The Hostellerie de Plaisance and the Chateau Pavie, at Saint-Emilion, have developed a new type of tour called ‘From Plaisance to Pavie’, which introduces you to fine food and the art of winemaking in the Bordeaux vineyards. 

Situated at the heart of Saint-Emilion, the Hostellerie de Plaisance is the ideal place to discover the famous medieval city and its world-famous vineyards, the first to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The themed tours created by Chantal and Gérard Perse, owners of Plaisance, have been enriched with a new addition, baptised ‘From Plaisance to Pavie’.

An ideal place to discover the famous medieval city and its world-famous vineyards, the first to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

On the programme: a dinner by chef Ronan Kervarrec, then a visit to the Chateau Pavie, which is also owned by the Perse family and is home to the first grand cru class A wine. At Plaisance, the chef proposes a five-course dinner, with a creative and contemporary menu based on a respect for tradition and local produce, moving between diversity, contrast, flavours and textures. After dinner, the evening continues in one of the 17 suites and rooms which have been renovated by the famous interior architect and designer Alberto Pinto.

At Chateau Pavie, ancient stones and flowers merge with a landscape of vineyards

The walk is followed by a 45-minute visit to Chateau Pavie. The stone buildings have been totally rebuilt, and merge with the beautiful landscape of vineyards. This is also a chance to discover the new wine cellar designed by Alberto Pinto. The interior decoration features the large arched arcades made of stones salvaged from the demolition of the Orléans railway station in Bordeaux.

At the heart of the wine cellar is a giant fresco (4.55 m by 3.40 m) entitled Grappe Symphonie, created by the artist Michel Pourteyron. The fresco's explosion of colour, ‘which swings from one side to another to express the movement of the grapes’, contrasts superbly with the simple alignment of the barrels. The visit concludes with a tasting of the famous Saint-Emilion vintage premier grand cru classé A.