Jamie Durie visits historic châteaux and tastes local delights during luxury Bordeaux river cruise
Presenter Jamie Durie continued his 11-day ultra-luxury river cruise on board Scenic Diamond, the ultimate way to experience the beautiful Bordeaux region. His journey included private tastings at Grand Cru estates, daily shore excursions to historic chateaux and villages, and tasting local gastronomic delights.
Location:
Bordeaux, France
Cost:
Discover beautiful Bordeaux in truly all-inclusive ultra-luxury with Scenic. Exclusive Scenic Enrich experiences, Scenic Freechoice activities, all on-board meals and drinks are included.
Fly to Europe with an economy or business class flight credit on select 2027 Europe river cruises.* Plus, receive a bonus luxury hotel night on select France river cruises when you book by 31 August 2026.*
Getaway viewers can save an additional $600 per couple with an exclusive voucher. Request your voucher at scenic.cruises/getaway, call 138 128, or speak to your local travel advisor. Information correct at 22.08.26 *Travel dates and conditions apply
Highlights:
The Bordeaux region of France is where history, viticulture, and romance converge. Scenic Diamond glides effortlessly along its rivers, offering a remarkably smooth sailing experience.
Arriving in the charming village of Saint-Émilion, Jamie wandered the cobblestone laneways and admired the medieval architecture. He explored the subterranean monolithic church carved directly from the limestone rock, and tasted the local specialty: macarons. These weren’t the colourful Parisian macarons, rather plain almond biscuits made from a 400-year-old recipe perfected by local nuns.
Bordeaux is a destination that is as captivating as the wine it produces. At Château Fleur Cardinale, east of Bordeaux city, Jamie witnessed tradition and innovation at play, as modern ideas and sustainable practices create delicate fine wines. Every part of the process is individually considered and adapted with intuition, from hand picking the grapes to maturation and blending, which came across during his multi-vintage tasting.
An ultra-luxurious Scenic river cruise is more than guided tours and cultural immersion, sometimes a moment to yourself is exactly what you need. Although there was no shortage of dining options on board, with butlers assigned to every suite, Jamie opted to have wine and a snack delivered to his suite. Sitting on his balcony, admiring the view, he couldn’t think of a more relaxed way to travel.
Back in Bordeaux city, Jamie changed gears, opting for a Scenic Freechoice tour in a vintage sidecar. This unique perspective allowed him to weave through the city’s UNESCO-listed streets, historic districts, and the 15th-century Cailhau Gate, accessing areas where cars are not allowed.
In France, great food is simply a way of life, and whether Jamie was sampling local specialties or enjoying a meal on board, every day brought another delicious discovery. He joined a Scenic Culinaire cooking demonstration to learn the secrets of making the classic croque madame, a ham and gruyere cheese toastie with bechamel sauce, topped with a fried egg!
Any good recipe starts with great ingredients, and Jamie was lucky to get a tour of the Capucins Market with a Scenic chef. There was no shortage of tasty morsels to try from olives wrapped in anchovies to juicy strawberries and shaved prosciutto. Not far from the markets, he visited the Cité du Vin, a world-class interactive museum that celebrates the global wine industry.
For centuries anyone hoping to reach Bordeaux by water had to pass the mighty Blaye Citadel, a masterpiece of military engineering built to deter foreigners. In modern days, Jamie discovered it’s filled with pretty boutiques, cafes and galleries, and tourists are welcome!
Cognac, a type of brandy, is another of France’s liquid treasures, and one of the most famous is Rémy Martin. At their vast estate in Cognac, Jamie toured through some of the 40 hectares of barrel stores, one of them holding over 5,000 aging casks alone. A lot of patience and 300-year-old traditions goes into creating the rich flavours, and luckily for Jamie, the immersive experience concluded with a private tasting.
The historic city of Saintes was one of the last stops on Jamie’s cruise. A walking tour covered the main sites of Gallo-Roman and medieval heritage, from the 1st century Arch of Germanicus and huge amphitheatre, to the Saint-Eutrope basilica built in 1096. A short drive away Jamie was amazed by the large, elegant gardens of the 17th century Château de la Roche Courban, which reminded him of a mini Versailles.
Jamie’s incredible 11-day Scenic river cruise through the Bordeaux region was a true feast for the senses. An unforgettable way to explore the region’s rich history, world-class wines, and breathtaking landscapes, proving that all-inclusive river cruising is a uniquely relaxed and captivating way to discover the heart of France.
