Hotels near Pessac-Leognan and Graves

Pessac-Leognan is the appellation for a half day rather than a full one, and it has the widest price range in this guide. Chateau Pape Clement opens Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:00 and Sunday to 18:00, by appointment, with a self-guided garden visit at 10 EUR, a Bordeaux Wine Discovery visit and tasting at 25 EUR, Awakening the Senses at 49 EUR and a blend-your-own workshop at 79 to 129 EUR. Everything runs in French and English. The chateau building itself is closed to visitors, so you see gardens, cellars and the vat room.

Chateau Carbonnieux at Leognan is the value pick, with a two-wine classic visit at 20 EUR, three wines at 25 EUR and a self-guided vineyard and forest walk of about 2.5 km at 20 EUR including two wines. It opens Monday to Friday year round and Saturdays from mid-April to mid-October. Chateau Haut-Bailly at 48 Rue de la Liberte, 33850 Leognan, runs a 30 minute tasting at 20 EUR up to a 110 EUR private appointment, but takes bookings Monday to Friday only. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte at Martillac is the expensive end, and note that its Land of Wine and Art tour at 48 EUR runs at weekends only.

Pro Tip: Book Carbonnieux's self-guided vineyard walk for a weekday morning and Pape Clement's 25 EUR tour for the afternoon, and you have a full Pessac-Leognan day for 45 EUR reachable on the Liane 4 bus. Do not plan on tram line B taking you to a chateau door, because it does not.