Best of Foodie Bordeaux

Fabulous freshly baked bread.

Posting by Kitchen Delights Roving Reporter

Taking time to appreciate and enjoy gorgeous food and wine is what truly makes up the DNA of the French as a nation. As I walked past the numerous coffee shops and restaurants in Bordeaux, it is easy to sense a laid back attitude to life, and why not with all the great food waiting to be eaten.  It was whilst I was in this frame of mind that I made a visit to Quai des Chartrons Bordeaux - a small but perfectly formed food market located next to the river Garonne.

Pastries and brioche fresh from the oven.

Beautiful Figs

A huge pan of snails bubbling away in wine and tomatoes.

With an abundance of fresh produce one can easily gather the necessities for a picnic hamper, whether it's fresh bread, fruits, meats or even snails and team it up with a superb bottle of red wine.  Take the hamper of fresh foods and wine down to the river, take part in a little people watching and savour the moment.  Don't forget your wineglasses!

To see more scrumptious foods of Bordeaux, take a look at my scrapbook on Pinterest - ‘Best of Bordeaux’ - http://pinterest.com/maggiefoodie/best-of-bordeaux/

For further information visit:

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A massive thank you to Carey, Rosamund and Natasha at R&R Teamwork.

Disclosure:  The trip was funded by The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) www.bordeaux.com/uk

Visit to Chateau Siaurac, Bordeaux

A visit to Chateau Siaurac, Bordeaux by Kitchen Delights Roving Reporter.

A short drive away from the centre of Bordeaux, I continued my journey of wine exploration to Chateau Siaurac.

Set in 60 hectares of beautiful grounds, this family run chateau which is steeped in history and brimming with character, offers a unique wine experience. 

Dating back to 1832, the family is proud to have carried on the tradition of making wine, continually innovating to produce the very best. On the day of our visit, we were able to see the cellars where the wines are kept in French oak barrels and also taught about the daily working life within the vineyard. 

Afterwards in a private tasting session, we sampled exquisitely made food and had great fun pairing food to wines. The key lesson here was to appreciate how a wine can taste so different when paired with different foods, all of which is of course subjective.

For lunch, there was the option to eat from a gourmet style lunch box containing brioche style rolls, soup and a crumble, or you could opt for a VIP lunch and enjoy a more formal dining experience in a private space (I could have spent all day eating – feast your eyes on the divine chocolate dessert in the photograph).

This vineyard is special because it is accessible to everyone. For young families with toddlers, you can opt for a package which allows you to taste wines, and also explore the grounds and historic chateau with an activity pack (you may even discover little Babouche the puppy pictured). Whilst for groups of friends, you may choose the food and wine pairing workshop or the VIP package. With so many chateaux to choose from in Bordeaux – I recommend putting this one at the very top of your bucket list.

To find out more about the packages available email vivrelevin@chateausiaurac.com or visit www.baronneguichard.com

www.facebook.com/BordeauxWinesUK
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A huge thank you to Carey, Rosamund and Natasha at R&R Teamwork.

Disclosure:  The trip was funded by The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) www.bordeaux.com/uk

Trip to Bordeaux - École du Vin Bordeaux (Wine School)

         École du Vin (Wine School) - featuring Caroline, one of the school's excellent wine experts.

Posting by Kitchen Delights Roving Reporter.

My food and wine press trip started on a cold cloudy Friday afternoon at Luton airport and in just over an hour I arrived in glorious Bordeaux in the south of France, to discover why it is the natural home to sensational food and great wine.

Described as the 'mini Paris' of France, due to the stunning architecture and the cool city vibe you would expect to find in Paris - Bordeaux is a very walkable city which makes it the perfect weekend get-away.

My culinary objective was to discover knock your socks off wines and scrumptious food.  I hope you will get just as excited as I am, as I share in a series of forthcoming blog posts, my visits to gorgeous Châteaux, delightful food markets and other amazing treasures that wait for you in Bordeaux.

A Visit to École du Vin

When you visit Bordeaux be prepared to thoroughly immerse yourself in food and drink (and of course the amazing shopping!) and where better to start than with a trip to École du Vin (Wine School) which is located in the centre of the city.

Learn how to sniff, slurp and sample sensational wines, just like a professional, and learn all about the different soils, grape varieties and other complexities involved in the wine producing process.

This two and a half hour masterclass paints a colourful picture of Bordeaux, as you learn about it's geography and the impact this has on wine production.  Don't worry if you are not a pro - it's a really fun and accessible way for anyone, to start appreciating Bordeaux wines.  You'll feel suitably smug that you have attended a masterclass before visiting a Château or two - trust me!

To find out more about the introduction to wine course http://www.ecole-du-vin.fr/

www.facebook.com/BordeauxWinesUK
twitter.com/BordeauxWinesUK

Disclosure:  The trip was funded by The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) www.bordeaux.com/uk

Carey, Rosamund and Natasha at R&R Teamwork. Thanks a mill....