Bordeaux Gourmet Experience: Cheese & Wine Tasting

Bordeaux is famous for wine, but this tasting puts the spotlight on what goes beside it. You sit around a communal table in an 18th-century vaulted cellar, then work through nine French AOP or AOC cheeses with three Bordeaux wines: dry white, red, and Sauternes.

I like the generous amount of cheese and the way the host keeps the session lively with stories rather than turning it into a lecture. I also like the small, personal setting, often around eight people, and the chance to see the Cave of 100 Cheeses below the restaurant. The main thing to consider is that this is a fixed tasting, so it may not suit you if you dislike cheese, avoid alcohol, or want a full meal rather than a substantial snack.

Key points at a glance

• Nine cheeses from across France: Three platters each feature three assorted AOP or AOC cheeses.
• Three Bordeaux pairings: Taste a dry white, red, and Sauternes, with each wine matched to a group of cheeses.
• An unusual cellar setting: The tasting takes place beneath a family-run restaurant in an 18th-century vaulted cave.
• A lively English presentation: Hosts including Marty, Patrick, and Melanie have been praised for humor, warmth, and clear explanations.
• Good food value: Traditional sourdough baguette accompanies a generous serving of cheese and wine.
• Simple timing: Choose an 11:30 AM or 5:30 PM start, and allow 90 minutes at 19 rue Huguerie.

Why this Bordeaux tasting is different

Many Bordeaux wine activities focus on vineyards, estates, or formal tasting rooms outside the city. This one stays in town and adds a French staple that wine-only outings often overlook: cheese.

The setting gives the event much of its character. You meet at 19 rue Huguerie, ring the bell, and wait for the host to open the venue. The tasting is below the restaurant, in an old vaulted cellar lined with more than 100 types of cheese. It is not a grand museum or a polished wine school. It feels closer to entering a working family food business, which is exactly the point.

The institution has been family-run since 1987. That history matters less as a date than as a clue to the mood. The focus is on eating, sharing, laughing, and learning enough to make better choices at the table. You are not expected to know French wine terms or recognize every cheese.

I like this approach for a first visit to Bordeaux. You get a quick introduction to French cheese regions while also tasting three local wine styles. It offers a useful bridge between sightseeing and a meal.

Arriving at 19 rue Huguerie

There is no transportation included, so you make your own way to the meeting point. Plan to arrive at the stated start time, either 11:30 AM or 5:30 PM, and ring the doorbell when you get there.

This detail is easy to miss. You are not simply walking into an open shop and joining a table. The host opens the venue and welcomes you inside. Give yourself enough time to find the address without rushing, especially if you are coming from another part of Bordeaux.

The activity lasts 90 minutes. The morning time can work well before an afternoon of sightseeing, while the 5:30 PM option fits naturally before dinner. Since the cheese portions are generous, you may find that the evening tasting serves as a light meal, though it is still best to think of it as a tasting rather than a full restaurant dinner.

The group size can be pleasantly small. One session had eight people, a useful size for asking questions without losing the social feel of a shared table. The format is not private, so you sit with other participants and share the experience as a group.

Entering the Cave of 100 Cheeses

The cellar is the visual centerpiece. You go below the restaurant into an 18th-century vaulted space where the cheese selection is stored. The phrase Cave of 100 Cheeses is not just decorative marketing: the cellar contains more than 100 varieties.

That makes the visit worthwhile even before the first pour. You see where the food is kept and get a sense of the work behind French cheese service. The cellar also gives the tasting a strong sense of place. You are not sampling anonymous products at a hotel counter.

The space is described as cute, authentic, and impressive, but it is still an old underground cellar. If you prefer a bright, modern dining room, the atmosphere may feel a little rustic. That is part of its appeal, but it is worth knowing before you book.

You should also make time to look around the cellar during or after the tasting. The tasting is the main event, but the cheese cave is one of the most distinctive parts of the visit.

Three platters and nine French cheeses

The cheese is served in three platters, with three cheeses on each. The selection comes from different French regions and carries AOP or AOC designation. These labels point to protected regional methods and origins, giving you more context than a generic cheese board.

The exact cheeses can vary, so you should not book expecting a named list. That flexibility is useful because the host can present a varied selection, and the pairing remains the focus. You may encounter different textures, strengths, and styles from one platter to the next.

The tasting is structured around the wine. You are not simply handed nine pieces of cheese and left to decide what works. The host explains why certain cheeses are served with particular wines, then gives you time to taste the combination yourself.

This is where the experience becomes useful. Cheese can make wine taste softer, sharper, sweeter, or more balanced. A pairing can also show you why a wine that seems ordinary on its own works beautifully with food. You learn through your palate rather than through a long technical speech.

The portions are a real strength. Several participants found there was so much cheese that the tasting felt like good value for the price. Bring an appetite, especially if you choose the morning session and plan to treat it as a substantial breakfast-lunch combination.

The Bordeaux wine flight

The three wines represent three different Bordeaux styles: a dry white, a red, and Sauternes, the region’s famous sweet wine. This is a compact way to see how broad Bordeaux can be within one tasting.

