Friday, May 22, 2026 - Arrival day in Paris
Pick Up: Private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Paris
Check In at Bel-Ami, 5-Star Hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Housed in the former printing press of Maupassant’s iconic novel Bel-Ami, Hôtel Bel Ami blends contemporary elegance with the artistic spirit of Paris. Nestled in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, it’s steps from renowned galleries and cozy literary cafés — the perfect setting for both exploration and quiet reflection.
Returning to the hotel feels like stepping into a well-loved book: warm, welcoming, and full of character. Each space invites you to slow down, unwind, and become part of a new story — your own Parisian chapter.
Welcome Drinks and Dinner
That evening, we’ll gather for a festive welcome dinner — with Champagne, of course — and a four-course meal featuring premium wines. Our in-country host, Pascal Mineau of France Intense, will walk us through the journey ahead. It’s the perfect start to an unforgettable week of French wine, food, and culture.
Saturday, May 23, 2026 - Arrival Day in the Loire Valley
Breakfast at Bel-Ami
Pick Up: Private transfer from Bel-Ami to the Loire Valley
Visit and Tasting a Cave Ambacia, Lunch at Bistrot L’Oppidum
Your Loire Valley experience begins at Caves Ambacia in Amboise, home to a remarkable collection of vintages dating back to 1874. Specializing in Chenin Blanc, their Vouvray wines are known for their minerality, vibrant acidity, and exceptional aging potential.
After exploring the historic cellars, you’ll enjoy a regional lunch at L’Oppidum, the on-site restaurant, featuring local delicacies like Loire Valley cheeses, river fish, and artisanal charcuterie — all served with sweeping views of the majestic Loire River.
Guided Tour of the Château du Clos Lucé
The Château du Clos Lucé was the final residence of Leonardo da Vinci, where he spent the last three years of his life under the patronage of King François I, who named him his first architect and engineer. The tour concludes with a fascinating exhibition of Leonardo’s visionary inventions — including early designs for a helicopter, a tank, and more — offering a glimpse into the genius of the Renaissance master.
Amboise City Tour
Nestled beneath the grandeur of its royal château, Amboise invites you to explore its charming pedestrian streets lined with inviting shops, cafés, and restaurants. With its mix of medieval half-timbered homes and elegant Renaissance architecture, it stands as one of the most picturesque and enchanting towns in the Loire Valley.
Check in at Chateau Louise de la Valliere (three nights)
Step into Renaissance splendor at Château Louise de La Vallière, a 16th-century jewel tucked into the lush countryside near royal Amboise. Once home to the young Louise de La Vallière—future muse and mistress of the Sun King—this château now invites guests on a timeless escape.
Lovingly restored by proprietor Mira Grebenstein and designed by celebrated decorator Jacques Garcia, the interiors are a sensual tribute to the elegance of French nobility. Rich in history, romance, and refinement, every room whispers of kings, queens, and centuries of grandeur brought vividly back to life.
Dinner at Your Leisure
Sunday, May 24, 2026 - Chambord and Boat Tour
Breakfast at Chateau Louise de la Valliere
Guided tour of the Chateau of Chambord
Château de Chambord is the crown jewel of the Loire Valley—a staggering architectural feat set in a forest the size of Paris. Commissioned in 1519 by King François I, this UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest château in the region, boasting 426 rooms, 77 staircases, and 282 fireplaces. A visit here is a step into the grandeur and ambition of the French Renaissance at its most awe-inspiring scale.
River Reverie: Wooden Boat Tour & Gourmet Island Picnic
You’ll step aboard a Gabare—a traditional wooden barge—for a private cruise along the serene and storied Loire River. Guided by a passionate local pilot who brings the river’s history and wild beauty to life, you’ll glide through one of Europe’s last untamed waterways, surrounded by peaceful landscapes and timeless charm. Along the way, your boat may anchor at a secluded sandy island, where you’ll enjoy a tranquil moment that feels like the river belongs entirely to you. It’s an unforgettable Loire experience, both intimate and immersive.
Group Dinner at Chateau Louise de la Valliere
Inspired by the grandeur of Louis XIV’s court, Restaurant L’Amphitryon offers a refined culinary experience in a setting of 17th- and 18th-century elegance. By candlelight or daylight, and with sweeping views of the Brenne Valley in summer, each meal is a celebration of French gastronomy at its most poetic.
