Why visit
Arcachon has no vineyards of its own. The nearest estates are in Pessac-Léognan and Graves, south of Bordeaux.
The TER from Bordeaux Saint-Jean to Arcachon stops at Pessac and Gazinet-Cestas. Pessac is a Pessac-Léognan appellation commune.
Pessac-Léognan covers 1,610 hectares, was created in 1987 and makes 80% red wine. The Pessac-Léognan and Graves vineyards produce red, dry white and sweet white wines. Across Bordeaux, the CIVB counts merlot at 66% of red plantings, cabernet sauvignon at 22.5% and cabernet franc at 9.5%. Sauvignon blanc makes up 45% of white plantings and sémillon 42%.
The Bordeaux region has over 5,000 wine estates across appellations including Saint-Émilion, Médoc, Graves, Sauternes and Pomerol. To visit other appellations, see the Bordeaux region page and the town pages for Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Pauillac, Margaux, Libourne and Sauternes.
Visiting the estates
The Bordeaux tourist office lists château visits as bookable activities, so book ahead. The estates below sit in Pessac-Léognan and Graves, south of Bordeaux, and the fees are the starting price for a visit with tasting.
Estate visits south of Bordeaux and tasting fees| Estate | Visits | Tasting from |
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| Château La Louvière (Léognan) | Visit and tasting, booking | €16 ($17) |
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| Château de Fieuzal | Visit and tasting, booking | €25 ($27) |
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| Château Bouscaut | Tour and tasting, booking | €15 ($16) |
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| Château Couhins | Visit and tasting, booking | €15 ($16) |
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| Château Larrivet Haut-Brion (Léognan) | Stroll through the vintage garden | — |
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| Château Pape Clément (Pessac) | Visits and tastings, all year | — |
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Château La Louvière's fee is for its "Wine & Pleasure" visit and tasting. The Bordeaux tourist office also lists a bike loop through the vineyards, 2 to 15 km, with two wines served at the end. Book the bike loop in advance.
Château Haut-Bacalan in Pessac and Château Pontac Monplaisir in Villenave-d'Ornon are urban estates that host visits and tastings, like Pape Clément.
Spit as you taste, and choose a designated driver.
When to go
Pape Clément, Haut-Bacalan and Pontac Monplaisir run visits and tastings all year.
The TER between Arcachon and Bordeaux Saint-Jean runs 25 round trips a day and takes 50 minutes. Of the 29 trains a day from Arcachon to Bordeaux, the fastest takes 41 minutes.
The last train from Arcachon to Bordeaux leaves at 9:05 p.m.
Before you go
- The tourist office gives 2 hours 50 minutes from Paris to Arcachon by TGV and TER. Direct Paris–Arcachon TGVs run only on weekends. On other days, change at Bordeaux Saint-Jean, where connections run 13 to 49 minutes.
- Work out your return train before a long vineyard day.
- Driving from Paris, the A10 to Bordeaux takes 5 hours 30 minutes. Then take the A63 and A660 to Arcachon.
Arcachon station is in the center of town, and the Palais des Congrès is a 5-minute walk from it. Bordeaux airport is less than 45 minutes from Arcachon.
