Now a household name, selling more than 150,000 bottles around the world, Château Plaisance started life as a small, family-run business in the late 19th century. Winner of numerous awards, the château recently transitioned to fully organic wine production and produces 10 varieties of wines (five reds, four rosés, and a white).
An estate that wouldn’t look out of place in an English period drama, Château Plaisance is a stunner. The 32 acres (13 hectares) are used to grow merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and petit-verdot grapes. Set in the famous winegrowing region of Saint-Emilion, just outside Bordeaux, Château Plaisance grew from a family affair in the 1870s to an international enterprise, selling wines worldwide. The estate uses traditional methods to grow its grapes and has eliminated pesticides, now producing fully organic wine. They also make their own olive oil and armagnac, a type of brandy.
Leave the car at home–you’re going wine tasting, after all. The best way to visit Château Plaisance is on an organized tour from Bordeaux (roughly one hour by road). Many tours will take you to several wine estates in the Saint-Émilion region in one day. Bordeaux has an international airport and high-speed train connections from Paris.
Château Plaisance is open from Wednesday–Saturday, and admission is free. The best time to visit is during spring, when the vineyards are a mass of green foliage, or in the autumn, as the vines turn flame-colored in reds, oranges, and yellows. During the winter, the vines are pruned without leaves, so you won’t see the vineyards in their full glory.
Who says running and wine don’t mix? This area hosts the most famous wine marathon in the world, the Marathon du Médoc, where thousands of runners don elaborate fancy dress and choose from a marathon or half-marathon route through the vineyards. En route are numerous tastings, DJ sets in wine cellars, and food stands serving everything from oysters to ice cream. The Marathon du Médoc takes place annually at the start of September, and you must register in advance.