Despite the French lockdown during this crisis, the Bordeaux vineyards have stayed busy; nature hasn’t stopped just because we have. The vines have been pruned are shooting up into the spring sunshine and will flower any minute now. Work continues in the cellar too. Luckily, most properties have the luxury of the space to carry out all these activities while still respecting social distancing.

Wine shipments continue and, although the tasting of the 2019 primeurs has been put on hold, Bordeaux based journalists are managing to taste wines having them delivered to the door by masked negociants so some commentaries will be forthcoming for what promises to be a good vintage.

The lockdown has also postponed what should be the beginning of the wine tourism season, but hope springs eternal and the châteaux of Bordeaux are working out how to prepare for future visitors.

Tomorrow, Monday 11th of May the date when doors can start opening again. I’m already receiving emails from Bordeaux properties explaining the measures they are putting in place to keep both their staff and their guests safe and to encourage the guests to return. 

Going local. The international clientele is important for wine tourism, with chateaux welcoming guests in many languages. As borders remain closed, the start of the season will focus on the local French clientele. As restrictions ease, locals will be allowed to venture up to 100 km around their domicile. 

This means fewer visitors, but could it also represent an opportunity? The French have been falling out of love with wine for a while. Although France represents over 50% of the sales of Bordeaux wine, consumption figures show the French are drinking three times less now than in the 1970s. Could this be the ideal opportunity for wine makers to re-connect with a disenfranchised French market? 

Lockdown wine sales show an increase in direct sales and via specialist retailers (in normal times over 50% of Bordeaux sales are sold through multiple retailers). On-line wine education and tastings are also popular. Does this show a desire for a deeper product knowledge? Wine tourism responds to this desire, bringing the consumer closer to the place and the people behind the product. 

The Bordeaux wine tourism model. Logistical challenges remain; social distancing rules limit groups to ten people; nine guests plus a guide. Fortunately the Bordeaux wine tourism model is already characterised by small private groups, based on pre booked tours rather than drop-ins. 

In the new normal, the capacity to welcome guests will depend upon the space available. With many chateaux now offering reception spaces for weddings and conferences, all put on hold, this room is available to comfortably receive guests, avoiding direct contact with workers at the property.

Appointments also allow a more personalised welcome responding to the experience each group is looking for. Chateaux offer workshops based on vertical or horizontal tastings or blending workshops.  

Solidarity between wineries will be important, learning from what others are doing and offering complimentary experiences to visitors. Groups such as the Best of Wine Tourism play an important role in supporting each other. Appellations such as Margaux already work together to ensure that there is a welcome in the appellation seven days a week. Now this solidarity means if one chateau doesn’t have the capacity to welcome guests, they can recommend a neighbour who does. 

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Finally, some Fresh air. Visiting the vineyard is an outdoor activity, so no need to worry about social distancing as you wander through the vines. Most properties offer outdoor activities. At Château d’Angludet in Margaux, you visit the vineyard in a golf cart with a glass of wine in hand. Chateau La Dauphine offers a food and wine experience high up on the slopes of the vineyard and at Chateau Sigalas Rabaud in Sauternes you can taste the range of wines, sweet and dry, on their beautiful terrace by the pool. Château Marquis de Terme you can even bicycle through the vines and then sleep off your adventures with a siesta in the park of Château La Mothe Bergeron.

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Château Smith Haut Lafitte shares their combined passions of wine art and nature with their Land Art Forest of the Five Senses. A welcome change for visitors after months indoors.

For tasting, clients will need to be reassured about sanitary measures the properties are taking. Chateaux can clearly communicate the precautions they are taking, and it looks as if they will be obliged to do so. Some properties will offer a brand new tasting glass to take home as a souvenir, although professional glass washers reach a high enough temperature to destroy the virus. Others will not offer a tasting together preferring special discounts for guests to take bottles to taste at home, sharing their newfound knowledge with friends and family. 

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Properties, such as Château de Cerons, offer the possibility to take a bottle out into the park of the chateau to enjoy with a picnic. Others can offer a private château dining room experience such as Château Haut Bailly, or Château Malartic-Lagravière in Pessac Léognan and Château Phelan Segur in Saint Estèphe.

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Châteaux offering rooms and hotel accommodation are rethinking their offer and organisation alongside other hotels. Private cottages on vineyards, such as Château Troplong Mondot, Château Bauduc and Château Biac are the perfect option.  Les Sources de Caudalie are opening their independent fisherman’s cottages for the Ascension weekend on 20th May. Breakfast served on the private terraces and picnic lunches offered by their Rouge bistro.

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Exclusive use of chateaux such as the beautiful Chatreuse at Cos d’Estournel offers top class chateau hospitality with peace of mind that privacy brings.

Culture and agriculture. Or forgo the tasting altogether? Visiting a Bordeaux chateau is not only about the wine. Agriculture rhymes with culture: visitors can discover the cultural side of Bordeaux, with art experiences such as Château d’Arsac, with their amazing contemporary art collection spread through the vineyard. 

Admire historic architectural styles at the beautifully renovated Château de Ferrand and Le Cloitre des Cordeliers in Saint Emilion and contemporary architecture at Château Les Carmes Haut Brion in Pessac Léognan or Château Pedesclaux in Pauillac.

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Innovation will be key to rising to these challenges. We know wine properties can innovate, they already do. Innovation is one of the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism award categories, already recognising such initiatives. 

As restrictions are gradually lifted, small private visits from locals, with friends or family will be the ideal opportunity to celebrate these newfound freedoms. For readers from further afield, frustrated by plans to visit put on hold, you can follow the winemakers on social media. Many have online videos, tastings and workshops for you to enjoy while you prepare your future visit. Specialist wine tour companies are spending time and money on re organising trips planned for early in the season but staying positive. Decanter Tours has been interviewing wine tour partners on line and is offering a free e book of Bordeaux Bootcamp to everyone booking a Bordeaux tour, French Wine explorers has sent video from their guides to their clients and Wine Paths is running their first Facebook Virtual Wine road trip to Château Malartic Lagraviere on Wednesday 14th May. 

The wine world has faced many challenges in its history, from Phylloxera and world wars to climate catastrophes, and has found its way back. We know we can count on the resourcefulness of our producers and the support of wine enthusiasts to see us through.Bordeaux chateaux will be ready and waiting for you as soon as you can come back to visit.

See you soon.

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