If you like fine wines, certainly you may wish to stay at Chateau in Bordeaux someday. In fact, Chateau Valandraud has accommodation for anyone, any tourists.

In 2016, I’ve stayed and enjoyed so much. It was not decorative, but truly delightful.

Chateau Valandraud is one of the best wines made from Merlot grapes. Now, number of production volume increased, also price settled down.

Vintage in the 2010s you can find some stock in about 20,000 yen at wine shop online in Japan.

Always, Chateau Valandraud is my favorite wine. so when I heard that “Valandraud has B&B (bed and breakfast)”, I thought “I must visit there !” and started planning.

As search result, it seems originally the guest house for VIP who visit the winery. Now it is opened to tourists.

Immediately I tried to book by “Expedia” and “Hotels.com”, but not be found. For now, available at “Booking.com” only. Total number of rooms is only about 5. I think all booking is managed and provided by Booking.com.

When I browsed the website, already rooms (about $150) were not available. I booked the widest room (about $240 with balcony). Room for 3 person is reasonable by bill-splitting.

Then I suggested plan to my friends who was planning trip to Bordeaux at the same time. They said “what ? stay at Chateau Valandraud !? great plan !” and readily accepted.

“Chateau” may be in the image of prestige castles and noble’s mansion, but in Bordeaux, every small family run wineries are Chateau. In particular, Chateau Valandraud is a new wine producer, and called one of “garage wine” meaning very small winery (Valandraud really has small warehouse like a truck garage as cave).

On my first visit to Valandraud, because it was in May, there were no ripe fruit of grapes, such as the harvest season. However, as far as the eye can see, landscape of vineyards was very beautiful and spectacular.

In the morning, view from the balcony was great, I couldn’t help shooting video.

Though, feeling of real scale is beyond movie. So, please enjoy the full-scale spot in your eyes.

Wine lovers have ability to be impressed by just the view of vineyards 😉

Shared lounge for guests. This official picture looks very wide, but it is compact and cozy.

There is a pool in the yard, but it might be closed depending on the season or maintenance. Confirmation is required.

Fried egg, Plenty of bread and cheese. When the weather is fine, you can have breakfast on the terrace as like top image on this page.

For dinner, you could go outside or cook for yourself in a shared kitchen.

If you go to nice wine restaurant in Saint-Emilion. I recommend La Terrace Rouge managed by Chateau la Dominique. It has good landscape and reasonable priced wines. (I will post other review later)

We joined tour with dedicated guide for understanding Chateau Valandraud’s wine making.

In Saint-Emilion city, we can buy wine at Valandraud’s own retail.

Of course, tasting Chateau Valandraud is included. Vintage 2011 is previous to upgrade rating premier grand cru class B. Obviously delicious, at now (2016) it seems a little young yet. It may be good to drink after 2020.

Chateau Valandraud is on vineyard located far from Saint-Emilion city. Car or taxi is needed. I saw other guests have private car, rental car, transportation service.

≫ To Valandraud, taxi ride from station “Libourne”, or tourist information “Office de Tourisme” at central Saint-Emilion city will tell you taxi sign. I took an optional tour “from Bordeaux to Saint-Emilion” found at VELTRA. In advance I asked tour conductor to drive to Valandraud.

≫ From Valandraud, I got business cards of local taxi drivers at reception desk in the entrance, and called to pick me up.

Over 250 reviews by guests who had stayed at Chateau Valandraud for real are very useful. It is highly acclaimed by voices of experience.