There is no shortage of things to do in Bordeaux, a region known for its wine and the extensive vineyards in the surrounding countryside. But there is no need to leave the city to discover the great world of wine. Take advantage of the city’s fascination with the divine nectar and visit one of Bordeaux city’s many great wine bars. 1. Located just down the street from the Wine Museum in Chartrons, Verre o Vin is a small local bar with an amazing offering. Carved into the historic limestone buildings of the city’s ancient wine district, Verre o Vin offers both bottle service and wines by the glass served from Enomatic machines. There is also a small but high quality menu of farm-to-table deli plates and regional items, like foie gras, to accompany your tasting - Verre o Vin, 43 Rue Borie, Bordeaux 33300 , +33 (0)5 56 02 52 09. 2. About a block down the street from Verre o Vin, Le Bois dit Vin offers an entirely different wine experience. Offering tapas and an ever-changing Bordeaux focused wine list, Verre o Vin is dedicated to helping you discover what the region has to offer.

The friendly bar staff will ask you what style of wine you prefer (fruity red, sweet white etc.) and help you to discover a similar Bordeaux style at a reasonable price - Le Bois dit Vin, 138 Rue Notre Dame, Bordeaux 33300, +33 (0)5 56 02 20 60. 3. A local favorite, Aux Quatre Coins du Vin can get very busy but is well worth braving the crowds.  With a range of about 40 wines available by the glass (tasting pour, half glass or full glass) via Enomatic machines, this is one of the largest wine selections in Bordeaux. With prices ranging from 3 to 30 euros and excellent appetizers, there is something for everyone - Aux Quatre Coins du Vin, 8 Rue de la Devise, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 57 34 37 29. 4. The Conseil Interprofessionnel de Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), is a governmental organization that represents and manages Bordeaux and all of the appellations within the region. The wine bar offers a selected menu (that frequently changes) and represents the wide range of Bordeaux offerings (Cremant, dry and sweet whites, Left and Right Bank reds, Classified Growths, Cru Bourgeois) at incredible prices.

In addition, they offer small deli plates, foie gras and a chocolate sampler. best wine bar downtown portlandIf you are new to Bordeaux and Bordeaux wines this is a great first stop, but beware the long lines and go in the early afternoon - CIVB Le Bar a Vin, 3 Cours de 30 Juillet, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 56 00 43 47.best wine bar rochester 5. The Max Bordeaux Gallery is as much a wine museum as a wine bar, with additional locations in Asia. best wine bar venice caBut it is an amazing place to discover the Grand Crus and the top Bordeaux wines by the glass from Enomatic. In one sitting you can discover Chateau Margaux and Chateau Yquem, but be prepared to pay the First Growth prices. In addition, the Sommelier offers small intimate seminars in both English and French that highlight the difference of the various appellations, but you have to book in advance.

Beware the bar closes early (8 pm) so it is another early afternoon location - Max Bordeaux, 14 Cours de l’Intendance, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 57 29 23 81. 6. A small and cozy bar in the lobby of a Boutique Hotel in the city center, this wine bar is a great experience for the adventurous wine lover. Here also the waiters don’t offer you a menu, rather they ask what type of wine you prefer and bring you a bottle with a hidden label. You then can taste and attempt to discover the varietal, vintage and production area, which isn’t always even in France. In addition, the bar offers tapas and deli plates as well as a garden seating area for the warm summer months - Le Boutique Hotel Wine Bar, 3 Rue Lafaurie Monbadon, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 56 48 80 40. 7. Located on the Garonne River bank, the Bistro du Fromager is part wine bar, part cheese monger. With a small patio seating outside you can enjoy the Bordeaux weather or you can head inside to enjoy the modern ambiance and the rich cheese smell.