The dry white gives you a lighter, fresher style to compare with the first cheese selections. The red moves the tasting toward fuller flavors and firmer pairings. Sauternes finishes with sweetness, offering a clear contrast to both the dry white and red.

Each wine is served with a set of three cheeses. The pairing format means you can compare the cheeses with the same wine instead of trying to remember several combinations at once. It also helps if you are new to tasting. You can focus on what changes from one cheese to another.

The wine servings are enough to learn from without leaving you feeling tipsy, according to the practical experience of past participants. Still, you are drinking three wines in 90 minutes, so plan your day sensibly. If you have another wine activity afterward, this tasting may be more than a gentle introduction.

The hosts explain the wine regions and appellations in a relaxed way. Past hosts Marty, Patrick, and Melanie have each been singled out for clear presentation, humor, and enthusiasm. The quality of the session depends partly on who leads it, but the format gives a good host plenty of room to make the food memorable.

Bread, conversation, and the French table

A traditional sourdough baguette from a local neighborhood bakery is served throughout the tasting. It may sound like a minor detail, but good bread matters here. It gives you a plain, familiar base between pairings and helps turn the cheese into something closer to a shared meal.

The table is communal rather than formal. You sit with the group, taste at the same pace, and hear the host add anecdotes and fun facts. That makes the event social without requiring you to be a wine expert.

I like that the tone is intentionally relaxed. Past sessions have been described as witty, warm, and entertaining, with hosts who answer questions without overwhelming the table. That balance is important. A long lecture about appellations can drain the fun from a tasting, while too little explanation makes the food feel random.

The best version of this experience gives you both: a few useful facts and plenty of time to eat. If you enjoy asking questions, the small group format should work well. If you prefer to taste privately and quietly, the communal table may feel too social.

Is $57 a fair price?

At $57 per person, the value depends on how you use the 90 minutes. You receive nine cheeses, three Bordeaux wines, sourdough bread, guided explanations, and access to a distinctive cellar. The servings are substantial enough that several people treated the tasting as one of the better food values of their Bordeaux visit.

The price is especially reasonable if you care about cheese as much as wine. A standard wine flight may give you three pours but little food. Here, the cheese is not decoration. You taste three cheeses with each wine and learn how the pairings work.

It is less compelling if you do not drink wine or eat cheese. Participants under 18 receive grape juice from local wineries, but the tasting remains built around cheese and wine culture. Children from age four can attend at the same price as adults, and children under four are not allowed. Families should consider the fixed price carefully, since younger children may not appreciate a 90-minute seated tasting.

Pregnant people should also note that the activity is listed as unsuitable for them. Pets are not allowed.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for food-focused visitors who want a distinctly French activity without leaving Bordeaux. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors who like communal tables, and small groups looking for a break from standard sightseeing.

It is also a strong choice if you want a gentle introduction to French cheese. You do not need prior tasting experience, and the host explains the basic ideas in English. The session gives you enough information to shop more confidently in a French market later.

Wine fans may enjoy the contrast between Bordeaux red, dry white, and Sauternes. Cheese lovers will appreciate the range of nine regional selections and the cellar itself. People who care about both will get the most from the price.

I would be more cautious if you want to visit a vineyard, walk through production rooms, or see countryside outside Bordeaux. This is a city tasting in a restaurant cellar, not a winery tour. It gives you food culture and pairing advice rather than vineyard scenery.

Practical details before you book

The experience is offered in English, and the host or greeter meets you at the address. Bring a passport or ID card, as identification is required. No transportation is provided.

The two listed start times are 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM, but you should check availability for your chosen date. The duration is fixed at 90 minutes.

The booking terms are flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. That is useful when your Bordeaux schedule is still shifting.

Alcohol is served only to adults aged 18 and over. Younger participants receive local grape juice instead. The adult and child price is the same, so families should weigh the cost against how much their children will eat and enjoy.

Should you book the Bordeaux Gourmet Experience?

Book it if you want a generous, social tasting in an unusual setting, especially if you enjoy learning through food rather than sitting through a formal class. The nine cheeses, three wine styles, local bread, and old cellar make $57 a fair price for a compact Bordeaux food experience.

I would make this a priority for cheese lovers and for anyone who has already seen enough traditional wine menus. Skip it if you want a vineyard visit, a private table, or a full dinner. For most food-minded visitors, though, the Cave of 100 Cheeses offers a memorable way to understand Bordeaux one bite and sip at a time.

FAQ

Where does the cheese and wine tasting take place?

It takes place at 19 rue Huguerie in Bordeaux, below the restaurant in an 18th-century vaulted cellar known as the Cave of 100 Cheeses.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts 90 minutes.

What time does the tasting start?

Available start times are 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM. Check availability for your chosen date.

How many cheeses will I taste?

You will taste nine French AOP or AOC cheeses, served on three platters with three cheeses on each platter.

Which wines are included?

The tasting includes three Bordeaux wines: a dry white, a red, and Sauternes.

Is bread included?

Yes. Traditional sourdough baguette from a local neighborhood bakery is included.

Is the tasting available in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English, and the host or greeter speaks English.

Can children attend?

Children from four years old can attend. Children under four are not allowed. Participants under 18 receive grape juice from local wineries instead of alcoholic wine, and the adult and child price is the same.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.