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Dear Friends,

2023 will be my 5th Tour to the Bordeaux area, Where much 1er growth and crus are located. This will be a trip you will never forget and a truly unique opportunity to learn the process of winemaking. You will enjoy tasting a variety of wines produced in the many appellations in this region of France.

 

To reserve your place on this extraordinary trip, please call or email me.

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OENOPHILE TOUR BY CHEF DIDIER: APRIL 21 to APRIL 30, 2023

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The following itinerary includes all of the following: 10 days and 9 nights of daily hotel accommodations, all breakfasts, meals (8 Luncheons & 5 Dinners ) are 3 to 4 courses, with choices,  always accommodating everyone’s diets, accompanied with wines & beers, coffee, etc., sometimes aperitifs too.  Only 4 evenings will be at your leisure. This trip also includes all bus travel, entrance & tickets to daily activities (see activities below). All daily travels (from Friday, April 21st to Sunday, April 30th) with a 44-seat Deluxe A/C and Heated Motor Coach. 

Every new day is more enticing than yesterday!!!
The price is based on double occupancy. Single occupancy is available at $395 additional. The tour price does not include the airfare from the United States to Paris, nor train travel from Paris to Bordeaux and return. 

Take the TGV, the Fast Speed Train, which takes about a couple of hours from Paris. From Paris airport, Charles De Gaulle (CDG), go to Gare Montparnasse and take a TGV Train to Bordeaux (Gare Saint Jean, in Bordeaux, it is the only train station). These train tickets are inexpensive, book them online in advance at www.sncf-connect.com. If you are flying into Paris on Friday, April 21 you can also connect to an Air France flight into Bordeaux (BOD) from (CDG Paris Airport ). It is a little over an hour's flight. Upon arrival at Bordeaux-Merignac airport, you can take a taxi to the tour meeting point near Bordeaux Gare St. Jean.

Friday, April 21st
Meet Chef Didier in Bordeaux, at La “Tavern du Midi Restaurant” across from the train station, Gare Saint Jean, by 2:30 pm).   La Taverne du Midi - Restaurant in Bordeaux
•    Chef Didier’s cell: 773-620-3986
•    Email: chefdidierdurand@yahoo.com
(If you arrive early, have a bowl of fresh mussels with a Stella Artois or espresso, I probably will be there myself, if you are late, the bus, and I will wait for you.) 

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NOTE: If you are arriving in France before the tour starts or staying after the tour ends, contact Chef Didier for hotel arrangements.

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The Tour begins: 
-Leaving Bordeaux, with the bus, going to a 3-star Hotel, in Bergerac where we will stay for 2 nights and visit the Dordogne area 
-IVBD Educational wine tasting where we will understand more of about winemaking in this area. 
  IVBD (Interprofession of Bergerac and Duras Wines) 
-Welcome Dinner at a restaurant along the Dordogne River 
-Arriving at the Hotel in Bergerac

Saturday, April 22nd: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel in Bergerac
-Lecture about the two Cyrano De Bergerac statues by a local guide.
-Visit 2 farmers' markets, around the church 

-Taking the bus for Lunch to Monbazillac at the Restaurant La Grape d’Or, where Chef trained 
during his cooking school years 1977/79 
-After Lunch, visit and degustation at the beautiful winery, Chateau Thenac
-Return to the Hotel in Bergerac
-Dinner at your leisure in the old town of Bergerac

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Sunday, April 23rd: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel in Bergerac
-Check out from this Bergerac Hotel
-Going to the region of Sarlat La Caneda for 2 nights
-Visit of "Le Gouffre de Proumeyssac", called "The Cristal Cathedral", near the town of Rocamadour. The most famous cave in Europe and the most interesting geological site, with stalagmites & stalactites
-Lunch: La Laugerie Basse 
-Visit of Chateau Des Milandes and the life of Josephine Baker
-Visit of its surrounding Gardens. And watching the  Falcons and Birds of Prey SHOW!
-Going to a 3-star hotel in Sarlat-La-Caneda, where we will stay for 2 nights as we visit the area
-Dinner at a Sarlat Restaurant 
-Back to the Hotel 

