Bordeaux is world-famous for its wine. But the French, even the Europeans really, have been keeping a secret. Bordeaux isn’t just fabulous because it produces some of the best wine in the world. It’s a city well positioned and a stone’s throw from several of France’s most beautiful natural wonders, including one of our favorites: Dune du Pilat. And one of our new favorite ways to experience Europe’s largest sand dune is on an Arcachon Bay cruise that drops anchor for a wine tasting right in front of the dune.
A Private Arcachon Bay Wine Tasting Cruise
Bordeaux has hot, dry summers and aside from the vineyards being lush with the leafy green vines, it’s our favorite time to visit châteaux because the barrel rooms are the perfect place to escape the heat for a bit. There’s only one better place to be for a bit of respite from the heat and that’s on a boat with the sea breeze cooling you down.
Since we’re not yacht owners, Millésime Privé is the next best thing.
There are various Arcachon Bay tours available, but none quite like the private wine tasting cruise Millésime Privé offers. Croisiere Jouvence’s boat is especially designed for navigating Arcachon Bay, allowing the captain to sail up to 10 guests right up to the Dune du Pilat. There’s comfortable sunbathing decks in both the front and back of the boat, plus a covered lounge area in case you need to escape the sun for a bit.
Passing by the oyster farms
Fisherman and a kite surfer
Arcachon Bay is lively and we zipped past oyster fisherman fishing the oyster beds, kite surfers, jet skiers, other leisure boats and the various villages dotting the bay.
An oyster boat drops off freshly caught oysters for us
As we reached Lège-Cap Ferret, one of the flat oyster boats made its way toward us. There was no need for us to pull up to Vivier de Jacquet’s oyster hut; owner Christian Lapègue tied up his oyster boat along side ours to deliver several dozen of the freshest oysters.
The Dune towers above a jet skier
Banc d’Arguin National Nature Reserve is a haven for nesting birds
Not long after, we made the crossing to the calm, sheltered channel between the Dune du Pilat and the Banc d’Arguin National Nature Reserve. There couldn’t be a more beautiful setting to drop anchor and have a wine tasting of the various wines produced in the Bordeaux wine region.
Oysters paired with a White Bordeaux
We started with a Château de Rouillac 2014 Pessac-Léognan Blanc, which our guide Aurélie explained is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Sémillon and 14% Sauvignon Gris and aged for 10 months in French oak barrels. She also told us a bit about this family owned estate as we sipped the white Bordeaux and paired it with the shucked oysters.
I casually tossed my empty shells overboard back in to the bay where they came from barely an hour earlier. This way no one could keep count of exactly how many I ate, which might just have been an entire dozen all on my own!
Clairet and the Dune
Next, we discovered a new-to-me wine, a Château Boutinet 2016 Clairet de Boutinet. Back in the 14th and 15th century when Bordeaux was under British rule, Bordeaux wines looked much different than the dark, rich wines that they are today. Bordeaux was, in fact, much paler and closer in color to a rosé.
Derived from the Latin word for clear, Eleanor of Aquitaine declared the wines to be called claret. It’s not really the color, but a style of wine that immortalizes a style of Bordeaux wine from an important part of its history.
A good charcuterie board is a staple in Bordeaux
Château Boutinet’s Clairet de Boutinet is made from 100% Merlot grapes with a fruity taste heavy influenced by the soil and position of the plot where these grapes are planted. I thought it was delicious, especially paired with a charcuterie board that included a Salamanca jamon Iberico. I may have eaten just as many pieces of that salty cured ham as I did oysters.
Of course, you can’t have a wine tasting without a Bordeaux as we know it today. We tried a Château Guibeau La Fourvieille 2012 Pusisseguin Saint-Emilion.
The history caught my attention since this estate is still owned by the same family that established it in the 19th century. I feel like that’s pretty rare among Bordeaux châteaux, that often have long histories of changing hands.
