Where is Margaux, France?
Margaux is a small village located 25 km or 15 miles north of the city of Bordeaux, France, on the left bank of the Garonne river.
Villages surrounding Margaux are Cantenac, Labarde, Arsac and Soussans.
See the map of Bordeaux wine country here and my map of Margaux wineries below.
The iconic Chateau Margaux is located in the village of Margaux behind the church of Saint-Michel.
See how to get from Bordeaux to Margaux here.
At Chateau Margaux, 1st Grand Cru Classé.
How to Get from Bordeaux to Margaux?
Margaux Wineries by Car
The wineries of Margaux are located within 25-30 minutes drive from the city of Bordeaux.
If you are driving to Margaux from Bordeaux, take road D2 which is also known as the Route of the Châteaux since many Medoc wine estates are located along this road or close by.
Although the distance between Bordeaux and Margaux is quite short, the road is narrow with some steep curves. The speed limit is mostly 50 kph (31 mph).
Tip: For Chateau Margaux, make a right turn from D2 onto D105 or Route de l'Eglise if you are driving from Bordeaux. I found that Google maps directions aren't very accurate.
If you are stopping at Chateau Margaux for a photo opp, leave your car inside the fenced parking lot only (yellow fence). Do not leave the car in the plane alley. As this is a working entrance for the estate you will be asked to move by a security guard.
Dwellings in the village of Margaux.
Margaux Wineries by Public Transport
The village of Margaux can be reached by suburban TER train or TransGironde bus from Bordeaux.
A train from Bordeaux Gare St. Jean to Margaux station takes approximately 40 to 45 minutes. See train schedules and buy tickets here.
You can then explore the Margaux area on foot. Another great way to move around the Margaux countryside is on a bike. You can rent a bike or a scooter at Chateau Marquis de Terme.
How to Visit Margaux Wineries?
Most winery visits in Bordeaux require an advance appointment.
The easiest way to visit Margaux wineries on your own is to make an appointment online through Rue des Vignerons.
These Margaux wineries allow to book experiences through Getyourguide:
Château Haut Breton Larigaudière offers various wine tastings, pairings and masterclasses.
You can select wineries to visit and build your itinerary using this My Médoc Wine Tour Guide, where I list the best grand cru classé wineries to visit. I also propose wine tour planning service, where I make you winery and restaurant reservations. All you have to do is driving and enjoying the tastings.
Keep in mind that not all Margaux wineries are open to the public. Top wineries such as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Palmer require an appointment often a few months before your visit.
Organized wine tours are another great way to visit wineries in Margaux. Your guide will arrange all visits and won’t need to worry about schedules or driving.
During my private Medoc tours, we visit Margaux wineries or combine them with visiting other vineyards in the Medoc area – Pauillac, Saint Julien and Saint Estephe, which are a bit further away along the D2.
If you prefer traveling as part of a group, check out these excellent Medoc wine tours.
Tip: Some wineries accept drop ins for tastings. You can find these wineries but by browsing the catalogue of Bordeaux wineries.
However, they will do so only if there's availability. I still suggest to call ahead to make sure you will be accepted.
Why to Visit Margaux Wineries?
Pros:
- Margaux reds are some of the finest and well-known in the world for their intense aromatic profile and pure elegance.
- Margaux is one of the closest wine-growing regions to the city of Bordeaux. If you are short on time, visiting 1 or 2 wineries in Margaux can make an excellent half-day tour from Bordeaux.
- The Margaux chateaux have a rich history of winemaking and many can show beautiful architecture.
Cons:
- There aren’t any. If you are in Bordeaux, you must visit this legendary wine region. Top Margaux wines can be pricey, however, you will also find a variety of affordable Margaux wines.
What Kind of Wines are Made in Margaux, France?
The area around Margaux is famous for making dry red wines, some of the best in the Medoc, the Bordeaux region, and France.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are dominating the blend.
Wine production is regulated by the rules of Margaux AOC, the appellation of protected origin.
Margaux is home to 20 of the Medoc 1855 Grand Cru Classe wineries and other estates, including two exceptional Cru Bourgeois, Chateau D’Arsac and Chateau Paveil de Luze.
Several Margaux wineries also produce white wines which are marked Bordeaux AOC, as white wines are not permitted by Margaux AOC.
