I dedicate this article to all the parents who want to enjoy a whining-free hour of wine drinking while visiting Bordeaux. As someone who has three kids and also loves to visit châteaux in Bordeaux, I know how quickly a winery visit can turn into a frustrating experience for both parents and kids. There are thousands of châteaux to visit in the Bordeaux wine region, but to really enjoy a wine tour you now have to find a place that offers a fun experience for your kids as well. In this article, I gathered some of the most kid-friendly wineries I had the chance to visit here in Bordeaux. Not all of them have special activities for kids, but most have a big garden where kids could run around allowing you to have a fun family experience. Here’s my list of the best family-friendly wineries in Bordeaux!
Note – You need a car to get to most wineries on this list (with two lovely exceptions), click here to find a car.
For more kid-friendly activities in Bordeaux check out my article about 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux. And if visiting wineries is your thing you should also check out my article about the best wineries in Saint Emilion, a dream wine trip in the Medoc wine region, and my guide to the Bordeaux wine region.
Kid-friendly wineries in Saint Emilion and Fronsac – the right bank
Château de la Rivière
One of the most beautiful châteaux in our region also happens to be a winery and a beautiful B&B. Le Château de la Rivière, overlooking the Dordogne valley, is an award-winning winery in the Fronsac appellation. It’s one of the biggest vineyards in the region, covering an area of 100 hectares and producing both red and white wines. Besides great wine, what makes the visit so interesting is the castle itself, a defensive fortress that was built in the 16th century. All the bottles are kept in caves dug in the 19th century, and visiting them with flashlights was my kids’ favorite part of the tours. Apart from that, the chateau has a huge garden and an inner court where your kids can run around while you’re tasting wine.
Château de la Rivière is open for visits all year long from Monday to Saturday, by appointment only. Free for kids under 10 yo and reduced price from 10-17 yo.
Book your visit here.
The chateau also has a beautiful B&B with a pool overlooking the vineyards, so if you want to make it a weekend experience, you can book it here.
Address: rue Goffre, 33126 La Riviere
Château Coutet
This elegant château is located about a 20-minutes walk from the center of Saint-Émilion. The property has a 400-year history as it has been handed down from generation to generation since at least the early 17th century. Today, the family’s 14th generation lives on the property and runs the winemaking business. One of the things that won me over when I first visited was their amazing garden with its own pond and ducks. Combine that with a glass of wine and you will enjoy the amazing picturesque scenery. It’s particularly great if you’re visiting with kids as they can enjoy the garden while you’re taking the wine tour. The David-Beaulieu family is very welcoming and they guide the tours themselves giving a very personal feel to it.
Chateau Coutet is open from Mon-Sat, you can book a visit here.
Address: Coutet, 33330 Saint-Émilion
Château Villemaurine
If you come to Saint-Émilion by train and you really don’t want to leave the village, Château Villemaurine is perfect for you as it’s a short walking distance from the village center. The Château combines tradition, modernity, centuries of history, and the refined production of great wines. They offer several tours but the one your kids will probably enjoy the most is the Underground quarries tour where you’ll discover the secular underground labyrinth and follow the path of the quarrymen who worked there. This tour is usually proposed on weekends, see all the details here.
Address: 23 Villemaurine-Sud, 33330 Saint-Émilion
If you’re traveling to Saint Emilion don’t forget to check my article about what to do and eat in Saint Emilion.
Discover all the other wineries you can visit in the region by public transport.
Visiting wineries in Medoc with kids
Château d’Arsac – Wine and art
If you love art, this would be a perfect winery to visit with kids. Château d’Arsac is one of the most extensive wine estates in Medoc and one of the highlights of the visit is the impressive collection of modern art sculptures spread all over the property. Every year, the owner of chateau d’Arsac expands the collection by acquiring new artworks which makes the visit there feel like an art tour. The château offers a variety of tours, which include wine, art, and live music. You can also just pay for the wine tasting alone and let your kids enjoy running around the garden, discovering huge and colorful sculptures.