Monday, May 25, 2026 - Chenonceau and Chinon
Breakfast at Chateau Louise de la Valliere
Guided tour of the Chateau of Chenonceau
Renowned for its graceful arches spanning the River Cher, Château de Chenonceau is one of the Loire Valley’s most enchanting landmarks. Known as “The Ladies’ Castle,” it owes much of its history and beauty to the influential women who shaped it, including Catherine de Medici. Surrounded by formal Renaissance gardens, this château is as captivating outside as it is within.
Cellar Tour, Tasting, and Vineyard Lunch in Chinon
In the heart of Cravant-les-Côteaux—one of Chinon’s most storied wine villages—you’ll explore a remarkable limestone cellar carved by hand over 20 years by our host, Pierre. Here, Pierre crafts organic red and rosé wines exclusively from Cabernet Franc, using a mix of soil types, vine ages, and microclimates to create a diverse lineup of expressive wines. After your tour and tasting, enjoy a relaxed lunch overlooking the vineyards.
Return to Hotel and Relax at the Spa; Dinner at your Leisure
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 - Arrival in Bordeaux
Breakfast at Chateau Louise de la Valliere
Transfer to Bordeaux
Lunch in Bordeaux and Walking Tour
Bordeaux’s historic center—known as the Port of the Moon—is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s most architecturally rich cities, second only to Paris in its number of protected buildings. Shaped during the Enlightenment and refined through centuries of trade and cultural exchange, the city showcases harmonious classical and neoclassical design, wide boulevards, and elegant stone facades. For over 2,000 years, Bordeaux has served as a vibrant crossroads of commerce and ideas, embodying a vision of humanism, beauty, and cultural openness.
Check in at InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel (two nights)
Designed by renowned decorator Jacques Garcia, the InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hôtel blends timeless elegance with modern luxury. Its 130 rooms and suites offer refined comfort in the heart of Bordeaux’s historic center. For an unforgettable stay, the Premium Rooms with Opera View overlook the city’s grand architecture and the iconic Opéra National, placing you at the center of Gironde’s cultural and culinary capital.
Group Dinner
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 - Full day in Medoc
Breakfast at InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel
Grand Cru Route
The Médoc, one of the world's most famous vineyard regions, invites you to follow the Route des Grands Crus. You will go past many prestigious châteaux, reflecting the prosperity and prestige of Bordeaux winegrowers -great names such as Margaux, Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Lafite-Rothschild. Visiting the estates, you will taste wines of infinite nuances in luxurious cellars. Fine Médoc is full of vigour, with an unforgettable bouquet and inimitable finesse.
Tour at Tasting at Château Phélan Ségur + Lunch
The Grand Vin of Château Phélan Ségur is born from the powerful terroir of Saint-Estèphe, yet its character is defined by elegance and finesse. True to its origins, the wine balances restraint with precision, expressing pure fruit, refined structure, silky tannins, and a natural freshness. With time, it evolves into a bouquet of rare complexity, where oak is seamlessly integrated and nuance deepens.
Château Phélan Ségur is renowned for its remarkable ability to age over decades. Mature bottles reveal unexpected richness—warm spices, generous ripe fruit, and the noble patina of leather. The texture softens, the power subsides, and the wine attains a fullness that reflects the beauty of time and the reward of patience.
Exceptional vintages, shaped by nature and elevated by human skill, stand as benchmarks. Yet the estate also cherishes other years, each bearing witness to the life of the property and capturing moments of profound emotion.
Tour and Tasting at Gruaud Larose
Founded in 1757 by Joseph Stanislas Gruaud and later inherited by Monsieur de Larose, Château Gruaud Larose has long been celebrated for producing wines of exceptional quality. Officially named in 1781, this Saint-Julien estate offers a rich legacy steeped in Médoc winemaking tradition. From the top of its iconic tower, take in sweeping views of the vineyards, the Gironde estuary, and the rolling Médoc hills. Your visit includes a deep dive into the château’s history and terroir, followed by a guided exploration of its impressive vat room and aging cellars—revealing the craftsmanship behind this esteemed Grand Cru Classé.