Tasting at Chateau Prieure Lichine, Margaux.
Best Wineries to Visit in Margaux
Chateau Rauzan-Segla, Margaux.
These Margaux wineries are open to the public and offer great wine tours. Click on a winery name to learn more about each estate and to arrange your visit.
By appointment.
From 2 May to 31 October
10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday
From 2 November to 30 April
9 am to noon and 1.30 to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
Closed on 1 May
Closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Open from Monday to Saturday, holidays included, from 9 am to 12.30 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm.
The chateau offers a very interesting expanded program of visits, tastings, and workshops.
Besides a guided tour of the historic Bordeaux chateau, you can come just for a tasting in one of the best tasting rooms in Bordeaux.
At the chateau, you can taste Margaux and Haut Medoc reds as well as white which is rare for the Medoc region.
Make an appointment to visit the chateau.
By appointment Monday through Saturday.
Opening times: 9:00am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 6pm. Languages: French, English, Spanish.
Monday to Friday: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Weekends by reservation only.
All events are private and by prior reservation.
Languages: French, English, German, Spanish and Russian.
The chateau offers the widest menu of visits and tastings in the Medoc, including wine and food pairings, and masterclasses including culinary workshops such as chocolate-making and macaroons workshop.
You can also explore the chateau using an interactive program on an iPad.
From May to October, the chateau offers picnics, brunches, and gourmet aperitifs by prior reservation. Picnics and brunches are for groups of 6 or more people
From December to March:
Monday to Friday
9 am to 5.30 pm
From April to November:
Monday to Sunday
9 am to 7 pm
The chateau has an exciting menu of wine tours and workshops as well as a new restaurant Au Marquis de Terme right at the winery.
You can enjoy a simple tasting, a guided tour, a tasting of 7 Medoc grand cru classes wine, a snack or a brunch in the garden, or a stroll on a scooter or a bike through the vineyards of Margaux.
By appointment.
By appointment.
From November 1st to March 31st: open Monday through Friday
From April 1st to October 31st: Every day
9:30 am ‐ 5:30 pm
How about a picnic with a bottle of Chateau Giscours at the park? Glasses and wine are available from the chateau boutique.
The chateau also offers three guestrooms in the old barns.
May to September:
Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 12 30 pm, and from 2 pm to 6 pm.
October to March:
Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 12 30pm and from 2 pm to 5 30 pm.
Besides the wine tours and tastings, Chateau Siran’s highlight is a museum of about 300 wine-related objects, some dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
The Château Siran Escape Game invites you to decipher the secrets of this family estate in an exceptional setting: an authentic nuclear radiation-proof bunker full of wine.
There is no restaurant onsite, but you can order a lunch on the Terrace 360 (by reservation from 12pm to 2pm) and accompany it by a bottle of wine from the boutique.
Languages: French, English & Spanish.
Find more choices of wineries to visit on your Bordeaux wine tour see here.
Margaux Wine Tours from Bordeaux
Margaux wine tours usually run from Bordeaux.
A private tour will pick you up from the center of Bordeaux or from your accommodation in the area. For your private tour, you can request to visit your favorite Medoc chateaux.
For small-group wine tours, take a look at some of these wine tour options at GetYourGuide.
A tasting at Chateau Prieure-Lichine.
Top Wines of Margaux
The Médoc Classification of 1855 ranked 60 best wineries of Medoc into five classes. Of these, 19 wineries are in the Margaux appellation.
1855 Classification is still in use. The rankings made in the 19th century tend to impact wine prices to this day.
Rank | |
|---|---|
1st Grand Cru Classe | |
2nd Grand Cru Classe | |
Chateau Rauzan-Segla | |
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies | |
Chateau Durfort-Vivens | |
3rd Grand Cru Classe | |
Chateau d'Issan | |
Chateau Malescot-St.-Exupéry | |
Chateau Boyd-Cantenac | |
Chateau Palmer | |
Chateau Marquis-d'Alesme-Becker | |
4th Grand Cru Classe | Chateau Pouget |
5th Grand Cru Classe | |
Chateau du Tertre |
Best Years for Margaux Wines
Critics marked these vintages of Margaux wine as the most successful in the recent decades:
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 94+ points:
2016, 2015, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2000
