Luxurious French Vineyards and Estates Worth Visiting

If you have never tooled around wine estates and vineyards in various parts of the world, put it on your list of romantic things to do. Rent a couple of motorbikes, a driver or just roam around in your rental and you’ll see some amazing properties and vineyards. You won’t often get to see the inside of the estates, as they are generally inhabited by the label’s family or the on-premise master winemaker. But most have tasting rooms, which will get you close enough to provide a romantic place to share some of the label’s most popular vintages. In fact, buy a few bottles, cheese and a baguette and stop along the road for a country-style picnic.

The wine estates we selected are all within driving distance in the areas near Bordeaux – with the exception of the Chateau de Ferrieres, which is outside of Paris. You could easily spend a day or two going from one to another and enjoying the outstanding grape varietals of the region. This is a great bed and breakfast getaway.

1. Chateau Lafite Rothschild: Pauillac, France

This gorgeous wine estate in France has been owned by the Rothschild family for over 150 years. The vineyard produces over 35,000 cases of wine a year and is one of the largest in the Medoc region, which is not far from the city of Bordeaux. The Lafite Rothschild is one of the most expensive wines on the market and charges prices of  around $17,000 per case.

2.  Chateau L’atour: Pauillac, France

This French wine estate is also located in the Medoc region and produces three red wines for sale: Grand Vin, Les Forts de Latour and Pauillac. It’s another very pricey wine – for example a six-litre bottle sold for around $228,730 only a couple of years ago. The estate dates back to the mid-1300s and although the original tower no longer exists, a new one was built in the 1620s to be used as a pigeon roost. An illustration of the tower is used on the wine labels.

3. Chateau Mouton Rothschild: Pauillac, France

Originally known as Chateau Brand-Mouton, it was renamed by one of the Rothschild men in 1853. The lush 203 acres of vineyards are on the slope that lead to the Gironde Estuary, which is another interesting stop while you’re enjoying the area. Baron Phillippe de Rothschild came up with the concept of having famous artist’s design their labels and continues to this day with few exceptions. A special label was designed to honor Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother, who visited the chateau in 1977. Some of the famous artists include: Salvador Dali, Picasso and Miro.

4. Chateau Haut-Brion: Pessac, France

Previously named Chateau Bahans Haut-Brion, it was renamed in 2007 to Le Clarence de Haut Brion. This property dates back to 1423 when grapes were discovered growing on the property. The estate was built sometime in 1525. The vineyard now produces a dry white wine named Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc and a limited release of a second white, Les Plantiers de Haut-Brion. In 2003, Domaine Clarene Dillon’s daughter introduced a Bordeaux wine, Clarendelle, through her own company – Clarence Dillon Wines.

5. Chateau de Ferrieres: Outside Paris

It almost looks like an art gallery, Château de Ferrières was built in the mid-1800s by Baron James de Rothschild and has been passed down through the male Rothschild line since. This chateau is viewed by many as the most elegant and luxurious in France. It was designed after the Mentmore Towers in Buckinghamshire, England. Keeping up with the Jone’s took on a whole new meaning with estates as they would see what they liked and then double the size. This Neo-Renaissance style estate was built with the traditional square towers on each corner, a formal terrace and gardens, a massive library, 80 guest suites and a central hall that measures 120 feet in length.

In later years, then owner  Guy de Rothschild and wife, Marie-Helene de Zuylen van Nyeve refurbished it and held celebrity parties with such guests as: Brigette Bardot, Grace Kelly and Yves Saint Laurent. In 1975, the estate was donated to the chancellery of the University of Paris and is now open.