I say ‘Bordeaux,’ and you think: wine. It’s true Bordeaux is one of the most fabled and beloved wine regions of the world, and a trip to France to spend time exploring the wineries of Bordeaux is a bucket list trip for many of us. 

But ‘Bordeaux’ has another meaning. Translated, it means ‘at the water’s edge.’ And a river cruise may be the most authentic way to honor and live the true essence of the Bordeaux region. 

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: 

Favorite scenery, wineries and unexpected modern moments on our Scenic Bordeaux river cruise.

FUN FACT: We talk about Bordeaux river cruises, just as we talk about other river cruises in France like a Rhône River cruise or a Seine River cruise. But there’s no actual Bordeaux river! 

Bordeaux is the city that’s the hub of the Bordeaux region, which is a wine region, too. But a river cruise through Bordeaux follows up to three rivers and an estuary draining out into the Atlantic Ocean. 

The rivers have shaped the Bordeaux region and its wines, with Left Bank and Right Bank wines featuring distinctive varietals and famous villages like St. Émilion. 

The rivers also made possible one of Bordeaux’s most famous wines, Sauternes. A microclimate facilitated by the rivers grows the ‘friendly fungus’ that shrivels up grapes and creates a highly valued, naturally sweet wine that is the classic pairing with French foie gras. 

PRO TIP: Not only does a river cruise in Bordeaux have all the best benefits of river cruising: unpacking once and visiting all of the multiple towns, villages, wine appellations, having someone else take care of all the details as you focus on enjoying the shore experiences and luxurious shipboard hospitality…

Other distinct benefits to a Scenic luxury river cruise in Bordeaux include:

1. You can do all the wine tasting you want, and someone else is doing the driving!
2. River cruise lines like Scenic can open doors you can’t. In Europe, not all wineries are open to the public like they are here. You may visit wineries you couldn’t access yourself privately.
3. Scenic brings Bordeaux on board, with local wines, a delightful wine-paired dinner at its private ‘Table de la Rive ’, and offers guests ‘Scenic Enrich’: private, evening events, often after-hours at incredible venues. We were offered two Scenic Enrich events on our 10-day river cruise in Bordeaux. They were wildly different! One in the most magical little chateau you could possibly imagine, and the other in a re-purposed WW2 submarine base!

If it isn’t already, Bordeaux should be on your travel bucket list. Whether you’re a wine lover or not. And for me, a river cruise brings the best of Bordeaux to life. Sante! 

START YOUR TRIP! 

Video and story by: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert

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