Day 5, Saturday 20th Sept. 2008:

Curzay --> Coulon 40 Miles / 66 km / 45mn
Coulon --> St. Emilion 125 Mi / 200 km / 1h50
 

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Now that you are becoming such wine experts, let's move on to the serious stuff by going to the Bordeaux region and particularely to the village of St. Emilion, famous for its Grand Crus Classés wines.

So, it is time to get back on the road and first, drive close by to what is called The Green Venice. The little town of Coulon borders the river and is our destination. There, we will embark on a guided tour of the tiny canals on board a small barge. It will then be time for lunch, discover local specialties or have some tasty crêpes at the corner Creperie. Bon appetit!
   

Our next destination is the The Château Grand Barrail. You are now ready for the Wine Academy. Upon arrival at the Château, you will have some time to relax and explore the old village of St. Emilion before participating into a very special wine tasting session. There, you will learn how to distinguish the mythical Bordeaux region wines with a graphic approach. This method will help you understand the sensorial building of Grand Crus by visualizing the different sequences contained within the flavor. At the completion of the course, you will know how to recognize a millesime, a region and a specific domain.

Dinner will be ready at the Château in the form of a Poker party with blind wine tasting! The wines you learned about earlier will be served blindly, and like in Poker, you will have to bet if you can recognize them. You might loose your glass or win another one. Good time and laughters are absolutely guaranteed during this informal "wine Poker dinner".

   

Your Hotel Tonight

Château Grand-Barrail
The famous vineyards of Bordeaux contain a treasure close to the UNESCO heritage village of St Emilion: Hôtel Château Grand Barrail. Dedicated to the art of living, it stands beside a small lake in a three-hectare estate, a gem of Renaissance France with Moorish interiors to free your imagination into flights of fancy. Four pavilions provide the accommodation: Le Château, La Residence, La Maison du Bien-Etre and La Maison du Vignoble. The wellness centre is yet another offering a wide selection of treatments with Ligne St Barth cosmetics. Gastronomically, you are in the talented hands of chef Fabrice Giraud who combines the tastes of the South West in the style of the South whilst the sommelier conjures up his magic from the impressive cellars.
   
   

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