Offering an amazing selection of reasonably priced wines by the glass, a cellar of fun bottles and fun cheese plates, this is a great place to discover the art of wine and cheese paring - Bistro du Fromager, 73 Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 56 98 17 08. 8. A tiny location in the heart of the Bordeaux city center, Bô Bar is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine outside in the heart of the bustling Place Saint Pierre. With a focus on natural wines from around the world, this is another wine bar that sets out to help you discover something new based on your taste preferences. Because of licensing issues you have to order food to go with your wine but you can opt for the 1 euro snack plate - Bô Bar, 8 Place Saint Pierre, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 56 79 38 20. 9. Another gem perched in Chartrons, La Conserverie Converserie is part wine bar, part wine shop and part specialist food retailer. A simple rustic space, this shop is lined with wooden shelves stocked with good food and good wine.

Themed nights (Beaujolais Nouveau, Argentine Night, etc) and Sunday Brunches offer opportunities to discover regional specialties. Linger here to chat with locals and experience true French hospitality - La Conserverie Converserie, 18 Rue Notre Dame, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 56 81 49 17. 10.  With a wine list that changes frequently, Wine More Time is a wine store, a wine bar and a temple to all things wine. Offering a wide range of French wines at reasonable prices, the bar also offers a unique selection of beers and spirits as well as deli plates. With its dedicated tasting space, they offer specialised wine courses and planned tastings and can organize private events - Wine More Time, 8 Rue Saint James, Bordeaux 33000, +33 (0)5 56 52 85 61. You'll find all ten bars plotted on our Bordeaux map below. Discover more about Bordeaux in the following articles:The article was written by Pascale Bernasse Wine Tours of France with coordination from Leslie Orndoff. Bordeaux is beautiful city.

But face it, today, the region is famous for its stunning wines and not the city. While it’s fun to visit chateau and taste the wine at the property, there are times when you want to enjoy one or more glasses of wine. The place to do that is often at one of the numerous Bordeaux wine bars. To make this easy for all the numerous visitors to Bordeaux, we’ve put together a list of the top 10, best wine bars in Bordeaux. Each Bordeaux wine bar on this list has their own style and character and list. These bars all offer you a way to taste wines from the Left Bank , Right Bank and the smaller satellite appellations . The concept of the wine bar in Bordeaux is now fashionable. This is a positive development and trend for the region. Because until recently, those that wished to sample local wines—or wines in general—would do so at restaurants, chateaux, or from wine merchants. Today, there is a growing number of Bordeaux wine bars that cater to those who are looking to sample wines from well-respected estates or to those eager to try a variety of French wines.

To help guide you to an authentic Bordeaux wine bar experience, here is a compilation of the top ten wine bars in Bordeaux: 1.Le Wine Bar known for its welcoming, colorful owners and its successful blending of French and Italian wines and food. This is perhaps Bordeaux’s best example of a modern wine bar. Opened by Italians, Giancarlo Savini, Emmanuel Cadei, and their French wives, this 25 seat wine bar sits in a quite corner in the historic St. Pierre neighborhood. The owners’ Italian influence can be felt with lunch and dinner plates displaying burrata and bruschettas alongside foie gras and cured duck magret. The wine list is comprehensive with a focus on Bordeaux as well as other French wine regions. They offer roughly 60 wines by the glass and nearly 300 by the bottle. 19 rue des Bahutiers 2. Grand Bar Castan known for its reminiscent Belle Epoque décor and its stunning waterfront views. Originally opened in the 1890s, stepping into the Grand Bar Castan is like stepping back in time.

Renovated in 2005 to its original Victorian style including its stone walls and antique furnishings, it is not a typical wine bar. Visitors can enjoy cheese, charcuterie, and one of the many moderately priced bottles of wine; or perhaps indulge on numerous wines from Margaux and other Left Bank wines. More than wine, after a thorough wine tasting , try one the Castan’s aged single malt whiskies, vintage Champagnes, or 50-year-old Armagnacs. 2 quai de la Douane 3. Wine More Time known for its rotating list of wines by the glass and its selection of small-production wines from France. Doubling as a wine shop, Wine More Time caters to a more young-ish crowd on the weekends. Go for the reasonably priced, yet eclectic, small- production wines from France, Europe, and South America. Or pick a bottle from the retail display area and enjoy it along side some of the bar’s plates of cheese and charcuterie (there is a small corkage fee). 4. Max Bordeaux known for offering First Growths by the glass and some of the best wines from a variety of different appellations by the glass.

