Underground cheese heaven starts in Bordeaux. This Bordeaux cheese and wine tasting is set in the city’s older, downstairs world, in an 18th-century vaulted cellar called the Cave of 100 Cheeses. I love the setup: you sit at a big communal table and the hosts keep things relaxed, funny, and story-driven as the pairings roll by.

The best part for me is the amount and variety you get for the price: 9 AOC/AOP cheeses paired across 3 Bordeaux wines (including Sauternes), plus traditional sourdough bread. One thing to think about: the tasting includes alcohol, and the experience isn’t suitable for pregnant women, so double-check the rules before you book.

Key things you should know before you go

• Cave of 100 Cheeses: 18th-century vaulted underground cellar with 100+ cheeses
• 9 AOC/AOP cheeses: samples from different regions of France
• 3 Bordeaux wines: dry white, red, and Sauternes in one sitting
• Bread stays part of the show: traditional sourdough baguette is on the table
• English-led, story-first hosting: interactive pacing with anecdotes and facts
• Family-run since 1987: a convivial, Tour de France of cheeses vibe

Cave of 100 Cheeses: the 18th-century setting you actually feel

Bordeaux has plenty of wine tastings above ground. This one gives you the real atmosphere underneath—an 18th-century vaulted cellar where cool air and stone do the work. The tasting happens in one of the city’s oldest, most authentic cheese cellars, hidden beneath the restaurant level.

What I like about this kind of setting is simple: it matches what you’re tasting. Cheese is all about temperature, time, and craft. When you’re eating and sipping down in the cellar where the shop keeps its stock, the whole experience stops being abstract and starts feeling physical.

What you taste: 9 AOC cheeses with 3 Bordeaux wines

This tasting is built like a guided mini course, but you’re not stuck in a classroom. You’ll sample 9 AOC/AOP French cheeses from different regions, paired with 3 Bordeaux wines. The wine lineup covers a dry white, a red, and Sauternes (the sweet, honeyed-style wine Bordeaux is known for).

Each wine comes with its own set of cheeses. So you’re not just tasting random pieces of dairy and hoping they work together—you’re tasting how flavors change from one wine style to the next. That matters if you want to understand pairing beyond personal preference.

And you’ll have traditional sourdough bread from a local neighborhood bakery alongside the tastings. The bread is more than a side. It helps reset your palate between stronger flavors, especially once you get to the sweeter Sauternes pairing.

The pairing style: fun, interactive, and meant for real conversation

You’ll be seated around a large communal table. That’s a design choice, not an accident. Communal seating makes the experience social in a very French way: people talk, they share small observations, and the host can keep the energy up.

From there, the hosts guide you through the pairings with anecdotes and stories. Think of it as tasting with context, not tasting with a mic. You’ll get enough background on each wine and cheese to make sense of what you’re tasting, without turning the meal into a lecture.

One small detail that helps: the pacing stays relaxed. You can linger over a cheese if it grabs you, then follow the host when it’s time to move on. That makes the experience easier if you’re not the type who wants to take notes.

Inside the cellar: 100+ cheeses and the reason the pairing works

The tasting takes place in a historic cellar, and there’s more to do once you’ve finished sampling. The famous downstairs space is known for having 100+ cheeses, and you’re encouraged to tour the cellar. Even if you’re not a hardcore cheese shopper, it adds a layer of understanding fast.

Why it matters: seeing the scale of the selection tells you something about how cheese culture works here. You’re not trying one cheese and moving on. You’re stepping into a system where different styles are kept and aged under careful conditions, then selected for pairings.

Also, it gives you an easy souvenir plan. If you find a cheese you love during the tasting, you’ll know you’re in the right place to track it down afterward.

Your 90 minutes, step by step: what happens when you arrive

This is a 90-minute experience, and it runs at either 11:30 AM or 5:30 PM depending on your reservation. You meet your host at 19 rue Huguerie in Bordeaux. When you arrive, you ring the doorbell and your host opens the venue and greets you as a special guest.

From there, you’ll move into the tasting area and get settled around the communal table. The flow is straightforward: bread and cheese appear, then the wine starts, then you progress through the set of pairings.