Dinner at your Leisure
Thursday, May 28, 2026 - Graves and Sauternes
Breakfast at InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel
Tour and Wine Tasting at Château Smith Haut Lafitte + Lunch
At Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a Grand Cru Classé estate in Graves, everything begins with the soil. The estate is deeply committed to sustainability and biodiversity, honoring the natural balance of both vineyard and cellar. Vines are propagated from their own stock via a dedicated nursery on the Ile de Lalande—a protected island ecosystem that preserves genetic diversity and enhances the depth and complexity of their wines. This respect for nature, paired with time-honored craftsmanship, defines the estate’s elegant and expressive Bordeaux wines.
Tour at Tasting in Sauternes at Château Guiraud
Set on a patchwork of gravel, sand, and clay soils and surrounded by forest, Château Guiraud is one of the most distinctive Grand Cru Classé estates in Sauternes. Founded in 1766 by the Guiraud family—unconventional Protestant merchants in a traditionally royalist, Catholic region—the estate has always marched to its own beat.
Known for its signature black and gold label and forward-thinking embrace of biodiversity, Château Guiraud was the first Grand Cru Classé to be certified organic. Under the expert leadership of Sandrine Garbay, the estate crafts elegant, modern Sauternes marked by freshness, complexity, and perfectly balanced sweetness—a golden expression of both place and philosophy.
Check in at Château Grand Barrail Hôtel in Saint-Émilion
Nestled within a lush three-acre park, Château Grand Barrail Hôtel offers a storybook stay in the heart of Saint-Émilion wine country. This singular property places you amid some of the region’s most iconic wine estates, with the historic city of Bordeaux just a short drive away—making it an ideal base for both relaxation and exploration.
Group Dinner at Château Grand Barrail Hôtel
Friday, May 29, 2026 - Full Day in Saint-Émilion
Breakfast at Château Grand Barrail Hôtel
Walking Tour of Saint-Émilion
A beautifully preserved medieval town encircled by ancient ramparts, Saint-Émilion is celebrated for both its remarkable architecture and its world-renowned wines. Designated as a historic monument, the town is home to an extraordinary concentration of listed buildings and landmarks. Beneath its cobbled streets lies a hidden world—more than 200 kilometers of underground galleries that weave through the limestone, offering a glimpse into centuries of winemaking history.
Lunch + Tasting at La Terrasse Rouge
Perched above the cellars of Château La Dominique, La Terrasse Rouge is a striking architectural gem by Jean Nouvel, glowing red against the lush backdrop of the Saint-Émilion vineyards. Its panoramic terrace offers sweeping views of the vines and countryside below.
The kitchen celebrates modern Southwestern cuisine rooted in seasonality, sourcing fresh, local ingredients from trusted producers. Every dish is crafted to be thoughtful, flavorful, and generous—an inspired reflection of the Bordeaux region's culinary heritage.
Tasting at Château Beau Séjour Bécot
Designated a Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé in the original 1955 classification, Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is celebrated for its remarkable terroir and deep-rooted history. In 1969, Michel Bécot acquired the estate and elevated its global reputation, transforming seven hectares of ancient limestone quarries into ideal aging cellars—now home to over 100 vintages, protected from light and temperature fluctuations.
Today, under the leadership of Juliette Bécot and Julien Barthe, the estate continues to innovate while honoring tradition. A new vat room and aging cellar, unveiled in 2023, reflect their commitment to crafting wines of elegance, complexity, and balance—true expressions of Saint-Émilion’s storied landscape and the Bécot family’s enduring vision.
Farewell Dinner at a Michelin-Starred Restaurant
Nestled among the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, our farewell dinner takes place at a Michelin-starred restaurant—an elegant finale in a region renowned not only for its wines, but also its fine dining. Saint-Émilion has become a culinary destination in its own right, where chefs draw inspiration from the land, seasons, and heritage of Bordeaux to create exceptional cuisine.
This final evening together is more than a meal—it’s a celebration of everything we’ve shared over the past week: remarkable wines, stunning landscapes, unforgettable meals, and the camaraderie of fellow travelers. As glasses are raised and stories exchanged one last time, we’ll toast to new friendships, lasting memories, and the beauty of France at its finest.
Saturday, May 30, 2026 - Final Day
Breakfast at Château Grand Barrail Hôtel
Transfers Available