The Bordeaux Wine Experience — Local services in Bordeaux

If you ever dreamed of visiting the first growths of Bordeaux then look no further. Ronald and Margaret Rens make dreams come true. We stayed at their beautiful Chateau Coulon Laurensac where every need was anticipated right down to the bouquet of flowers that greeted us in our suite upon arrival. From the Chateau we went on daily excursions with Ronald, via private coach, experiencing some of the best wine & food we ever had. Ronald has a driver so he can give his guests 100% of his attention telling wonderful, informative stories about the wineries we were going to visit, answering questions and even a little, dare I say gossip. Ronald is not just very knowledgeable about wine. He is engaging, friendly and he is passionate about making The Bordeaux Wine Experience an extraordinary once in a life time vacation for his guests. After 15 years this expat Dutchman has been accepted into the Bordeaux wine community like one of their own. In fact, just last week Ronald was inducted into the prestigious Jurade of Saint Emilion as a member. What that means for his guests is Ronald can open doors others can’t. Beyond experiencing the first growths up close and personal, when we visited Chateau Angelus in St. Emilion and Chateau Gazin in Pomerol we had the pleasure of meeting and touring the wineries with the owners. At Chateau Haut Bailly in Pessac and Chateau Prieure Lichine in Margaux we savored amazing lunches in their private dining rooms that are not open to the public. Just writing this review brings me back, the smells, the tastes, the sparkle in every one’s eyes.

Finally, when we read the itinerary we were a little hesitant about names like Haut Bailly and Prieure Lichine. After all I have been drinking Bordeaux wines for 40 years and I never heard of them so they can’t be any good I thought. Boy was I wrong. It is one thing to taste a first growth but they are simply too expensive to drink on a regular basis. Ronald also made sure we experienced some of the up and coming wines of Bordeaux that can be had at a fraction of the price. Thanks Ronald we already made a sizable purchase based upon your recommendations. I could go on but the bottom line is; this was not merely a good vacation it was...

The Bordeaux Wine ExperienceIs is definitely a wine experience. We booked this one week not knowing what to expect, all I can say is it was beyond our expectations. Anyone that is considering this wine tour experience will definitely not be disappointed. The food and the wine are exceptional, and you get to drink a lot of old vintages of very well-known brands. We liked it so much that we have booked a second experience next September 2020. I would advise booking early, as availability is limited.

Second trip/review Virgie and I just returned for our second Bordeaux wine tour! As I mentioned the first time there really are no words to describe how great this experience is for both of us. We knew very little about Bordeaux and now we realize that you have to buy or drink older wiring to really appreciate the Bordeaux wine and its complexity. Ronald and Margaret are wonderful hosts, and the wine tasting is just amazing. Even though this was our second visit, I found I learned new things about the Bordeaux region and its wines.

We are now looking at coming back for the 3 time in 2024, and bringing my stepdaughter and her husband to join us so that they can also appreciate but Bordeaux has the offer as a aged wine.

The food on the trip was just amazing, all of the restaurants / wineries where we had lunch or dinner were just top notch. A highlight is the day where we go to the local farmer’s market and then have a cooking class back at the Château! Ronald doesn’t cook, but ensures we all have a full glass at all times!

We will be keeping an eye out for the next an alumni...

My husband and I just arrived home from our extraordinary trip to Bordeaux, hosted by Ronald and Margaret. If you are a wine and food lover, I can’t think of a better recommendation than the Bordeaux Wine Experience. We spent 5 days touring some of the most beautiful and historic vineyards in the world and tasting some of the most sought after wine. Honestly, going into this trip I may have thought Bordeaux was overrated and overhyped, but after truly being educated on Bordeaux and tasting exquisite wines, my opinion has totally changed. Ronald is the BEST guide – a true encyclopedia on everything Bordeaux, but never in a pretentious way. Ronald keeps you laughing through the entire trip, making everyone feel at home from the onset of the tour. Margaret is the most gracious host, warmly welcoming her guests into her home, and especially into her kitchen. The afternoon at the market and cooking with her was so completely enjoyable and delicious, and she is gracious enough to share some wonderful recipes. This trip is special. If you want to learn about Bordeaux wine and food in the most fun way, I cannot recommend The Bordeaux Wine...