Bordeaux offers refreshing courses for wine drinkers

BORDEAUX (DPA) - Bordeaux is probably the most famous

wine-growing region in the world. Its wine fair, held every two years,

attracts not only professionals but also tourists in search of fine wines.

A wine-lover's trip to Bordeaux should start in the city itself, which owes its

economic significance to its port on the Garonne River in the department of

Gironde. Its broad boulevards and splendid buildings bear witness to the

affluence of the city with 213,000 inhabitants.

Wine trading has a long tradition here. Wine cellars in the old town quarter

Les Chartrons date back to the 18th century when oak barrels were stored

here for sale to foreign merchants. Today the district's boutiques and antique

shops invite tourists for a leisurely stroll.

Wine aficionados naturally gather in the bistros and restaurants of Bordeaux.

The L'Estauade, built on stilts in the River Garonne, offers a wonderful view of

the Bourse, one of the city's main tourist sites. The 18th century building is

particularly attractive at night when it is illuminated.

Visitors who want to learn more about Bordeaux wines can attend seminars

offered by the wine industry association CIVB. The CIVB's L'Ecole du Vin

offers both theory and practice - talks and enjoyable wine tastings.

Sommeliers and wine buffs talk about wine appreciation. They teach you how

to tell Bordeaux, Bordeaux Superieur and Cotes wines apart and to distinguish

grapes such as Merlot or Cabernet-Sauvignon.

The seminars include trips to vineyards, called chateaux in French, many of

which are open to visitors independently provided you register beforehand.

There are 14,000 vintners in and around Bordeaux in the region called

Bordelais. Their combined area totals 117,000 hectares of vines with names of

origin which make wine buffs hearts beat faster:

Medoc, Cote de Castillon, Cotes de Bourg, Bergerac, Graves,

Entre-deux-Mers and Sauternes.

One of the most renowned chateaux is the Smith-Haut Lafitte, half an hour by

car from Bordeaux. The vines are planted over many flat hills which means the

grapes receive a lot of sunshine and plenty of moisture.

"The chateau's history goes back to the time of the crusades", said today's

proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard.

Visitors are taken on a tour of the oak barrel cellars and given details of

production and processing. The chateau's white wines are exclusively from the

Sauvignon grape while the house's famous red is a blend of Cabernet

Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A "degustation" at the end of the tour

displays the quality of the fine Grand Cru wines from the best of vineyards.

Wines at Smith-Haut Lafitte are not just consumed as drinks but also made

into cosmetic cremes. The Cathiard's daughter Mathilde has developed her

own popular range of wine cosmetics. The cremes contain grape kernel

substances aimed at protecting the skin.

Wine lovers wanting to improve their health and beauty can also take a wine

therapy course offered at the chateau. A new four-star hotel on the estate with

views of the vineyards offers a novel spa experience complete with grape

residue and grape kernel massages.

A highlight of any trip to the region is an overnight stay at a chateau. Madame

Corinne Guisez of the Chateau Faugeres offers stylish rooms. Dinner with the

family offers ample opportunity to talk shop over some home-produced wine.

Another must is a trip to Saint Emilion, one of the most famous wine

locations. The trip from Bordeaux by train or car in the direction of Libourne

should include a stop at the Maison des Bordeaux & Bordeaux Superieur.

This information center focuses on the regions Bordeaux and Bordeaux

Superieur. A multimedia show about any aspect of the world of wine even

includes a description of jobs in the industry and the center's cellars hold

wines from more than 1,000 estates.

The medieval town of St. Emilion is best explored on foot. Its founder, the

monk Emilion, lived in underground caves which can still be accessed today.

They also house Europe's biggest underground church made of limestone.

Nighttime tours through St. Emilion's romantic alleys attract many tourists in

the summer.

After inspecting wine shops and bistros, visitors to Saint Emilion can go on

vineyard excursions - before loading their cars with delicious drinkable

souvenirs from the Bordelais.