Bordeaux Gourmet Experience: Cheese & Wine Tasting

Beneath a family-run cheese shop in central Bordeaux, an 18th-century vaulted cellar turns a simple tasting into a small French food adventure. You sit around a communal table, work through nine AOP or AOC cheeses, and match them with three Bordeaux wines: dry white, red, and Sauternes.

I like two things right away: the tasting gives equal attention to cheese and wine, and the host keeps it lively with stories, jokes, and regional details. I also like the generous food portion, with three cheeses served alongside each wine and traditional sourdough bread from a local bakery. The one drawback is that children under four cannot attend, pregnant visitors are advised not to take part, and the same adult price applies to children from age four.

Key points at a glance

• Nine French cheeses: Sample three sets of three AOP or AOC cheeses from different parts of France.
• Three Bordeaux pairings: Taste a dry white, a red, and a sweet Sauternes.
• An unusual setting: The tasting takes place in a vaulted underground cellar holding more than 100 cheeses.
• A lively English host: Guides such as Patrick, Marty, and Melanie have brought humor and clear explanations to past sessions.
• A filling 90 minutes: Bread and a generous cheese serving make this more than a token nibble.
• Easy central meeting point: Ring the bell at 19 rue Huguerie, then wait for your host to open the venue.

A cheese cellar beneath Bordeaux

The setting does much of the work here. At 19 rue Huguerie, you do not simply walk into a polished wine bar and sit beneath bright lights. You ring the bell, your host lets you in, and the tasting leads downstairs to a vaulted cellar lined with an impressive selection of cheeses.

The cellar is known as the Cave of 100 Cheeses. More than a display, it gives you a sense of how seriously France treats regional cheese. The room is old, atmospheric, and closely tied to the family-run institution above it, which was founded in 1987.

I would allow a few minutes to look around the cellar before settling at the table. The tasting itself lasts 90 minutes, so the cellar is not a separate long tour, but it is part of what makes this outing different from a standard Bordeaux wine lesson.

The restaurant and cheese shop are also worth noting. One person who booked the tasting later wished to return for the restaurant, but found that a reservation was needed. If you like the place, do not assume you can simply come back at dinner time without planning ahead.

Three rounds, nine cheeses, and three Bordeaux wines

The tasting follows a clear pattern. You receive three platters, each holding three assorted French cheeses. One wine is paired with each platter, giving you nine cheeses and three wines by the end.

The three wines cover a useful range:

• A dry Bordeaux white
• A Bordeaux red
• A sweet Sauternes

This is a smart format for a first food-and-wine session in the region. Bordeaux is famous for red wine, but the dry white and Sauternes show two other sides of local production. The sweet wine also gives the final pairing a very different feel from the earlier rounds.

Each cheese comes from a different French region or style. You are not just tasting three versions of the same soft cheese. The point is to compare textures, strength, age, and milk styles, then see how the wine changes each bite.

The host explains why certain pairings work and gives background on the cheese and wine regions. The tone is informal rather than academic. You will learn useful facts, but you are not expected to memorize technical terms or take notes.

Past sessions have included three cheeses per wine, and the portions have been generous enough that you should arrive hungry. This is not a tiny sample followed by a hard search for lunch. For some people, the bread, cheese, and wine may be enough to carry them through the afternoon.

Why the pairing matters

A cheese tasting can become a parade of samples if there is no clear reason for the order. Here, the wine gives the session structure. You taste a cheese on its own, try it with the wine, and see how the combination changes.

A dry white wine can make a creamy or fresh cheese seem lighter. A red may suit firmer or stronger flavors. Sauternes brings sweetness and contrast, and can make a salty or pungent cheese seem more rounded. The host handles the explanation, so you can focus on tasting rather than trying to guess the correct answer.

The pairing also helps you understand French regional food in a practical way. Instead of treating cheese as something served after dinner, you see how it works with wine throughout a meal.

I especially like that the session does not treat wine as the only star. Bordeaux attracts people who already know its famous reds, yet the cheese selection gives the tasting a broader French identity. If you have already taken a dedicated Bordeaux wine tour, this makes a useful counterpoint.

The host makes the difference

The food is important, but the host shapes the mood. This tasting works best when the person leading it is willing to talk, answer questions, and keep the group involved.

Past sessions have been led by hosts including Patrick, Marty, and Melanie. The useful pattern is clear: the best presentations mix regional information with humor. Marty was praised for a mildly educational style, while Patrick was remembered for bringing strong energy to the session. Melanie was singled out for her knowledge of both wine and cheese.

You can expect an English-language presentation with stories, anecdotes, and fun facts. The hosts do not simply place plates on the table and disappear. They guide you through the pairings and explain the background behind what you are eating.

The group size can vary, but one session had eight people, which is a comfortable number for conversation. A communal table means you may be tasting alongside people you have just met. That is part of the point. This is designed as a social, relaxed activity rather than a private lesson.

If you prefer silent tasting or a formal lecture, the lively approach may feel a little much. If you enjoy asking questions and laughing over food, it should suit you well.

Bread, grape juice, and what you actually receive

Traditional sourdough baguette from a neighborhood bakery accompanies the cheese. That detail matters because bread helps clear the palate between pairings and turns the tasting into a more satisfying meal.

