Château d’Yquem Opens to the Public for the First Time

Big news for wine lovers. The 400-year old Château d’Yquem will be opening its doors to the public for the very first time this year. From February 29-September, the legendary wine estate will offer guided tours followed by a tasting. The beautiful chateau overlooks the valley of Sauternes, the viticultural region renowned for its sweet wines, situated 65km south of Bordeaux.

As previously reported by France Today correspondent Jeffrey T Iverson, “Yquem is, quite literally, in a class of its own. In the 1855 Classification, which ranked the best wines of the Bordeaux region, Château d’Yquem received a rating higher than any other wine, red or white: Premier Cru Superieur.” Yquem wine has a global reputation for its quality and ability to age. Indeed, “a bottle of the celebrated 1811 ‘comet’ vintage, described as a 100 point wine by modern critics like Robert Parker, was purchased by a private collector in 2011 for £75,000 ($117,000), making it the most expensive bottle of white wine ever sold.” (To read the full story, click here.)

Chateau d’Yquem

Details: There will be a 12 person maximum for the guided tour followed by a tasting (one vintage of Château d’Yquem and one vintage of Y). The cost for groups is 60€ including VAT per person. The guided tour lasts 90 minutes, tasting included, and is done on foot. Pets are not allowed. Reservations are booked online via the official website.