Armagnac is France's oldest brandy — documented since the mid-15th century, long before Cognac rose to international fame. Produced exclusively in the Gascony region of southwest France from a blend of local grape varieties and aged in oak barrels, it is a spirit of extraordinary depth and character, rooted in a landscape that feels genuinely untouched by mass tourism. This private full-day tour from Bordeaux takes you deep into the Bas-Armagnac appellation — the finest sub-region of the three — for distillery visits, tastings, and a stroll through one of the most beautiful medieval villages in France.

Armagnac and Gascony: France Off the Beaten Path

Gascony is one of the most rewarding corners of southwest France for those who want to experience the country away from the crowds. Dotted with fortified medieval bastide villages, rolling farmland, and family-run estates where centuries-old traditions are still very much alive, it is a region that rewards curiosity. The sandy soils of the Bas-Armagnac — known locally as sables fauves, or tawny sands — produce brandies of a distinctive elegance and finesse that set them apart from the rest of the appellation.

First Visit: A Family Estate in the Bas-Armagnac

Your first stop is one of the most respected estates in the Bas-Armagnac. Around forty individual plots contribute to this producer's collection, each selected for the quality of its terroir. Your host will walk you through the history of the family, the philosophy behind their selection and blending process, and the role of the Alembic Armagnacais — the distinctive continuous still unique to Armagnac production, which differs fundamentally from the pot still double distillation used in Cognac. The visit ends with a guided comparative tasting of the estate's Grands Assemblages, offering a structured introduction to the different ages and styles of Armagnac.

Labastide d'Armagnac: A Medieval Bastide Village

After the morning estate visit, the tour continues to Labastide d'Armagnac, one of the finest preserved bastide villages in southwest France. Founded at the end of the 13th century by Bernard VI, Count of Armagnac, during a period of English rule over the region, the village was built around a central Place Royale — named in honour of the English king — and has retained its original medieval layout almost entirely intact. Arcaded houses, colonnaded walkways, and a harmonious central square make it one of the most atmospheric villages in Gascony.

Your guide will explain the history and purpose of the bastide — a form of planned medieval settlement unique to southwest France — as you explore the narrow streets at your own pace. Lunch is at your own expense; your guide can recommend local restaurants, and this is an ideal moment to try Floc de Gascogne, the regional aperitif made from a blend of fresh grape juice and young Armagnac, best served well chilled.

Second Visit: Château Garreau

A short drive from Labastide d'Armagnac brings you to Château Garreau, where the afternoon visit combines a tour of the estate's remarkable winemaking and Alambic museums — housing tools and machinery from the vineyard and cellar, including continuous stills dating from 1919 that are still in active use — with a final tasting of the château's Armagnacs. The combination of fertile soil, century-old cellars, and working heritage distillation equipment gives Château Garreau a personality and authenticity that is difficult to find anywhere else in the region.

The tour returns to Bordeaux at the end of the afternoon.