Day 161: Saint-Emilion.

With only one full weekend in Bordeaux, we knew our time and experiences exploring would be limited.  A must, being in Bordeaux of all places, was a wine tasting.

On Sunday afternoon, we headed to Saint-Emilion, a small village not far from Bordeaux.  The village is in the middle of wine country, for sure. For miles and miles we drove and you could see nothing but vines!  A chateau here, a chateau there - so many chateaus and wineries!

We spent some time in Saint-Emilion, tasting macaroons and walking through their tiny streets.  It's holiday season in France, which means Marche de Noel (Christmas Markets!) in every town!  The market here was no exception - lots of vin chaud, delicious bread samples, and fun crafts and gifts to browse through.

Later in the afternoon we headed to Chateau Bernateau, a vineyard/winery that has been in the same family for many, many generations.  It was a highlight to hear the process of making the wine, and particularly the roles of each family member.

Some wine tastings, a walk through the vines, and a tired drive home.