Should you’re a wine lover and might’t make it to a winery, do that, however simply don’t do it the way in which I did. I visited two wine bars in Bordeaux on the identical day (throughout my Journey #35 to France) and whereas I extremely advocate each, simply don’t do each of them on the identical day. It’s simply an excessive amount of wine and cheese for one particular person to deal with!
Wine Bars In Bordeaux
Not surprisingly, there are quite a few wine bars in Bordeaux, and choosing the suitable one might be troublesome. The 2 that I visited have been full opposites from each other by way of ambiance and presentation, however each have been nice: one was hip, fashionable, and chic, and the opposite was down-to-earth, cozy, and a bit rustic. A lot for pacing oneself; nevertheless, c’est la vie!
Le Bar à Vin
Le Bar à Vin is a very talked-about, hip place to pattern wines at affordable costs. It opened in 2006 and was designed by architect Françoise Bousque, within the 18th-century constructing the place the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux (and headquarters of the Bordeaux Wine Council) resides.
There was a brief lineup to get into this fantastically designed wine bar. A whole lot of thought was put into the modern inside design that additionally incorporates neoclassical. Two grand stained-glass home windows by René Buthaud convey shade to this setting with photographs of grape harvesters on the Garonne river and the Greek god of wine, Bacchus.
Along with a terrace, there are seating areas situated in numerous alcoves all through the bar. My tasting was in a facet room that had its personal separate bar. I used to be seated in a comfortable armchair and my wine was served on a low desk.
Over 30 native Bordeaux wines can be found—reds, whites, rosés, clairets, and glowing wines—and they’re solely served by the glass; nevertheless, the costs are affordable, which was somewhat stunning as this place is fancy and chic. Should you zoom in on the photograph you possibly can see that the value ranges from 2€ to 10€ for a glass of wine. And you may style your wine accompanied by cheese, chocolate, or charcuterie plates. The value ranges from 6€ to fifteen€.
With a glass of 2016 AOC Fronsax Chateau La Valade L’Intime, I had a mixture of cheese and meat:
Saint NectaireCantalTomme de SavoieViande des Grisons (Swiss dried beef)Rosace Coppa
Le Bar à Vin: 2 glasses of wine and a cheese plate-18.5 €
Deal with: 3 Cr du 30 Juillet, 33000 Bordeaux
Bistrot des Frérots
This wine bar is extra down-to-earth and undoubtedly not flashy, however it’s cozy and genuine. It’s run by 2 brothers who actually know their wines and cheese. The workers are very pleasant and can assist you choose the suitable wines to fit your tastes. You may order wine by the glass or bottle and accompany your wine with cheese or charcuterie plates.
It’s a really unpretentious place—perhaps even rustic— with wine barrels and wood stools all through the small bar. It seems like a spot the place locals would hang around. Costs are affordable (wine: 4€ to five.90€ per glass; cheese or charcuterie plates: 7€ to 24€ ) and the wine record modifications continuously.
I had a glass of Château Gauthier (Medoc) wine (5.5€) that the waiter really helpful and certainly one of their cheese plates—petite planche de fromage—5 sorts of cheese (12€):
Pont l’EvêqueLangres cheeseBethmale vache from the Ariège PyrénéesChevre de TouraineComté-aged over 36 months
Bistrot des Frérots: 1 glass of wine and a small cheese plate 17.5 €
Deal with: 23 Rue Piliers de Tutelle, 33000 Bordeaux
Should you’re actually into wine and even brandies, remember to go to La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux. It’s an excellent interactive expertise with wine tasting on the finish of your self-guided tour. The Calvados Expertise in Pont-l’Évêque, Normandy can be a worthwhile tour to take. You’ll have a multi-sensory expertise studying all in regards to the significance of apples on this area and the way Calvados brandy is made with a tasting on the finish.
Have you ever been to any wine bars in Bordeaux that you just’d advocate?
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