
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Bordeaux is only a one hour and twenty minute flight from Dublin, who knew? Oh, all of you, ok. Well, I hadn’t been to France since I was a child so I was pretty excited to head over to what’s basically the centre of the wine universe last week. The lovely people at Lidl played host to our gang of about 25 and I was lucky enough to stay in the
Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux, a gorgeous five star hotel in a seriously fancy 18th-century building right in the city centre.[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image image=”1447″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”large” image_hovers=”true”][vc_single_image image=”1461″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1446″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]To say we took it easy on the first evening would be an understatement. The hotel has a roof bar called Night Beach, which I think it quite hilarious but the drinks and view were not to be laughed out. Champagne and cocktails flowed freely among lots of “oohs”, “ahhs” and general “this is an alright way to spend a Monday” vibes. I didn’t expect Bordeaux to be so big, I had a quaint idea in my head and also it was really bloody hot as well…still thirty degrees late into the evening. The tub was rather tempting…[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image image=”1460″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”large” image_hovers=”true”][vc_single_image image=”1470″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1465″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]Dinner was in the hotel’s Brasserie ‘Le Bordeaux’ and duh, I ordered steak and chips. When in Rome (or something). My starter had colour in it so I suppose that was good. Washed down with lots of wine the buffs said was good…I mean, who am I to argue with them?[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image image=”1467″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”large” image_hovers=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]After lots of coffee and croissants the next morning, we were ferried (coached?) to Château de La Rivière, one of the largest wineries in Bordeaux, situated on the hillsides of Fronsac. It was a proper Disney princess moment arriving at the castle-like estate. So perfect that it didn’t really seem real, all the single ladies made a mental note to get married here.[dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ full_width=”” padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ animation=”” type=”” bg_color=”” bg_position=”top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cover=”false” bg_attachment=”false” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ enable_parallax=”” parallax_speed=”0.1″ bg_video_src_mp4=”” bg_video_src_ogv=”” bg_video_src_webm=”” bg_type=”” parallax_style=”” bg_image_new=”” layer_image=”” bg_image_repeat=”” bg_image_size=”” bg_cstm_size=”” bg_img_attach=”” parallax_sense=”” bg_image_posiiton=”” animation_direction=”” animation_repeat=”” video_url=”” video_url_2=”” u_video_url=”” video_opts=”” video_poster=”” u_start_time=”” u_stop_time=”” viewport_vdo=”” enable_controls=”” bg_override=”” disable_on_mobile_img_parallax=”” parallax_content=”” parallax_content_sense=”” fadeout_row=”” fadeout_start_effect=”” enable_overlay=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_pattern=”” overlay_pattern_opacity=”” overlay_pattern_size=”” overlay_pattern_attachment=”” multi_color_overlay=”” multi_color_overlay_opacity=”” seperator_enable=”” seperator_type=”” seperator_position=”” seperator_shape_size=”” seperator_svg_height=”” seperator_shape_background=”” seperator_shape_border=”” seperator_shape_border_color=”” seperator_shape_border_width=”” icon_type=”” icon=”” icon_size=”” icon_color=”” icon_style=”” icon_color_bg=”” icon_border_style=”” icon_color_border=”” icon_border_size=”” icon_border_radius=”” icon_border_spacing=”” icon_img=”” img_width=”” ult_hide_row=”” ult_hide_row_large_screen=”” ult_hide_row_desktop=”” ult_hide_row_tablet=”” ult_hide_row_tablet_small=”” ult_hide_row_mobile=”” ult_hide_row_mobile_large=””][vc_column width=”1/1″ animation=””][vc_single_image image=”1444″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1464″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1445″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1459″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1473″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ full_width=”” padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ animation=”” type=”” bg_color=”” bg_position=”top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cover=”false” bg_attachment=”false” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ enable_parallax=”” parallax_speed=”0.1″ bg_video_src_mp4=”” bg_video_src_ogv=”” bg_video_src_webm=”” bg_type=”” parallax_style=”” bg_image_new=”” layer_image=”” bg_image_repeat=”” bg_image_size=”” bg_cstm_size=”” bg_img_attach=”” parallax_sense=”” bg_image_posiiton=”” animation_direction=”” animation_repeat=”” video_url=”” video_url_2=”” u_video_url=”” video_opts=”” video_poster=”” u_start_time=”” u_stop_time=”” viewport_vdo=”” enable_controls=”” bg_override=”” disable_on_mobile_img_parallax=”” parallax_content=”” parallax_content_sense=”” fadeout_row=”” fadeout_start_effect=”” enable_overlay=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_pattern=”” overlay_pattern_opacity=”” overlay_pattern_size=”” overlay_pattern_attachment=”” multi_color_overlay=”” multi_color_overlay_opacity=”” seperator_enable=”” seperator_type=”” seperator_position=”” seperator_shape_size=”” seperator_svg_height=”” seperator_shape_background=”” seperator_shape_border=”” seperator_shape_border_color=”” seperator_shape_border_width=”” icon_type=”” icon=”” icon_size=”” icon_color=”” icon_style=”” icon_color_bg=”” icon_border_style=”” icon_color_border=”” icon_border_size=”” icon_border_radius=”” icon_border_spacing=”” icon_img=”” img_width=”” ult_hide_row=”” ult_hide_row_large_screen=”” ult_hide_row_desktop=”” ult_hide_row_tablet=”” ult_hide_row_tablet_small=”” ult_hide_row_mobile=”” ult_hide_row_mobile_large=””][vc_column width=”1/1″ animation=””][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]The Chateau has 25km of underground cellars in creepy cold caves below the estate tucked into the hillside. Cue ghost sound effects on Snapchat, borrowing the boys’ blazers to keep warm (arms not in sleeves, that’s how they do it in the FROW don’t you know) and wondering when we’d actually get to taste some of this wine. Turned out, we didn’t have to wait long. Tasting on the terrace warmed us right back up![dt_gap height=”10″ /][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ full_width=”” padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ animation=”” type=”” bg_color=”” bg_position=”top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cover=”false” bg_attachment=”false” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ enable_parallax=”” parallax_speed=”0.1″ bg_video_src_mp4=”” bg_video_src_ogv=”” bg_video_src_webm=”” bg_type=”” parallax_style=”” bg_image_new=”” layer_image=”” bg_image_repeat=”” bg_image_size=”” bg_cstm_size=”” bg_img_attach=”” parallax_sense=”” bg_image_posiiton=”” animation_direction=”” animation_repeat=”” video_url=”” video_url_2=”” u_video_url=”” video_opts=”” video_poster=”” u_start_time=”” u_stop_time=”” viewport_vdo=”” enable_controls=”” bg_override=”” disable_on_mobile_img_parallax=”” parallax_content=”” parallax_content_sense=”” fadeout_row=”” fadeout_start_effect=”” enable_overlay=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_pattern=”” overlay_pattern_opacity=”” overlay_pattern_size=”” overlay_pattern_attachment=”” multi_color_overlay=”” multi_color_overlay_opacity=”” seperator_enable=”” seperator_type=”” seperator_position=”” seperator_shape_size=”” seperator_svg_height=”” seperator_shape_background=”” seperator_shape_border=”” seperator_shape_border_color=”” seperator_shape_border_width=”” icon_type=”” icon=”” icon_size=”” icon_color=”” icon_style=”” icon_color_bg=”” icon_border_style=”” icon_color_border=”” icon_border_size=”” icon_border_radius=”” icon_border_spacing=”” icon_img=”” img_width=”” ult_hide_row=”” ult_hide_row_large_screen=”” ult_hide_row_desktop=”” ult_hide_row_tablet=”” ult_hide_row_tablet_small=”” ult_hide_row_mobile=”” ult_hide_row_mobile_large=””][vc_column width=”1/1″ animation=””][vc_single_image image=”1454″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1457″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1476″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1466″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1453″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”1452″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” image_hovers=”true” img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ full_width=”” padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ animation=”” type=”” bg_color=”” bg_position=”top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cover=”false” bg_attachment=”false” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ enable_parallax=”” parallax_speed=”0.1″ bg_video_src_mp4=”” bg_video_src_ogv=”” bg_video_src_webm=”” bg_type=”” parallax_style=”” bg_image_new=”” layer_image=”” bg_image_repeat=”” bg_image_size=”” bg_cstm_size=”” bg_img_attach=”” parallax_sense=”” bg_image_posiiton=”” animation_direction=”” animation_repeat=”” video_url=”” video_url_2=”” u_video_url=”” video_opts=”” video_poster=”” u_start_time=”” u_stop_time=”” viewport_vdo=”” enable_controls=”” bg_override=”” disable_on_mobile_img_parallax=”” parallax_content=”” parallax_content_sense=”” fadeout_row=”” fadeout_start_effect=”” enable_overlay=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_pattern=”” overlay_pattern_opacity=”” overlay_pattern_size=”” overlay_pattern_attachment=”” multi_color_overlay=”” multi_color_overlay_opacity=”” seperator_enable=”” seperator_type=”” seperator_position=”” seperator_shape_size=”” seperator_svg_height=”” seperator_shape_background=”” seperator_shape_border=”” seperator_shape_border_color=”” seperator_shape_border_width=”” icon_type=”” icon=”” icon_size=”” icon_color=”” icon_style=”” icon_color_bg=”” icon_border_style=”” icon_color_border=”” icon_border_size=”” icon_border_radius=”” icon_border_spacing=”” icon_img=”” img_width=”” ult_hide_row=”” ult_hide_row_large_screen=”” ult_hide_row_desktop=”” ult_hide_row_tablet=”” ult_hide_row_tablet_small=”” ult_hide_row_mobile=”” ult_hide_row_mobile_large=””][vc_column width=”1/1″ animation=””][vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″ /]On that note, more on the tasting later.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]