French & Wine
Weekly programme
French and Wine in Bordeaux - 5-day course including
- 20 French lessons (mornings) at BLS school
- 3 afternoon sessions on Bordeaux wines including: the “Art of Tasting”, becoming familiar with great wines from major Bordeaux wine growing areas, and learning the very specific wine making technique of Bordeaux (“Assemblage”)
- 2 afternoon excursions to visit “Châteaux”
- Support documents
- A "Taster" certificate will be delivered at the end of the week
Learn more about the fascinating and privileged world of Bordeaux wines!
Our Bordeaux wine course has been designed for wine connoisseurs and lovers, gourmets or professionals, enabling you to learn the many secrets of the “Art of Tasting”, but also to apprehend the mind-bending complexity involved in making Bordeaux wines. Discover more about the vineyards of Bordeaux and their world famous wines!
Perfect your knowledge of the wine growing area and really appreciate the great originality of Bordeaux wines. This course is taught every afternoon from Monday to Friday in "Bordeaux Saveurs", that belongs to Mrs Sylvie Cazes, co-owner of the renowned Medoc Chateau Lynch-Bages, just a few minutes’ walk from BLS. It is delivered in French and translated simultaneously into English.
Both connoisseurs and professionals alike agree that our teachers’ passion for wine is absolutely fascinating.
Secrets de “ Grands Crus”
MONDAY - COURSE + TASTING - 2pm-5pm
Getting to know and understanding white wines
- Learn about the world of Bordeaux wines
- Different appellations around Bordeaux and their wine
- How great Bordeaux white wines are made
- The aromas of white wines and how to enhance them
- The magic of how sweet Sauternes are made
TUESDAY - COURSE + ASSEMBLAGE + TASTING - 2pm-5pm
Getting to know and understanding red wines
- A look into some of the secrets of Bordeaux fine wines
- The process of red wines making
- Become an « œnologue » and make your own wine with your group
Tasting: Blend your own Bordeaux wine
A special session exclusive to the Ecole du Bordeaux: you play the role of a cellar master and blend the wine of your choice using the four main grape varieties grown around Bordeaux. This is a game anyone can play, even beginners, and some may even find a new vocation!
For this very special tasting session we use several wines each made from a single grape variety from a "Grand cru classé" , which have been specially harvested and kept for this simulation.
WEDNESDAY - COURSE + TASTING - 2pm-5pm
The diversity of the great Bordeaux red wines
- The history and wines of Medoc, Saint-Emilion and Graves
- Wine classifications: understanding the puzzling Bordeaux rankings
- Tasting: Bordeaux red wines. Strength, subtlety and complexity. Enjoy 4 red wines from the most famous villages in the Medoc, Graves and Saint-Emilion appellations
Secrets de “ Châteaux ”
THURSDAY - Afternoon excursion in Medoc - 2pm-5pm
Travel through the famous Medoc vineyards
- Visit of a 'Grand Cru Classé'/’Cru Bourgeois »
- Probably the most famous wine growing area in the world, home of the 4 remarkable Premiers Crus: Margaux, Mouton-Rotschild, Latour and Lafite.
FRIDAY - Afternoon excursion in Saint-Emilion- 2pm-5pm
Trip to the village of Saint-Emilion and its vineyards
- Visit of the medieval town of Saint-Emilion, a UNESCO world heritage site, 40 km (25 miles) from Bordeaux. See the special Saint-Emilion landscape and the surrounding chateaux: Ausone and Cheval Blanc
- Visit of the famous Saint-Emilion wineyards, Cru Classé
Option: lecture + tasting + gourmet dinner in the Michelin 1-star restaurant “Le Chapon Fin”. Pairing food and wines: lecture given by our teacher.