Château d’Arsac is open from Mon to Sat from 10:00 to 14:30, by appointment only. If you’re interested to visit the estate by yourself before going on a tour, the gardens are open from Mon to Fri from 9:00 to 17:00. Book your visit here.
Address: 1, allée du Comte Arsac-en-Médoc, 33460 MARGAUX
Chateau Saint Ahon
You don’t have to go far from the city center to enjoy a family-friendly château, one of them is located in one of Bordeaux’s suburbs. Château Saint Ahon is a family-owned winery located in a town called Blanquefort. It is one of the easiest wineries to visit if you by public transport.
For my kids, the highlight of the visit was definitely the gardens, called Les Jardins de Mirabel. At the beginning of the tour, your kids receive a few working sheets with questions and missions guiding them through the different parts of the garden. This discovery trial will teach them about winemaking and nature in the region in a very fun way. For more info about the visit and the gardens click here.
The winery is open all year long apart from August and you don’t have to book the visit in advance, just check out the opening hours before going.
Address: 57 Rue de St Ahon, 33290 Blanquefort. To get there by public transport take line C from the city center to the Blanquefort train station and then walk for 20 minutes (or take bus 38 from the Blanquefort train station if you want to avoid walking with little kids).
Family-friendly wineries in Graves (and Pessac Leognan)
Moving to the south part of the Bordeaux wine region, the Graves appellation, where you can enjoy a few stunning chateaux with your kids.
Château de Cerons
Château de Cerons is one of the more impressive properties on the list and its surroundings make it one of the best places to visit with kids. The château is a historical Chartreuse (little house) dating back to the 17th century. The winery produces both red and white dry wines and offers a range of different visits that include wine tasting, picnic baskets with regional products, and more. You can also rent bikes at the château and go on a beautiful rural path discovering the heritage of the village and the Garonne river.
You can book their standard tours here.
For picnics and bike rentals, you can check their website.
The winery is open Mon-Sat from May to October and Mon – Fri from November to April – by appointment only. It’s one of the only wineries in the region you can visit by train.
Address: 1 Latour, 33720 Cérons
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the most prestigious châteaux in the Pessac Leognan appellation, producing both red and white wines. It has a variety of tours from simple tasting visits to winemaking masterclasses, however, what makes it a kid-friendly winery is its magnificent senses forest. La Forêt des sens is a beautiful trail in the forest with tree houses and amazing sculptures made by local artists. The entry ticket to the forest for adults is 19 euros, free for kids under 6 yo and a reduced price for older kids. No need to reserve your places. See all the details here.
Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm during the summer, hours may change in the low season.
Address: 33650 Bordeaux Martillac, France
Château Larrivet Haut Brion
Another winery you can visit with your kids around Bordeaux is Larrivet Haut Brion. Located about 20-minutes drive from Bordeaux in the Pessac Leognan appellation. This chateau has one of the most impressive gardens in the region, le Jardin Millesime, designed by Soline Portmann. My kids absolutely loved discovering the beautiful garden with their new treasure hunt game (a few months ago they had only a French version, but they promised to work on an English version of the game as well). They usually also allow their visitors to picnic at the park, which is yet another fun experience for kids. And finally, another attraction is their vat room where you can find amazing concrete tanks decorated by local artists. It is probably one of the most special vat rooms I have had the chance to visit in the region. Château Larrivet Haut Brion is open from Monday to Saturday.
To book a visit click here.
Address: 84 Avenue de Cadaujac, 33850 Léognan
Visiting wineries in Sauternes and Barsac with kids
Château de Myrat
Château de Myrat is a popular destination for families wishing to discover Barsac, Bordeaux’s famous sweet wine appellation. The Château dates back to 1700 but since 1937 is owned by the famous Pontac family. Apart from their great wine and the beautiful property, what makes the visit fun for kids is the cute animal garden, with chickens, rabbits, dogs, and more. See more details about the chateau here.
They are open for visits every day, but you have to contact them by email to book a visit: myrat@chateaudemyrat.fr
Address: 33720 Barsac – France
If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check up my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, which will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visit in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you choose your preferred location.
If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
What to do every month in Bordeaux
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
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*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