Sailing back in to the Port of Arcachon
To finish, we enjoyed a Château Caillou Grand Cru Classé 1855 Barsac Sauternes. This is Bordeaux’s sweet dessert wine and it’s paired with orange and almond cakes by Les Délices d’Envin. With notes of honey, almond and apricots it’s perfect with the cakes as we sail back to Arcachon.
Millésime Privé
Aurélie Lombange is Millésime Privé’s owner and she is Level 2 and Level 3 WSET qualified, as well as a French Wine Scholar. In addition to wine tastings you can arrange at your home or event, Aurélie has teamed up with Croisiere Jouvence to offer a private wine tasting cruise on the Bay of Arcachon.
We’ve chartered boats before, like when we chartered a boat to hop around the Venetian Lagoon and visit Poveglia or when we chartered a yacht in Ibiza. Boat charters can be a lot more affordable than you might imagine. Millésime Privé offers the wine tasting chartered boat cruise for €700 for up to 10 people. The oyster, charcuterie and Les Délices d’Envin pairings are extra.
Know Before You Go
Getting ThereWhere To StayBooking
The Bay of Arcachon is best explored with a car, but there is a regular train that runs from Bordeaux to Arcachon. The cruise leaves from the Port of Arcachon.
Villa La Tosca is located on the Bay of Arcachon in Lanton and makes for a unique stay on the Bay.
We were guests of Millésime Privé in order to bring you this story. However, Luxe Adventure Traveler maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and enthusiasm for travel are entirely our own. This article contains affiliate links. When you book on Booking.com through our affiliate site, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Loved this post? We love when you share our content! ~ Jen & Tim
Jennifer Dombrowski is an independent travel publisher and an American expat who has lived in Bordeaux, France since 2016. She previously lived in Northern Italy in a small village near Venice for seven years where she fell in love with wine and wine tourism. She is an award-winning travel writer. She is also a travel correspondent on Traveling on the American Forces Radio Network. Luxe Adventure Traveler was named one of the top travel blogs to watch by the Huffington Post and TripAdvisor, and has been featured by top publications such as National Geographic, CNN, Buzzfeed, and Business Insider. Jennifer's photography has also been featured on publications such as USA Today and Travel + Leisure and on the Travel Channel.
Comments
Fiona Macleansays
Sounds great! I’ve been to Charante Maritime and tried the oysters there. I can’t think of a better way than being on the water with some wine tasting too
Oysters and a wine tasting at sea! looks and sounds completely decadent. I love it! I didn’t realise that the Bordeaux vineyards are rarely owned by the original families.
It’s challenging for the chateaux owners. The taxes are so high and so much upkeep required on the chateaux that many end up selling to wealthy foreigners or corporations.
The devastating frost that destroyed many of this year’s vines at the end of April will cause many small family chateaux to lose incredible amounts of money. Already some advantageous buyers are making offers knowing that the families won’t be able to keep their chateaux as a result.
Bordeaux is one part of France which has escaped us at the moment and would love to totally check it out, even for the wine. That Charcuterie board looks mighty yummy 🙂
You definitely should visit Bordeaux and the Nouvelle Aquaitaine region. It’s one of my favorite parts of France and still relatively undiscovered by mostly everyone other than the French.
This was a lovely experience! I have not eaten oysters with a glass of wine. It must be a perfect pair! = )
I also like the fact that you had this wine tasting on a boat. The charcuterie board looks delicious too.
Just read a post on whiskey making and now reading a post on Wine 😀 Wine tasting process on a cruise sounds so much fun . Love Oyster and with that view, it is definitely my kinda day trip 🙂
Oysters and wine, what a nice experience. I really like french wine maybe the one I prefer. Lately I started to try Spanish wine from Rioja and Priorat. As I am a curious epicurious traveler I decide to go and visit both area to try some wine on site. I would say that I do recommend both area and both wine. Rioja is better know with brand like Riscal de MArquez and Muga. On the other side Priorat is not well known but worthy. Easy to reach from Barcelona. Salud
Hello Jennifer, if you pass by Spain, please let me know. We are Concierge in Spain, based in Barcelona and will be please to share our experiences in Rioja.