Because everything is served in a sequence, it’s also easy to pace yourself. You can taste slowly, then let the next wine and cheese combo reset your attention. And you’ll be sampling enough that you can start spotting patterns—like how the texture or milk flavor of a cheese changes how each Bordeaux style lands on your palate.

English hosting that keeps the mood light (and still useful)

The tasting is offered in English, with a host who explains what you’re tasting and why it works together. The tone is part of the value here. People don’t come to Bordeaux just to swallow facts. They come to enjoy food, talk, and feel connected to the place.

In the best moments, the host’s stories make the pairings stick. Instead of memorizing a list, you remember the logic: why this cheese pairs with this wine, what to watch for as you taste, and how the same cheese can feel different with a dry white versus a sweeter wine.

If you want to ask questions, this format is friendly for that too. The pacing gives you openings to talk without dragging the whole group.

Price and value: why $57 feels fair for what’s included

At $57 per person, you’re paying for more than a small snack. You’re getting a structured tasting with 3 glasses of Bordeaux wine (dry white, red, and Sauternes), 9 AOC/AOP cheese samples, and traditional sourdough bread throughout.

That’s the core value equation: quantity plus variety plus pairing context. A lot of tastings give you one or two cheeses and call it a day. Here, you get repeated pairings across different wine styles, so your money buys understanding, not just sampling.

Also, the setting has real weight. An 18th-century cellar turns the tasting into an event, not just an item on a food list. If you’re choosing one Bordeaux food-and-wine experience, this one gives you both culture (the cellar) and edible instruction (the pairings).

Who this tasting is for—and who should choose something else

This experience fits best if you:

• Like food experiences that are social and relaxed
• Want to learn pairing basics without being forced into a formal class
• Enjoy Bordeaux wine enough to taste across styles, including Sauternes
• Appreciate classic French cheese culture in a real working shop cellar

You might skip it if you’re not interested in alcohol-based pairings. While grape juice is offered for people under 18, the main pairing format is built around wine. Also, the experience is not suitable for pregnant women, so plan accordingly.

If you’re traveling with kids, there are rules to know. Children under 4 aren’t allowed, and pricing is the same for adults and children from 4 years old. Alcohol rules still apply, so younger participants will receive grape juice from local wineries.

Practical tips: ID, alcohol rules, and what to bring

Here’s how to keep things smooth.

Bring your passport or ID card. That’s the required check for this experience.

Alcohol rules are clear: the minimum age to drink alcohol is 18. If you have people under 18 in your group, they’ll get grape juice from local wineries instead.

Don’t bring pets—pets aren’t allowed.

Finally, consider comfort and timing. The tasting is 90 minutes, so come with room to taste. If you’ve just had a heavy meal, you might dull the edges of delicate flavors, especially when you get to Sauternes.

Should you book the Bordeaux cheese and wine tasting?

I think you should book it if you want a high-return food experience in Bordeaux: a real cellar setting, lots of cheese, and a clear wine lineup that teaches you how pairing works across Bordeaux styles. For $57, you’re paying for both the edible part and the atmosphere part, and that combo is hard to beat.

Skip it if alcohol pairings are a problem for your group, or if anyone in your party falls under the rule set that makes this experience unsuitable. Also, if you’re the type who hates communal seating, this may not be your favorite format.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the Bordeaux cheese and wine tasting?

You meet your host at 19 rue Huguerie in Bordeaux. When you arrive, you ring the doorbell and your host opens the venue.

What time does the tasting start?

The meeting time is 11:30 AM or 5:30 PM, depending on your reservation.

How long is the experience?

The cheese and wine tasting lasts 90 minutes.

What wines and cheeses are included?

You’ll taste 9 AOC/AOP French cheeses paired with 3 Bordeaux wines: a dry white, a red, and Sauternes. Traditional sourdough bread is included as well.

Is there a minimum age to drink the wine?

Yes. The minimum age to drink alcohol is 18. Participants under 18 are offered grape juice from local wineries.

Are pets allowed?

No, pets are not allowed during this experience.