, it’s no wonder that people want to visit and taste the very best. There’s a wide range of chateaux to choose from, ranging from small family-run wineries to boutique wineries to the grandiose 1855 Classified Growth Chateaus. 

WHEN TO VISIT?

Historically, chateaus were only open to wine professionals and those in the trade, but wine tourism has grown considerably over the years. According to Agora Tourisme Bordeaux, part of Bordeaux Métropole Tourism and Convention Office (OTCBM), there were an estimated 2 million wine tourists in the Bordeaux wine region in 2018. 

With such high volume, to avoid disappointment, we always recommend booking months in advance. Particularly for the most famous chateaus, that are often overwhelmed with requests, it's best to plan 6-9 months earlier. For smaller chateaus, it’s still possible to book a week or two before but you shouldn't wait too long as due to their own daily demands of running a winery, they may not have much flexibility. Finally, while not as common as in other parts of the wine world, there are a few chateaus that have tasting rooms where you can drop in, but keep in mind the hours of service as French chateaus generally close during lunch hours, from 12pm to 2pm. 

AUTUMN

Harvest is a magical time, when grapes are juicy and sweet, and the landscape reveals a myriad of colors, indicating that a change of season. With the onset of harvest, the region wakes up and the action begins.  This is perhaps the best time to visit, but paradoxically also the worst, particularly if planning to visit the most famous properties, like Chateau Margaux or Mouton Rothschild. With all hands on deck, chateaus are preoccupied with ensuring the grapes are in the cellar before early autumn rains roll in or unexpected warmer temperatures, both which change the grape’s–and thus, the final wine’s–quality. 

SEPTEMBER is one of the most visited month of the year so don't be surprised if it's super packed with visitors, making last-minute bookings almost impossible and country roads sluggish. As noted above, considering booking well in advance if you plan on visiting at this time.  OCTOBER is the tail end of high season and harvest, so still quite a lot of movement, but slightly less busy. More chateau options become available and it's probably the right time to get a glimpse of a Bordeaux harvest. NOVEMBER is the end of tourist season and many chateaus are slowing things down, such as closing on the weekends and less flexible as staff may be limited. 

WINTER 

Following the stresses and demands of harvest, chateaus go back to a lower gear. While there are still options for visits, in DECEMBER most chateaus will close on the weekend, only offering visits and tours during the week, usually from 9-12pm, 2-5pm. Christmas is vitally important, as a Catholic country, and so chateaus are closed during the holidays. Some may even close for longer, taking advantage of low demands in tourism and the little work required in the cellar.

JANUARY and FEBRUARY are the slowest months, with limited visiting hours and touring/tasting experiences. In addition, the vineyards aren’t at their prettiest, as the vines are dormant during the wet and cold winter months. 

SPRING

Things begin to pick up in MARCH, with spring just around the corner. In the vineyards, pruning has already begun and there’s some action taking place in the cellar, moving newly fermented wine into barrels for ageing. Chateaus will be gearing up for the start of the tourist season, but hours will still be limited to office hours, Monday to Friday (expect lunch hours to be closed). 

APRIL is a particularly important time for Medoc wineries as the en primeurs (or ‘futures’) "draws 5 000 to 6,000 wine professionals from all over the world," according to the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) , to taste the new wines. While en primeurs is technically only one week long, the weeks before and after are especially busy, with tastings, dinners and events happening throughout the month, as such, chateaus prioritise professional visits over general visits, and many of the most famous names will close for the entire month. 

MAY, in general, is a good month with the caveat that there are quite a few French bank holidays (namely the 1st, 8th, 9th and 20th) and chateaus will be closed for visits. By the end of the month, however, chateaus are in full-swing with visiting hours extending into the weekend (some may even open on Sundays!).

SUMMER

JUNE and JULY are the sweet spot months for visiting Medoc chateaus. This is the ideal time to come as the weather is fine, Bordeaux is buzzing with events and tasting, and chateaus are fully operational. Visiting hours are extended to include weekends, with a few chateaus open during lunch/siesta hours and Sundays. If it hasn't been too hot, the vineyards are green and lush, making it ideal for amateur photographer or those that want to capture the perfect image.  

In AUGUST, with higher temperatures and schools closed, most Bordelaise are on vacation. The vibe is slower and sleepier in Bordeaux, except for the many tourists strolling through the cobble stone streets. In the Medoc, things tend to get quieter, but it's a great time to visit if you don’t mind the heat. You’ll see the grapes in their late ripening stage, perhaps even getting to sample one or two.  Most chateaus have full opening hours, with a few boutique wineries open on Sundays and during lunch.  At the end of August, some of the bigger and well-known properties will close for a few weeks, to get a much needed rest before harvest begins. 

A FINAL WORD

It’s always a good idea to do preliminary research, particularly when it comes to visiting the most famous chateaus. Some may accept visitors, some may not, or some may be more willing during particular moments of the year. You may get lucky on your first shot or you may need to be persistent (with grace and humility, bien sûr). Check visiting hours and remember to think about French bank holidays. If your emails go unanswered, try calling. If your calls aren't returned, then consider leaving things in the hands of trusted professionals, i.e. Decanter Tours

While it’s certainly possible to plan and book your visits on your own, to ensure you actually get what you want, when you want it, get in touch

CUSTOMER SUPPORT
MAILING LIST
Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Book Now
cross