Clean, modern lines greet wine lovers when they walk into this wine bar that is less a wine bar than a gallery and a cellar. Max Bordeaux offers a strong selection of 1855 Classified Growths as well as wines from other, sought after Bordeaux regions. has a The tasting process is refined and streamlined, with rows of bottles neatly placed in a temperature-controlled, airtight display case, known as an Enomatic wine dispenser. Simply purchase a card, slide it into the Enomatic, and choose from one of the 48 selections (in 25, 50, or 75 milliliters). 14 cours de l’Indendance 5.L’Univerre known for its extensive wine list of Grand Crus Class wines as well as traditional wines from smaller producers. A more recent arrival to the wine bar scene in Bordeaux, L’Univerre is the brainchild of Fabrice Moisan. His curated menu is short, with well-executed dishes of classic French comfort food paired with an extensive wine list (which is 62 pages long!). While most Bordeaux wine bars stick to Bordeaux, that is not the case here as you can also find wines from the Rhone valley, Burgundy, the Loire as well.

In the cellar are older vintage Bordeaux that are priced to sell and Fabrice is open to queries about his other rare bottles. 6. Bar a Vin known for its extremely knowledgeable staff and because of its association to L’Ecole du Vin. One of the few wine bars open all day, Bar a Vin offers an extensive wine selection, many reasonably priced—two to eight euro, depending on the vintage. The tasting room’s decor is both elegant and contemporary, with a large stained glass window juxtaposed against modern furnishings. The young, hip crowd ventures in around 6:00 for an aperitif before heading out to dinner. 3, cours du XXX juillet 7. La Winery known for its concerts and art exhibits as well as specialized tastings that determine your “wine sign.” Located in the Medoc about a half hour drive from the city of Bordeaux, La Winery stocks over 2000 different wines from all over France and other parts of the world, though they emphasize estate bottled French wines. Find your “wine sign” through a discovery session lead by a wine professional.

After tasting six distinctly different wines and answering specific questions about them, you will be presented with a wine profile book that will suggest the wines that best suit your taste. It is best to call and reserve your spot for one of these unique and informative tastings. La Winery has a selection of about 20 wines in the Enomatic that can be paired with gourmet meats and cheeses throughout the day. Rond point des Vendangeurs, D1, Arsac en Medoc 8. L’Essential is a St. Emilion landmark owned by Jean Luc Thunevin . L’Essential, located just above the offices for Ets. Thunevin is my favorite wine bar and hangout in Bordeaux. Visitors will often bump into many of the most famous winery owners from the Right bank as they visit there as well. L’Essential known for serving innovative wines and its sleek, modern design, L’Essential is known for serving innovative wines and its sleek, modern design is a perfect example of a modern wine bar with clean lines, bright colors and bottles lining the walls in a smooth orderly fashion.

Here wine enthusiasts can sample traditional Bordeaux wines and some of the best examples of modern wine making. This is the only place I know of to taste multiple vintages of Valandraud as well as Go to L’Essential to taste an array of wines from Pomerol , St. Emilion, Chateauneuf du Pape and other wine regions without spending too much money. Order some good cheese and settle in for an unique experience. 9. L’Envers du Decor known for its great selection of wines and its beautiful outdoor seating in the heart of St. Emilion. L’Envers du Decor is Saint Emilion’s first wine bar and it is considered to be one of the top establishments by the locals. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the wine, and the owner takes care to know each of the wineries that supply his wine list. Wines are paired with bistro-style food and can be taken on the bar’s lovely outdoor terrace. Go here if you want to feel like a local and enjoy simple regional food to accompany your wine. 11 Rue du Clocher