France 2026
Paris - Loire Valley - Bordeaux - Saint-Emilion
Itinerary
Some moments from France were planned months in advance. Others simply appeared. One of the best came at Château Louise de la Vallière, when Pascal pulled together an impromptu terrace dinner. The sun set behind the château, the temperature was perfect, the wine kept flowing, and no one was in a hurry to leave.
France was, ostensibly, a wine trip. But somewhere between the many, many croissants, tiny pastries, Michelin-starred meals, and an almost improbable run of strawberry desserts, it became nearly as much a food tour. We lingered over lunch outside in Sauternes, wandered through the Loire’s great châteaux, and drank our way through Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion.
Through it all was Pascal, unmistakably French, usually in a wine-themed shirt, and always ready with a story, a recommendation, or a strong opinion. It was a week of extraordinary meals, beautiful places, great wine, and plenty of laughter.
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Paris opened the journey exactly as it should have. We settled into Hôtel Bel-Ami in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, an elegant home base surrounded by cafés, galleries, and the kind of streets that make wandering feel like part of the itinerary. That evening, we gathered for welcome drinks and dinner, with Champagne leading the way as we toasted the week ahead. It was an easy, elegant start and the perfect first taste of France before heading south the next morning.
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The Loire Valley was where the pace slowed and the trip really settled in. We spent three nights at Château Louise de la Vallière, using it as our base for days filled with wine, history, and long lunches. We tasted in the cellars at Caves Ambacia, explored Leonardo da Vinci’s final home at Château du Clos Lucé, and wandered through Amboise.
From there came two of the Loire’s great châteaux: the grandeur of Château de Chambord and its remarkable double-helix staircase, followed by the elegance of Château de Chenonceau, stretching across the River Cher. We also took to the water on a private wooden boat, then headed to Chinon for a vineyard lunch and tasting in limestone cellars.
Some of the best moments were the least complicated: a cool swim after a warm day, a glass of wine before dinner, and meals that seemed perfectly happy to take their time.
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Bordeaux brought a change of scale and some very serious bottles. We spent two nights at InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hôtel, perfectly placed in the heart of the city, and started with a guided walk through historic Bordeaux before heading into the Médoc.
Along the Route des Grands Crus, we tasted at Château Phélan Ségur and Château Gruaud Larose, with a memorable château lunch along the way. The next day took us south to Graves and Sauternes, including Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château Guiraud, and a lingering Michelin-starred lunch outside in Sauternes. It was Bordeaux at its best: historic estates, beautiful vineyards, and wines that more than lived up to their reputations.
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Saint-Émilion was the final chapter, and it was a very good place to finish. We stayed at Château Grand Barrail Hôtel, surrounded by vineyards and beautiful grounds just outside town, with a pool that proved especially welcome after long days of tasting.
A guided walk through Saint-Émilion took us through its medieval streets, underground galleries, and remarkable monolithic church before lunch at La Terrasse Rouge, overlooking the vineyards of Château La Dominique. We finished the afternoon with a tasting at Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, exploring its limestone cellars and wines.
That evening, the trip ended with a Michelin-starred farewell dinner at Logis de la Cadène, with beautiful presentation, thoughtful service, and one last long meal together in the heart of wine country.