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Monday, April 24th: 
Breakfast at the Hotel in Sarlat 
-Visit of the old town of La Roque Gajeac, taking a boat to cruise up & down the Dordogne River 
-Bus to visit the Lascaux IV Caves, world known and unique opportunity to explore primitive painting from 20,000 years ago
-Lunch at La Dornac, 
-Visit a goose farm 
-Visit the Most Beautiful Gardens in Périgord: Eyrignac and its Gardens
-Spirits Distillery in Sarlat
-Return to the Hotel
-Dinner and evening at your leisure

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Tuesday, April 25th: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel in Sarlat 
-Check out from this Sarlat Hotel 
-Going to a 3-star hotel in Perigueux, where we will stay for 2 nights as we visit the Périgord area
-Cooking class in the old town of Perigueux, learning how the famous Pate’ Truffe de Perigueux is
made
-Lunch in the old town of Périgueux at Chef Francis Delpey, Chef’s Didier best friend.
-Cooking class on Foie Gras that Chef will lead
-Tour of the Cathedral Saint Front in Perigueux, from its roof to the underground
-Visit and an option to buy some porcelains at a store, SAMIE PORCELAIN
-Dinner at L’étang Des Reynats in Perigueux

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Wednesday, April 26th: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel in Perigueux
-Visit 3 different local farmers' markets around the town of Perigueux, a medieval town
-Lunch in the old town of Perigueux where the Chef will open bottles of wine from his personal French wine cellar.
-Visit some authentic Périgord Homes from the XVeme to XIXeme Century
-Time on your own this afternoon to explore Perigueux. Maps are available at the hotel.
-Back at the Hotel in Perigueux
-Dinner and evening at your leisure

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Thursday, April 27th: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel in Perigueux. 
-Check out of this  Perigueux Hotel 
-Visit & degustation of the wines of Chateau Haut Sarthes with a wonderful lunch, 
lead by Daniel & Catherine Hecquet, the Winemakers. 
(This is the only Bergerac wine available in Chicago at all Binny’s: Rouge, Blanc, and Rose’.)
-Visit Bordeaux to La Cite du Vin, on the banks of the Garonne River. This is a world-class museum about wines around the world. You will love the interactive exhibits and thoroughly enjoy a glass of wine from its top floor with a 360-degree view of the beautiful port city of Bordeaux.
-Going to a 3-star hotel in Bordeaux for 3 nights, close to the train station so we can go back to Paris easily, Sunday or later.
-Dinner and evening at your leisure 

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Friday, April, 28th: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel in Bordeaux    
-Mademoiselle Margaux Chocolate Boutique & Degustation of Chocolates.
https://www.mademoiselledemargaux.com/boutique/
-Welcome, Visit, Degustation, and Lunch at Chateau Giscours   https://giscours.com/en/  
A Fabulous Experience!
12 Noon: Hors D’oeuvres served with Champagne
12:30 pm: Degustation Lunch, menu to be detailed later, but we are in for a great, Michelin-quality experience, by a Chef who worked at Michel Guerard Kitchens, as Chef Didier did!  
2:30 pm: Visit their wonderful souvenir shop 
-Visit and Degustation at Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 
-Return to Hotel in Bordeaux
-Free afternoon until 7.30 pm
-8pm: Dinner Cruise along the Garonne River, with wine tasting.
-Return to the Hotel in Bordeaux

Saturday, April 29th: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel in Bordeaux
-Visit a local Market in Bordeaux
-Lunch with Seafood Platters with Oysters, Clams, Crabs, etc… A fun local place, where everyone meets. You get to have this one-of-a-kind experience!
-Visit and Degustation at Chateau Fourtet or Chateau Saint George Montagne Saint Emilion
-Tour of underground Saint Emilion, its collegiate church, and its cloister
or visit Chateau Millet in Portets Graves
-Degustation of some Caneles pastries, a Bordeaux original. 
-Winemaker’s Dinner in Saint Emilion, where 80 Grand Crus Winemakers will offer their wines, along with a wonderful menu (see below). Enjoy this unique annual experience.
Veloute’ of peas, whipped cream with spices, bread chips
Poultry ballotine, mushroom cream, seasonal vegetable tian, cream juice
Assortment of three kinds of cheese
Chocolate and hazelnut
-Return to the Hotel in Bordeaux.

Sunday, April 30th: 
-Breakfast at the Hotel
-Memoir of the Trip
-Late checkout is possible.
-On Sundays, lots of Farmers & Antiques Markets could be visited if you are not leaving Bordeaux right away. Or morning at your leisure 

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