Most, if not all, Bordeaux wineries accept children of any age accompanied by adults for guided wine tours.
As a courtesy to a winery, please always let them know in advance that you are bringing kids to your wine tour as well as their ages. You may be offered a family-friendly winery visit that will suit your interests and make your Bordeaux wine tasting experience more enjoyable. During the tasting, kids will be offered grape or apple juice and various activities.
Even though French kids are used to wine culture, wine tastings are possible only for those over the legal drinking age in their country of residence or at least 18, which is a legal drinking age in France.
Of course, kids of any age are welcome on Bordeaux wine tours. However, you will need to choose a private tour or a self-guided tour.
If you bring small kids, I also strongly recommend going for private visits at the wineries. This way, during your private experience, you can always ask your guide to cut the visit short or interrupt it if your kids need attention.
Private Bordeaux wine tours are recommended for families as they give you a lot of flexibility. Your private guide and driver will carefully plan your day-tour tailoring it to your interests and choosing the most kid-friendly Bordeaux chateaux. Plus, they will provide booster seats for your kids and will make an extra stop if you need one.
If you think that a full-day Bordeaux wine tour might be too tiring for your kids, opt for a half-day Bordeaux wine tour, where you will visit one or two wineries. See some recommendations of Bordeaux wine tours here.
Another good option to keep your kids entertained could be focusing on tastings at wineries rather than full-scale guided visits that last up to 1.5 hours and may get your kids bored.
I organize itineraries for family-friendly wine tours. Please contact me for further information.
Do wineries charge kids for guided visits?
Most Bordeaux wineries accept kids free of charge, however, some wineries with kid-friendly visits including the ones mentioned below may charge a fraction of the price depending on the age of your children.
Best child-friendly wineries in Bordeaux
Most Bordeaux wineries follow the tour structure of greeting guests and giving a brief backstory to the winery, showing vineyards, then walking guests through their fermentation and aging rooms, and finally finishing up with a tasting opportunity. And while that might be fun for adults who enjoy wine, for children, it can get boring fast.
From my experience, the following wineries offer a more child-friendly alternative to the standard wine tour. From interactive video displays to hands-on play experiences, these tours will keep your children engaged and entertained so that you as parents can take a well-earned moment to relax a bit and enjoy their wine tasting.
1. Château La Fleur Cardinale
Website: www.fleurcardinale.com
Price: from €30 per adult; €10 for 3-12 years old, €15 for 13-17 years old*
Why It’s Child Friendly: Château La Fleur Cardinale is located in Saint-Emilion and offers an “Exploring With The Family” tour that allows your children to go through the four seasons of winemaking with a variety of tasks in a game they must complete. After that, your children will get to participate in their own grape juice tasting.
Website: www.troplong-mondot.com
Price: €60 per adult; €16 for children, free for children under 6*
Why It’s Child Friendly: Château Troplong Mondot is a Premier Grand Cru Classé B winery located at the highest point of Saint-Emilion.
Château Troplong Mondot offers a “Family Getaway” tour. Cruise the vineyards in electric Land-Rovers, which come in both regular and mini child sizes for visitors. Visit their horses which help cultivating vines, search for Eddy their little squirrel mascot and go vegetable picking in their onsite vegetable garden.
After your visit, enjoy a tasting of Château Troplong Mondot’s wines while your children enjoy snacks. This tour lasts one hour and forty-five minutes.
3. Château d’Arsac
Website: www.chateau-arsac.com
Price: €20 per adult, €10 for children 8-17 years old, free for children under 8*
Why It’s Child Friendly: Located in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, Château d’Arsac offers Songs of Arsac” wine tour. While touring the winery, enjoy a forty-five-minute song show in the barrel room where projections that explain the wine-making process dance along the barrels. After the performance, enjoy a wine tasting while your children try fresh apple juice produced here at the property.
Website: www.lamothebergeron.fr
Price: €6-35 per person depending on the tour booked*
Why It’s Child Friendly: Nestled between Margaux and Saint-Julien in the Médoc lies the grandiose castle of Château Lamothe Bergeron. This winery’s aim is to express the emotion and poetry behind the creation of wine by creating magic throughout their visits. Immerse yourself in the magical world of winemaking by enjoying extravagant videos projected onto their giant fermentation vats.
After working up an appetite, enjoy a picnic amongst the winery’s pristine gardens. While you learn about and taste the wines of Château Lamothe Bergeron, let your little ones fill their bellies with meats, cheeses, cherry tomatoes, pickles, bread, macarons, and famous Bordeaux canelé.
Website: www.agassac.com
Price: €10 per person (price may be waived with a purchase of a bottle of wine)*
Why It’s Child Friendly: Dating back to the 13th century, Château D’Agassac is a fortress like no other. Located in the Médoc region of Bordeaux and just fifteen minutes from the city, Château D’Agassac offers customizable themed tours that can be tailored for visitors of all ages. Tour offerings allow you to send your children off on a scavenger hunt to save the winery’s Star Princess who has been imprisoned for centuries in the château’s tower. While you learn about the wines and history of the château, your children can roam about the estate with a guided audio and video iPad tour.
Website: www.villemaurine.com
Price: €18 per adult; €6 for children 12-17 years old and free for children under 12*
Why It’s Child Friendly: Château Villemaurine is a Grand Cru Classé winery in the heart of the medieval town of Saint-Emilion.
On the “Underground Quarries Tour” navigate the labyrinth that lies below the winery with a visual program that kids love.
Website: https://www.marquisdalesme.wine/
Price: €55 per adult, free for children*
Why It’s Child Friendly: Château Marquis D’Alesme offers a special experience called “Le Petit Marquis” which includes many surprises and old-fashioned games for your children as they discover the estate.
*Visit prices are for information only. They may change. Please always confirm the visit prices with the chateaux.
