Sensory, tactile and gourmet tasting introduction
Learn the stages of sensory tasting, the tactile approach and food and wine pairings with Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé.
Discover our oenology workshops and wine tasting classes at Château Balestard La Tonnelle in Saint-Émilion, near Bordeaux, and experience wine in a different way!
Play at recognising aromas, marvel at the estate on a visit, get curious about what goes on behind the scenes of wine and the vineyard…
To make the experience complete and delicious, the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé wine tastings are guided and served with chocolates from the artisan Denis Daubos. Perfect food and wine pairings await you!
Sensory and educational oenology workshops
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Oenology class
Discover the work of the vine and of wine, the stages of tasting, the aromas and the oenology vocabulary, with food and wine pairings.
Blending workshop
Taste the single-variety Merlot and Cabernet wines of Bordeaux, then, like a winemaker, create your own cuvée by blending the wines and designing the label. Finish with a tasting of 2 classified growths.
Gourmet and unusual workshops
Sensory, tactile and gourmet tasting
Learn the art of tasting through three approaches: eye-nose-mouth sensory analysis, the tactile discovery of wine and the gourmet exploration of food and wine pairings. Suitable for enthusiasts and beginners alike.
VigneSense: an immersive, sensory and gourmet journey
An immersive, sensory and gourmet journey through 3 tasting experiences in the heart of the vines of a classified growth, suited to young and old alike.
Visits and tastings at Château Balestard La Tonnelle
We are delighted to work with Château Balestard La Tonnelle, in the heart of Saint-Émilion, Grand Cru Classé, which designs and runs its own wine-tourism visits and workshops.
Renovated and located 800 m from the village, the estate offers an authentic immersion in history, vines and tastings guided by its own team.
An emblematic, family-run and educational place to discover wine in a unique setting, crowned by an exceptional panoramic rooftop.
Visits and tastings
After visiting the estate and discovering the other side of a Grand Cru Classé, settle in comfortably on our rooftop to discover the 3 wines from our 3 estates.
Fancy a game? Discover our escape games. A question? Contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Does the tasting class include a visit?
The tasting class at Château Balestard La Tonnelle includes a visit of the estate and the winemaking cellar, with explanations of the vine cycle and the work in the vineyard, as well as of how red wine is made.
How long does the estate visit last?
The estate visit lasts 30 to 45 minutes and is followed by a guided tasting of our Saint-Émilion Grand Cru wines, paired with wine and chocolate, depending on the activity you choose.
How long does the wine tasting last?
The wine tasting lasts 30 to 45 minutes depending on the activity you choose.
Why choose the tasting class?
The four-hour wine tasting class includes a visit of the estate and its winemaking cellar, during which the host explains the vine cycle and how red wine is made. You then continue with a tasting of 5 of our Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé wines, paired with wines and chocolates and accompanied by a game on the aromas of red wines.
Choose the wine tasting class for an enriching morning and a discovery of the red wines of Saint-Émilion in a friendly atmosphere.
What happens during a wine tasting?
A wine tasting often covers these three elements: the visual (colour, reflections), the olfactory (intensity, aroma families, first nose and second nose) and finally the taste examination, with the attack, acidity, alcohol, astringency, aromas by retro-olfaction and aromatic persistence.
When does the four-hour tasting class take place?
At Château Balestard La Tonnelle in Saint-Émilion you can choose between different tasting formats. The four-hour tasting classes are only held on Saturday mornings.
Why pair wine with chocolate?
Pairing wine and chocolate is interesting for several reasons. First, it offers an unusual pairing that is still interesting from a taste point of view. Second, it is a good way to approach the question of food and wine pairing and the synergies you can get by playing with acidic, bitter, sweet flavours and so on.
How far from Bordeaux are the visits and tasting classes at Château Balestard La Tonnelle?
The wine tasting classes are held at Château Balestard La Tonnelle, in Saint-Émilion, about thirty minutes from Bordeaux.
How do I book a tasting class in Saint-Émilion?
To book a tasting class in Saint-Émilion, go directly to the booking section of our website. You can also call us on 06 31 82 43 66: we will be happy to tell you about the different oenology activities we offer.
Which activity do you recommend alongside a tasting class?
Two of our activities go well with a tasting class: Escape Wine or VigneSense. Escape Wine covers the stages of wine tasting during an oenology escape game, so you learn in a playful, educational way. VigneSense is a more sensory experience: blindfolded, you follow a multi-sensory trail on which you discover wine in a different way.