Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
see are Merlot. To ensure a smooth visit, read “French Wine-Tasting 101” on here before
you go.
Maison du Vin: Located next to the TI, this is a fair starting point for oenophiles,
where you get an introduction to wine, beginning with an hour-long video (played on the
hour, English subtitles). In the next room, read the description of the winemaking pro-
cess and sniff cool aluminum cylinders that let you guess at elements (musk, blackberry,
currant) in the wines before you taste them (free, daily 9:30-12:30 & 14:00-18:30, tel. 05
57555055, www.maisonduvinsaintemilion.com , maisonduvin@vins-saint-emilion.com ).
They also offer 1.5-hour wine-tasting classes for €25 (mid-July-mid-Sept daily at 11:00,
register in advance).
Château Visits and Minivan Excursions: The TI can send you to a tasting at selec-
ted châteaux (no charge, but a tasting fee may apply) and offers a minivan tour through
the vineyards—in English and French—that includes a tasting at one château (€17, 1.5-2
hours, English tour usually departs from the TI at 14:00 and sometimes at 16:00, usually
May-mid Sept only; verify times on website).
Wine Shops: St-Emilion's many wine shops offer a free and easy way to sample
the array of local wines. Keepers of small shops greet visitors in flawless English, with
a central tasting table, maps of the vineyards, and several open bottles (most shops open
daily10:00-19:00,until20:00insummer).Andthoughit'shardtodistinguishtheseclassy
wine stores from each other, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the passionate shopkeepers'
welcoming attitude. Americans may represent only about 15 percent of the visitors, but
we buy 40 percent of their wine. Although the owners hope that you'll buy a bottle (par-
ticularly if you taste many wines), and shipping is easy (except to California and Texas),
there's generally no fee for the tastings.
Vignobles & Châteaux is a polished wine shop offering wine-tasting classes at
their “Ecole de Vin” upstairs (about €75 for 2-hour class, more extensive classes and
visits to prestigious wineries available; 4 Rue du Clocher, tel. 05 57 24 61 01,
www.vignobleschateaux.fr ) .
Cercle des Oenophiles is an easygoing place where you can taste wines and tour
nearby cellars storing more than 400,000 bottles of wine (free, daily 10:00-19:00, at 12
Rue Guadat, tel. 05 57 74 45 55).
Views over St-Emilion
You can climb the bell tower in front of the TI for a good view (€1.25, give ID at TI in
exchange for the key, open daily same hours as TI), but the view is best from the Tour du
Roy several blocks below (€1.25, Mon-Fri 14:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00).
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