Circa Tours: France, Spain and Portugal river, canal and rail cruise vacations plus custom and package tours - art, architecture, gardens, castles, heritage, culture, wine, gastronomy. All-inclusive river cruising and canal barging in France, Portugal, and Holland. Cruises on luxury barge hotels or elegant river boats; enjoy French wines, gourmet cuisine and private tours. Travel Burgundy, Champagne, Provence, Normandy, Alsace, the Loire River valley, the Paris region, and the Douro River valley by barge or riverboat. Group theme charters and family tours. Cooking and wine appreciation classes.
Tel: 1-800-906-6117 (USA only) or 1-951-676-6117 ~~~ Address: 30919 Brassie Ln., Temecula, CA 92591 USA
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Weekend of Wine Tasting in Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux, Medoc chateauBordeaux wine tasting tourBordeaux, Medoc vineyards

The weekend of Saturday, May 17, 2008 will give wine lovers from around the world a chance to indulge their passion for Bordeaux wines and take a tour of the Bordelais, the region around Bordeaux where these wines come from. This third annual event (Le Weekend des Grands Amateurs - The Weekend for Super Enthusiasts), hosted by some 100 local winemakers, will include tastings of some of the best Bordeaux wines, dinners, visits and, most importantly, meeting the men and women who make the great wines of Bordeaux. During the weekend, the owners of world-famous Grands Crus will invite wine enthusiasts to taste their wines under conditions normally restricted to trade professionals, the wine press, and wine distributors. This is an ideal opportunity to mingle with ambassadors from the great chateaus in a warm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere and to deepen one's knowledge and appreciation of some of the best wines in the world.

Participating in an event of this caliber without a visit to the surrounding wine country would be unthinkable. So there will be an excursion to the Medoc region, on the west bank of the picturesque Gironde estuary. A drive though the world-famous Medoc vineyards is nothing short of a stroll through the temple of Bacchus. This wine road is a never-ending succession of beautiful chateaus popping up at every turn. On the left is Chateau Pichon Baron, across the road Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, over there, half hidden by the trees, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and behind this ornate wrought-iron gate Chateau Lynch Bages. All of them within a few minutes' drive of each other. And this is to say nothing of the succession of famous villages that reads like a private collection of the most expensive wine labels in the world: Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estephe.

A visit to the medieval town of Saint Emilion is also a must for this incredible wine experience. There again, the area abounds with famous French wine appellations. And as an official World Heritage Site, this is very special place. Wine production was introduced in the region by the Romans. During the Middle Ages the area benefited from its location on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and many churches, monasteries and hospices were built at that time. Most notable is the monolithic cathedral of St Emilion. Carved out of a limestone hillside, this building is an absolutely amazing feat of architecture and engineering!

The backdrop for all this exhilarating activity is Bordeaux, of course. Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables, made this comment about the place: "Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux." Baron Haussmann used it as a model when asked by Napoleon III to make Paris a modern capital. Bordeaux has won top marks for its exceptional architecture and the entire old town has been declared a World Heritage Site. Cafes with outside terraces, Paris style, are on every square, with stunning views like the 15th-century St Andre cathedral or the neo-classical Grand Theater with its Corinthian columns topped by exquisite statues of muses and goddesses. Shopping is also top-notch on Rue St Catherine, France's longest pedestrian street.

This wine experience has to be close to "heaven on earth" for any wine lover.

The complete tour starts on May 13 and ends on May 22 in Paris, after a short day trip to Champagne, the "cradle of bubbly," for more tastings of a different kind of wine. Details are available by contacting: Pierre Mainguene, Circa Tours, 30919 Brassie Ln., Temecula, CA 92591, Tel: 800-906-6117, Email: pierre@circatours.com, Website: www.circatours.com

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About Circa Tours: Circa Tours is a travel planning company specializing in trips to France, Spain and Portugal. "Experience the Local Culture" is our motto, so art, architecture, wine, cuisine, gardens, heritage and culture are our areas of focus. The principals of the company are former international educators and seasoned world travelers. The president was born, raised and educated in France and is also a Travel Institute-certified specialist for France, Spain and Portugal. The company offers customized tours, luxury barges cruises and special programs for affinity groups, clubs and associations of various kinds as well as independent travelers.

 
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