Adults receive three Bordeaux wines. Participants under 18 receive grape juice from local wineries instead. The minimum legal drinking age is 18, and children under four are not allowed to join.

The activity uses one price for adults and children from age four. That makes the booking simple, but it is not automatically a bargain for a young child who cannot appreciate nine cheeses or three wine pairings. Families should decide based on the child’s interest in food and the practical limit of a 90-minute communal tasting.

Pregnant women are listed as not suitable for this activity. Transportation, personal expenses, and any food or drink beyond the stated tasting are not included.

Is $57 a fair price?

The cost is $57 per person. I would judge it as fair if you value the setting, the instruction, and the generous amount of cheese, rather than comparing it with the cost of buying a bottle and a few cheeses at a shop.

You receive nine cheeses, three wines, bread, a hosted presentation, and access to an unusual cellar. The 90-minute length is long enough to make the tasting feel like a planned activity, but short enough to fit neatly into a day of sightseeing.

The strongest value comes from the amount of food. Several past tastings included three cheeses with each wine, and the portions were described as ample. You are not paying only for a few sips and tiny cubes.

The price is less appealing if you want a full meal, a private tasting, or a large number of Bordeaux wines. The selection is limited to three wines, and the session is built around pairing rather than detailed wine collecting.

At the end, you should not expect transportation or a separate city tour. You are paying for a focused food experience in one location. For many people, that focus is a strength.

Choosing the best time of day

The available start times are 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM, depending on the reservation. The morning session works well as a late breakfast or early lunch, especially since the cheese portions are substantial.

The 5:30 PM option fits naturally before dinner, though the tasting may reduce your appetite. It can also serve as a pleasant start to an evening in Bordeaux, particularly if you want to eat at the restaurant afterward. Plan ahead, since a later meal may require its own reservation.

Try not to schedule this directly after another large meal. You will get more from the experience if you have room to taste each cheese properly.

The meeting point is 19 rue Huguerie. There is no transportation included, so you need to make your own way there. On arrival, ring the doorbell. Your host opens the venue and welcomes you inside.

Bring a passport or ID card. Pets are not allowed.

Who will enjoy this tasting most?

This is a strong choice for anyone who likes both cheese and wine but does not want a stiff classroom setting. It also suits people who have limited time in Bordeaux and want a distinctly French activity that fits into an hour and a half.

You will likely enjoy it if you:

• Want to taste French cheeses from several regions
• Prefer clear explanations over advanced wine jargon
• Like social, communal activities
• Want a substantial snack or light meal
• Enjoy old food cellars and small family-run businesses
• Have already seen the major Bordeaux sights and want something different

It is less suitable if you dislike cheese, avoid alcohol and do not want grape juice, or need a private experience. The tasting is offered in English only, so it is not the right choice if you want instruction in another language.

The social setting also matters. You sit around a shared table, and the host brings energy to the room. That format can be fun for couples, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy meeting people. It may not suit someone looking for quiet or personal space.

Small details that improve the experience

Arrive ready to eat. The cheese is plentiful, and rushing through the samples would waste much of the pleasure.

Ask about the regions and the order of the cheeses. The session is interactive, so you can get more from it by speaking up rather than waiting for a formal lecture.

Look carefully at the cellar. Several people found the underground cheese room memorable in its own right, and it is one of the main reasons to choose this activity over a generic wine bar tasting.

If you find a wine or cheese you especially like, ask whether it is available for purchase. Availability can change, and one past visitor was disappointed that a favored white Bordeaux was sold out.

If you are considering returning for a meal, make a separate reservation. The tasting gives you an introduction to the venue, but it does not guarantee a table later.

Booking flexibility and practical limits

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available, which helps if your Bordeaux schedule is still shifting.

The tasting is led in English. You need to check the current availability for the exact start time, since sessions are offered at 11:30 AM or 5:30 PM.

The activity lasts 90 minutes. It is not a walking tour, and no transportation is provided. You remain at the venue for the tasting and cellar setting.

Children under four cannot join. Children aged four and older pay the same price as adults, while anyone under 18 receives grape juice instead of wine.

Should you book the Bordeaux cheese and wine tasting?

Book it if you want a friendly, food-centered introduction to France in an atmospheric cellar. The combination of nine cheeses, three Bordeaux wines, local bread, and a lively English host gives you a generous 90-minute activity for the price.

I would especially recommend it after, or instead of, a standard Bordeaux wine tour. The cheese pairings add variety, and the cellar provides a setting you will not get at a normal tasting counter.

Skip it if you want a private lesson, a full meal, or a serious examination of Bordeaux wine alone. Otherwise, this is one of the more enjoyable ways to spend an hour and a half in the city, especially if you arrive hungry and are willing to share a table.

FAQ

Where does the Bordeaux cheese and wine tasting take place?

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

How long does the tasting last?

The tasting lasts 90 minutes.

How many cheeses and wines are included?

You receive nine AOP or AOC French cheeses and three Bordeaux wines. The cheeses are served in three platters, with three cheeses paired with each wine.

Which wines are served?

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

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English, with an English-speaking host or greeter.

Can children attend?

Children under four are not allowed. Children aged four and older can attend at the same price as adults. Participants under 18 receive grape juice from local wineries instead of alcohol.

What should I bring and what is not allowed?

Bring a passport or ID card. Pets are not allowed, and transportation, personal expenses, and unlisted food or drinks are not included.