Fiona Maclean says
Sounds great! I’ve been to Charante Maritime and tried the oysters there. I can’t think of a better way than being on the water with some wine tasting too
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Now you have to come to Arcachon and tell us which oysters you think are best!
Shobha says
Oysters and a wine tasting at sea! looks and sounds completely decadent. I love it! I didn’t realise that the Bordeaux vineyards are rarely owned by the original families.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It’s challenging for the chateaux owners. The taxes are so high and so much upkeep required on the chateaux that many end up selling to wealthy foreigners or corporations.
The devastating frost that destroyed many of this year’s vines at the end of April will cause many small family chateaux to lose incredible amounts of money. Already some advantageous buyers are making offers knowing that the families won’t be able to keep their chateaux as a result.
Natasha says
This wine tasting cruise looks amazing. I love me some wine. Cannot say I am a fan of oysters though! The meats look delicious
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I never was a fan of oysters until the first time I had fresh ones from the Bay of Arcachon. Now I’m an oyster lover!
Danik says
Bordeaux is one part of France which has escaped us at the moment and would love to totally check it out, even for the wine. That Charcuterie board looks mighty yummy 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You definitely should visit Bordeaux and the Nouvelle Aquaitaine region. It’s one of my favorite parts of France and still relatively undiscovered by mostly everyone other than the French.
Rhonda Albom says
An oyster feast, wine tasting, and a private cruise, what could be better. This sounds like an ideal way to spend an afternoon.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It most definitely is! Especially on a hot summer day, there’s just no better place to be than with the sea breeze caressing you.
Barb says
Wow, this sounds like a really luxurious experience. The food pictures look amazing! Lucky you!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Luxurious, yet surprisingly affordable among a group of friends.
Iza Abao says
This was a lovely experience! I have not eaten oysters with a glass of wine. It must be a perfect pair! = )
I also like the fact that you had this wine tasting on a boat. The charcuterie board looks delicious too.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Then you must pair some oysters with white Bordeaux immediately!
Punita Malhotra says
Wine tasting on a cruise sounds so exotic. The ambience of a vineyard is missing, but I’m sure the change of scene added in a many other ways.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I love visiting chateaux, but this was a really nice change of pace from the typical cellar or tasting room setting!
Fernanda says
This cruise tasting looks amazing. Oysters paired with White Bordeaux and a sea view? What else can you wish for?!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Definitely a perfect way to experience some of what Bordeaux has to offer.
Swati says
Just read a post on whiskey making and now reading a post on Wine 😀 Wine tasting process on a cruise sounds so much fun . Love Oyster and with that view, it is definitely my kinda day trip 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
And you can also discover Cognac, a kind of brandy, when you come to Bordeaux.
Mike Cotton says
Wine tasting in France, ah you are incredibly fortunate. And to do so on a cruise!!! France, for me, makes the best wine.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Well, we do live in Bordeaux so wine tasting is pretty much a way of life. 😉 But we have to agree that French wines are the best.
Vince says
Oysters and wine, what a nice experience. I really like french wine maybe the one I prefer. Lately I started to try Spanish wine from Rioja and Priorat. As I am a curious epicurious traveler I decide to go and visit both area to try some wine on site. I would say that I do recommend both area and both wine. Rioja is better know with brand like Riscal de MArquez and Muga. On the other side Priorat is not well known but worthy. Easy to reach from Barcelona. Salud
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for your thoughts on Spanish wine, Vince! It’s a country we definitely haven’t really explored when it comes to wine.
Vince says
Hello Jennifer, if you pass by Spain, please let me know. We are Concierge in Spain, based in Barcelona and will be please to share our experiences in Rioja.