Designing and conducting wine tours is a work of passion. We just love sharing our knowledge and the experience we have acquired over the last 30 years of our involvement with Bordeaux. And I think our guests sense that our passion for people and for Bordeaux is sincere. Most of us have a built-in bullshit-radar, and you can feel in the first minute upon arrival whether someone is sincere or not. You just can’t fake passion. WeÊknow we can’t anyway.Ê
Tours by Ronald and Margaret: We take great pride in what we do
Our weekly tours are a personal experience and are conducted by me personally. The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour includes a market visit followed by a cooking class in Margaret’s Chateau Kitchen. I know that the word ÒexperienceÓ has been over-used lately, but our guests all agree that we provide real experiences. Access to top-chateaux in Bordeaux and meals in exclusive Bordeaux chateaux, which are not usually open to the public, are highlights of our tours. The tone is light and the atmosphere is relaxed with a sense of humor. We tour prestigious estates, not pretentious people.
Mouton Rothschild
A First Growth on the Left Bank couldn’t be further away from Laniote but here we have news for you.ÊMouton RothschildÊreleased their latest label. Those of you that have toured with me know my weak spot for Mouton Rothschild. I have been collecting Mouton for over 30 years now and I have more than 40 vintages in my cellar. This First Growth from Pauillac changes its label each and every year and their recently bottled vintage 2014 is no exception. As it was the last vintage with Baronesse Philippine at the helm I expected the label to refer to her strong influence, and I was right.
Special offerÊfor the Grand Tour of Bordeaux
Now is as good a time as ever to book a tour with us. Some tours have sold out and others are filling up fast. We have a special offer on the Grand Tour of Bordeaux in May and September.ÊIf you want to visit and taste all five First Growths and Yquem, this is the tour for you. Just click hereÊand we will send you the itinerary.
An English artist for the Mouton Rothschild 2014
Since 1945 famous contemporary artists have created the artwork for the labels of this First Growth from Pauillac. Until her death in 2014,ÊBaroness Philippine de RothschildÊchose the artwork personally. Her father,ÊBaron Philippe, was pictured on the 1987 label (his last vintage). The commission for the illustration of the 2014 vintage was given to the English painterÊDavid Hockney, born in 1937. Influenced by pop art and a master of the most up-to-date techniques, from acrylics to the iPad, he nevertheless falls within the figurative tradition, especially portraiture, painting people and objects in bright, contrasting colors.ÊMr Hockney was a personal friend of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, who passed away in 2014 and to whom his drawing pays tribute. For me they are just two glasses, but Mouton describes it as, “Haloed by vibrant lines of force, signifying both emotion and wonder, two glasses, one empty, the other full, tell the story of feverish expectation and the constantly renewed miracle of the birth of a great wine: Chteau Mouton Rothschild, of which Baroness Philippine was for so long the guiding spirit.”
David Hockney
Born in 1937, David Hockney is one of the greatest British artists of our time, having quickly secured his place in the painters’ pantheon. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in London with a gold medal in 1962, he immediately embarked on a successful career. The following year he met Dennis Hopper and Andy Warhol in the United States, where he discovered pop art, and went on to teach at the University of California in Berkeley and Los Angeles. He settled in Los Angeles, a haven of sunshine and freedom, in 1966.
Exceptional people
Mouton Rothschild was put on the map by two exceptional people: Baron Philippe de Rothschild (1902-1988) and his daughter Baroness Philippine (1933-2014). Mouton Rothschild is also a place of art and beauty. Guests on our tours always enjoy seeing the famous Great Barrel Hall. Visiting the Museum of Wine in Art is of course a highlight of each tour. Lovers of ancient art will appreciate the collection of precious objects associated with the vine and wine from two millennia. But Mouton also has a magnificent new vat house that was inaugurated in 2013.
Our 2017 Bordeaux Wine Tour Program:
The Grand Tour of Bordeaux
The Grand Tour is maybe the most special tour we offer, with meals as exceptional as your visits. ImagineÊtasting all five First Growths and Yquem. And there is more, with superb chateau meals and Michelin rated dining. Add to this the best of Pomerol and Saint Emilion and you’ll see that this dazzling Grand Tour of Bordeaux isÊyour chance to see and taste the very best that Bordeaux has to offer.
The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour
This is probably our most exclusive tour. This ultimate wine tour for Bordeaux lovers is as good as it gets. Can you believe thatÊyou’ll see and taste all five First Growths and Superior First Growth Chateau d’YquemÊincluding some older vintages? Of course we include the best of Saint Emilion and Pomerol as well. Add to thisÊoutstanding meals at exceptional venuesÊnot normally open to the public, and you’ll see why this tour usually sells out early.
The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour
The Harvest Tour is grand in every way, both in food and wine.ÊEnjoy chateau meals and Michelin-rated dining. The most exciting time in Bordeaux is harvest time. You can sense the anticipation in the air and the food is superb as well. There are exclusive meals at extraordinary venues not normally open to the public.ÊOn top of that you will see and taste all five First Growths and Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem,Êand many of them will be older vintages!
By Ronald Rens
Dutch-born Ronald Rens lives and works at Chateau Coulon Laurensac near Bordeaux in France. Ronald is a passionate Bordeaux collector and as a seasoned wine educator and a published wine writer and his articles on Bordeaux have appeared in magazines all over the world. Ronald has been organizing and conducting wine tastings for over 30 years. And as Editor-in-Chief of this Bordeaux Wine Magazine he had the pleasure of seeing this publication grow from a simple newsletter with 350 subscribers into a full magazine with today almost 20,000 subscribers. Since it’s founding in January 2006, this magazine has remained true to its original mission: to educate and entertain readers about Bordeaux in the most accessible and user-friendly way.
